The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-04
$249lO

| Notwithstanding the serious damage
done to several of the fertilizer factories
by the severe storm of last September, Sa-
vannah's manufacturers still hold their
own, and more than that. they have add
ed to their trade during the past season.
During the disastrous storm which pass
ed over the city Sept. 20. 1895, two great
sulphuric acid manufacturing pants were
blown down, and another was seriously
damaged. The wind had scarcely G'ed
| out before their owners were planning
i and contracting for their re-erection on
| improved plans. These "acid chambers"
as they are called, are the foundation of
| the fertilizer business, and the imme-
date rebuilding and repairing of the dam
aged plants was induced by the bright
outlook for an increased demand for Sa-
vannah-made goods. Expectations were
| fully realized. Savannah secured her fun
share of the Increased demand for COM
mercial fertilizers in the southern states
The amount of fertilizers consumed in
| Georgia alone during the season of 1866,
as shown by the official bulletin of the
state department of agriculture, was 1886,
| SIT tons. The official figures for the past
! season have not, as yet, been published,
| but one of the officials of the department
has stated that they would reach a frac-
ton over 100000 tons at E bout the close of
| the selling season.
| The development of the new Tennessee
| phosphate fields; the practical desire to
| get nearer the western packing houses
| from which comes so much of the material
| used for ammonia in the fertilizer, and
| at q fn Rn1 ,a,r
| ket for the output and save freights to
| the consumers on manufactured goods
| have induced the building of a number
OF factories at interior points. This has
| very materially affected the trade of some
Of the coast manufacturing points. but
| does not seem to lessen the demand for
/ Savannahs popular brands. -.
The reductions in railroad freight rates
| on fertilizers, which went into effect
| about the first of last January, were due
| largely to the efforts of Savannah fertilizer
manufacturers and dealers 1t will be re-
membered that one of the strong points In
the petition was, while nearly all
| other prominent commodities had
had a material reduction in freight
rates during the past few years, CONNER
! cal fertilizers had not enjoyed an equal
reduction. Yet there is no bulky freight
| handled by the railroads that brings to
them the after, or return freghts than do
/ commercial IefDllEPIS. - OF every ton OF
| fertilizers freight, to the cotton raiser the
roads get a return freight on several bales
Of cotton.
The reduction in rates benefited the
farmers more than any others. The man
ufacturers and dealers gave them the BEN
eft of the reduction in freight, not only
on sales made after the reduction, but on
| contracts that had been signed previous
| ly.
The invention of new and improved ma
| chinery and the discovery of new sources
of plant food, have gradually reduced the
| cost of commercial fertilizers, an of which
| is to the advantage of the buyer, as ii In
duces sharp competition from those, who
keep their manufacturing plants and
methods up to date. The manufacturers
who do not move with the times, of
course, must meet the prices and be salts
| fled with less profit.
| The Savannah fertilizer manufacturers
are, without an exception, of the ''up-to-
date" kind, being fully equipped with
modern machinery.
The prices of the ingredients have not
varied to any great extent from last sea-
son, except ammoniates, which have been
| quite stiff for several months past. Phos-
phate rock remains about the same price.
| There is no material change IN the Ger
| man potash salts, which furnish to the
manufacturers almost their entire source
of potash.
The new tariff effects very few Of the
| INGREDIENTS. or materials, used I'm fertili-
zers Burlaps, from which the bags are
made and sulphate of ammonia are the
principal articles effected by the Dingley
| bill.
transportation Of fertilizers was distrib-
uted:
| Shipments of fertilizers from Savannah
during season Of 1869.
| Central of Georgia Railway Co52,6 23 tons.
Georgia and Alabama Railway. II 532 tons.
Plant system ......................20 20, 04 tons.
Florida, Central and p. Ry. -. 3,723 tons.
Savannah River Boat Line -. 1900 tons.
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. &c. l9 tons.
Total shipment 1886 ........70, 900 tons.
Phosphate Rock.
The amount Of Florida phosphate rock
exported from Savannah, TO foreign ports
greatly exceeded that of the previous year.
in fact was larger by about 1900 tons,
than in any year since this industry start
ed. During the year, 50 steamers took fun
or part cargoes. The total shipments
were 99,07S tons, against g., 1863 tons for the
year 1856 Shipments were made dur
ing every month of the year except July.
OF the total exports 6279i tons were ship
ped to Germany; 1884 tons to italy; and
the balance distributed in Great Britain,
France, Belgium, Holland, the Neither
lands and Russia.
The following table shows the compare
tive amount Of phosphate rock shipped
from Savannah to Europe for the past six
years:
For year ending Aug. 81, 1892 -. 923S tons.
For year ending May 81, 1893. O.. II, IT'S tons.
For year ending Aug. 81, 1884, .3S,3l5 tons.
For year ending Aug. 3D. 1895. 81, 600 tons.
For year ending Aug. 81. 1896. 81 $50 tons.
For year ending Aug. 81, 1891. ..e9,07s tons.