The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-04
SHIP BROKERS SURPRISED.
THEY SAY THE NEW LINE OF
STEAMERS MEANS A FIGHT.

to Meet the Issue when 1t Comes.
They Are Satisfied the New Line
of Steamers Is Coming, But They
Do Not Know What They Are Co
ing to Do About It-BrOkers Meet
the Argument with the Statement
That the Railroad Men Are Re-
sponsibIe For the Cotton Not Conn
ing Here-COttOn Exporters
Strongly Endorse the New Move
ment Inaugurnted by President
Conner.
There was no little surprise among the
ship brokers yesterday when they read
in the Morning News the first account Of
the direct line of steamers that will be
put on between Savannah and European
ports
1t was all the talk along the Bay not
only among the ship brokers, but among
the cotton shippers, and others who have
interests involved in any changes that
may be made in the shipping arrange
ments of the port. President II. NJ. Conner
of the Central being back of the pro-
posed plan, they knew there was no doubt
that the people interested meant business,
and on this account the surprise and in
terest were even greater, perhaps, than
it might have been otherwise.
But the ship brokers do not want to
talk about the matter. All of them who
were approached on the subject said they
had nothing to say at present for publica-
ton, but they did talk quietly of the
matter to a certain extent.
The principal proposition that the ship
brokers laid down is that the establish
ment of the new line means a fight, and
they say they are ready to meet it. They
say they can get ships here as cheap as
can William Johnston & Co., and that
they will be ready to meet the issue as
soon as it comes.
The principal point Of difference between
the railroads and the ship brokers is as
to who is responsible for so little cotton
coming to Savannah. President Conner,
as stated in the Morning News, says it is
due to the high ocean freight rates out of
Savannah, while the shippers answer his
statement with their own that the rail-
roads are responsible for it, because the
railroads at other ports are paying re-
bates, and are giving ship brokers the
terminal charges, whereas neither OF
these are done at Savannah The ques-
ton is Undoubtedly going to be fought
throughout on this issue.
At Charleston and Norfolk, the ship
brokers say, the terminal charges have
been done away with. These in Savan-
nah amount to about 8 cents per 100
pounds. They also say some of the rail-
roads are giving rebates at those ports,
and one of them made the statement that
some of the brokers at Charleston had
chartered freight room at 11-32d and had
sold it for T-64d, showing, he said, that
he must have received something in re-
turn on the other end.
One of the ship brokers seemed amused
at the proposition that the new move
ment means direct trade.
Direct trader" he said, why we have
had direct trade here for years. Any one
would think that we did not have a ship
that went direct from Savannah to its
destination whereas, as a matter of fact
they leave the port every few days. It's
absurd to talk about Savannah not hav-
ing direct trade"
The gentleman in question, however,
appeared to think that the simple carry
ing of cargo to a foreign port means
direct trade. That is not the proposition
according to the plans of the new COM
pany. 1t is the intention to have the
steamers brought here by Messrs. Will
lam Johnston & Co. take cargoes to for
eign ports and then bring cargoes back
to Savannah from those ports. 1t means
a regular line of steamers, they say,
which shall ply to and from Savannah,
and not a steamer which may come here
for cargo and then go to South Africa
or Japan, to get a cargo for South Amer
| lea or Norway
Some of the ship brokers say the move
/ ment is not altogether a surprise to
them. 1--WE have known something of
| the kind was in contemplation" one of
| them said. Another said the Central had
| tried the same plan when the Richmond
! and Danville had control of it, and it had
not been a success.
The brokers here contend that the rail-
roads coming into Savannah have fought
them throughout, especially the Central
| and say that freight for foreign ports
have been given to cOastwise steamers, to
go to Europe by steamers from northern
| ports, when freight room was Offering
| cheaper from Savannah direct The rail-
road men simply say in answer that this
proposition is absurd on the face of it.
Among other instances the broker men,
tons the fact that a prominent exporter
| here recently sent a lot of cotton from
Hawkinsville, a point near here, to Nor
folk for 1-l6 cheaper than 1t could be
| brought through Savannah. This means
| a difference of about thirty cents a bale
This is exactly one of the arguments that
the railroad men are using, and they hold
| that this is just the difference that Is made
by reason of the cheaper ocean rates from
| Norfolk, which amount to u to IA cents
gross and 6 to cents net, the railroad
freight differential between Savannah and
| Norfolk being cents.
Another ship broker says a well-knowr
Savannah exporter told him he had re-
| Gently sent about $500 bales of cottor
through Savannah to Charleston and Port
| Royal on account of the ADVANTAGE in
railroad rates The other side of the story
is that the exporter really said he sent this
cotton to those ports because he had s
clear advantage in the ocean rate anC
not in the railroad rates.
The ship brokers are satisfied that the
new line of steamers is gong to be started
but they are saying all sorts of things
about those interested In il. The say they
viii be ready to fight It, and they announce
1t as their belief that 1t will not last. They
point to instances of the same kind a
other ports, In which they say the expe
| /, laa rI.v