The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-20
RESTS WITH THE RAILROADS.
MANCHESTER WANTS A LINE OF
STEAMERS FROM THIS PORT.

company Is ANXIOUS 10 10 Hs
Part, and the Only Thing Neces-
sary Is the Cooperation of the
RaiIrOads-WithOut Such Cooper
alton the Line Cannot Be Estab-
1ished-Manager Marshall stevens
of the Mnnchester ship Canal
Company Discusses the Matter.
His Reception in savannah.
The Manchester people are anxious to
give Savannah a regular line of steamers
throughout the year between this port
and theirs. The people OF Savannah are
willing and It only remains for the rail-
roads to say the word. That is what Mr.
Marshall Stevens, manager of the Man
chester Ship Canal Company said TO a
Morning News reporter last night
without the cooperation of the rail-
ways" he said, nothing can be done.
Cotton, naval stores and lumber and phos-
pilates alone will not supply the cargoes
for a regular line of steamships They
might do it through a portion of the year,
but even then regular cargoes would be
uncertain What you want is grain. What
we want to do is to put on a regular
line Of steamships between Savannah and
Manchester with sailings every fortnight,
or every week as soon as the business de-
velops, which is certainly will do If the
line is once established. 1t might not
prove profitable at first. 1t could hardly
be expected that it would, but 1t undoubt-
edly would as soon as the business is de-
veloped We began this plan with New
Orleans and Galveston last year,
and now the lines from those
two ports are self-supporting
and operated Independently, receiving
only some slight assistance from the
canal company in the way of small re-
bates on tolls I am in receipt of advices
from Manchester that there are now load
ing or chartered to load within the next
ten days from New Orleans and Galveston
twelve steamships for Manchester. That
shows how our business has developed
with those ports"
HAS Savannah any special advantage
over other ports in operating such line
OF steamships?" Mr.. Stevens was asked.
Savannah has this advantage he re-
piled. 1T is a convenient port through
which to handle a large amount Of
same time secure your local business,
which is in itself very valuable. A special
item just here is your sea island cotton
crop. Savannah controls this crop. Per-
haps you do not know that
fourteen manufactures in and near
Manchester consumed practically all the
sea island cotton shipped from Savannah.
Our people are very anxious to have this
cotton delivered to them at Manchester.
You can easily perceive the advantage
both TO Savannah and Manchester in do
ing this. Manchester consumes a large
amount Of naval stores. there being large
paper and soap manufacturing industries
there. Savannah is in position to ship
naval stores at the smallest amount of
expense"
Mr.. Stevens said that he was in con-
sultation with the railroad officials here,
and found them inclined to cooperate.
"All depends upon the cooperation of
the railroads." he said without it the
shipbroker is helpless. We are willing to
do as much as the railroads will to put on
a line of steamships here, and we already
have the ships ready to put them on as
soon as the arrangements are completed"
I'VE want the people of Savannah to
understand when we go away" continued
Mr.. Stevens, that we did not come here
simply to look around and then go home
TO consider what we should do We come
here prepared to put on a line OF steam
ships, and we are ready to make the ar
engagements to do so at once"
Mr.. Stevens is accompanied by Mr.
James l.. Hall of the firm of Bramwell,
Fern & Hall, produce brokers of Man
chester, and Mr. c. c. Harvey, who is
interested in the cotton spinning industry.
Capt. ID. G. Purse came down with the
party, having spent the previous day with
them In Atlanta. A carriage was in wait
ing at the depot and the party was driven
n ia WI 10 vic
given breakfast in private parlor. The
visitors were allowed until nearly IL
O'Clock to answer their mail. Shortly pre-
vious to that hour they were taken from
the De Soto to the city exchange by Capt
Purse. Mayor Myers and several mem
bers of the board of aldermen were in
waiting to receive them. During the nexc
half hour number of business men, rail-
road officials and prominent citizens
called and paid their respects to Mr..
Stevens and his associates.
At 1880 O'Clock the party proceeded 10
the foot Of Drayton street, where the
steamer ]. H. Estill, the largest steam
pilot boat in the world, was waiting to
receive them. The American colors were
fully in evidence from the stern pole IF
the vessel, while the British flag was fly
ing at the peak In compliment to the
visitors.
The occupants of the offices on the north
side of Bay street crowded the balconies
to witness the departure of the Estill
from her wharf. She proceeded up the
river to the Ocean Steamship wharves
and then turned back down. giving the
visitors a full view of the wharf frontage
As the Estill proceeded down the river
she was saluted by the steam whistles OF
all the steamers in port. The salutes and
their return by the Estill kept up almost 3
continual din until the wharves of the
Savannah, Florida and Western railway
were passed. The trip was to the bel
buoy and return. There was a goad
breeze all the way. and the lunch served
on the way down was enjoyed. Mr.. Ste
Vens and Messrs. Harvey and Hall proved
very pleasant and companionable gentle
men. The object Of their visit was in
formally discussed and considerable in.
formation concerning the cities Of Savan.
nan and Manchester and the interests OF
both were exchanged.
All three of the visitors are young men
MT Stevens is apparently between IS and
90 years OF age, tall. hne-looking man
and with very affable manner
MT. Han visits this country frequently
for the purchase Of grain, this being his
principal object on this visit. In DISCUSSING
the scheme Of direct trade betwean So,