The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-06
COTTON SLIPPING AWAY.
PRESIDENT WILLIAMsON'S REPORT
TO THE COTTON EXCHANGE.

version of Shipments to Other
Ports and TO Urge Before the Rail
road Commission, If Necessary, q
Readjustment of Rates For the
Protection of savannah-An APP
peal to the RaiIrOads-0ther Mat
tiers Dealt with in President
WiIIiamson's Report.
The annual meeting of the Savannah
Cotton Exchange was held yesterday aft
ernoon. President W. w. Williamson sub
mitted his annual report, in which he
dealt with the condition OF the exchange,
the cotton movement and condition Of the
crop, and in that connection he touched
upon the transportation question at con-
siderable length, and very pointedly.
The diversion Of cotton to other ports
has been a matter of much concern among
cotton men. and the exchange upon
President Williamson's recommendation.
authorized the appointment of a commit
tee to investigate the matter fully.
President Williamson also dealt with
the quarantine question, the river ana
harbor improvements, and the steamer
lines that handle the business of the port.
He referred to the unsuccessful effort to
secure a uniform standard cotton bale. and
the probable continuance of the trouble
from bad COMPRISING.
The report is a comprehensive one, and
deals clearly with matters of interest to
the business community. After referring
to the condition of the exchange, Presi-
dent Williamson says:
THE cotton movement of the port is
shown in the statements, prepared by the
superintendent Of the exchange. and
whilst it will be seen that the net re-
ceipts amounted to 1896, or a falling off
from the preceding year of 161,F4 bales,
it is gratifying to know that this loss was
on account of the reduction in the size
of the crop, viz. 278O,29S bales, and that
the port actually received an increase in
the proportion of receipts to the total
crop, viz, 1893 per cent. of total receipts,
against 1858 the previous year. Our gain
in percentage was the largest of any port
The total crop of sea island cotton was
931S7 bags, the largest ever grown, exceed
ing that of 1S94-95 by is, 34S bags. Our re-
ceipts for the year amounted to n, 800 bags,
an increase over the previous year Of 49,
094 bags. The value Of cotton per bale was
considerably more than the previous year,
and while the receipts fell off about 161, 900
100000 greater. Uplands averaging s4O1s.
and sea islands $6S.sS, as against $27.71 and
$685., respectively.
'The clearings of the associated banks
in Savannah during the past season
amounted to SIPS, 500, o94, as against S118,1S3,-
166, for 1S94-95. Business, as a rule, for the
past year has not been satisfactory Bank
deposits have been unusually large, and
consequently money very plentiful and
easy at low rates of interest, which show
ed that investors had a lack of confidence
and preferred to keep their holdings where
the ready cash could be gotten if required.
The lack OF confidence was largely due to
the uncertainty of the result of the ma
tional elections about to take place, the
value of money being very uncertain in
case Of the election OF the democratic NOM
inee
1T having come to the attention of the
exchange that the Baltimore steamship
line was not bonded, and goods, therefore,
coming from abroad via Baltimore would
have to be kept in bond there, causing
some delay to receivers when they wished
to pay duty and get their goods, this ex-
change in general meeting adopted a reso-
luton requesting the Baltimore Steamship
Company to bond their line and allow
goods to come direct to Savannah and be
held in bond. The line at once complied.
1 may mention for Information that the
New York line was already bonded.
Serious complaint from ship owners
and brokers, arising from the detention
of five days at quarantine, to which yes
sells were subjected, after being fumigated
and dislnfected, caused a joint meeting
of the board of trade and this exchange
TO be held in December last. At the meet
ing a resolution was adopted appointing
a committee from each body to wait upon
the sanitary commissioners and impress
upon them the necessity of modifying, to
some extent, the stringent rules prevail
ing in regard to quarantine.
1.-THE joint committee was successful,
and the rules were modified, so that YES
sells from infected or suspected ports will
be allowed to come up to the city between
the list Of November and the 18th of March,
after being fumigated and disinfected.
During the past few days the regulations
have been still further modified by allow
ing steamers with water ballast, from
infected or suspected ports. to be fumi-
gated at the Savannah quarantine station,
During the year the Georgia ana Ala-
bama railroad, which purchased the OLD
Savannah, Americas and Montgomery
railroad, has made arrangements to come
into this city over the Central railroad
from Meldrim. Whilst apparently an In
dependent line, they would be of infinite
more benefit to this city and profit to
themselves Of they had separate termi-
mails.
"All work on harbor improvements was
stopped on July ], the appropriations Tor
this class of government work not being
available All possible influence was
brought to bear upon the Secretary Of the
Treasury by the trade bodies and infiu-
entail citizens, not to allow discontinue
ance of the work. as the harbor would suf-
fer seriously thereby, but all the same, the
work was stopped temporarily. We are
glad to note, however, the active resump-
ton of the work on the first of this month,
before any serious damage has been eff
fected. Vessels drawing over q feet have
loaded here during the past two months,
and gone to sea without any impeachment.
This but proves the thoroughness and
efficiency with which the work Of deep
ening the channel has been done under the
supervision and direction of Capt o. NJ.