The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-18
WANTS THE SHIPS TO STAY.
PHILADELPHIA AGAINST THE Saw
ANNAH LINES WITHDRAWAL.

Ocean Steamship officials Deny That
the influence of the Southern RatI-
way Caused the Abandoning of the
Philadelphia SerVice-The Changes
Made in the Interest of the Com
pnny-NO Change in Rates.
The Philadelphia people seem greatly
stirred up over the withdrawal of the city
of Macon by the Ocean Steamship Com
pany from the Savannah Philadelphia
line. The matter has caused some very
warm discussion and has found its way
into the Philadelphia papers in rather
warm type.
card has appeared in the Press In
which the writer, Charles Este, warmly
condemns the withdrawal of the steamer,
says some decided action in the matter
should be taken, and that his correspon-
dents in the south state the business men
here are powerless to act. He claims the
influence of the Southern railroad has
caused the withdrawal and deplores the
fact that, through the Ocean Steamship
Company will make its earnings large by
taking Off the vessel. business from Phil
adelphia and the interior of Pennsylvania
must go by rail to Baltimore. and from
there to Savannah. and all freight from
Savannah for Philadelphia must so to Bal
timore and be brought from Baltimore to
Philadelphia.
Mr. Este says:
1.-THE Ocean Steamship Company are
about to withdraw their agencies and rep
resentatives from the interior of Penn
sylvania and the Merchants and Miners
Transportation Company Of Baltimore
and Savannah are moving their wharves
in Savannah and are to occupy those oc-
cupied by the Ocean Steamship Company.
Some of the merchants in Savannah
contemplate holding an indignation meet
ing, and they advise me that If in Phil
adephia we could get our board of trade
to act officially, Ii might have some in
fiuence. l have brought this matter
to the attention of our board of trade
and the trades league and some other
kindred organizations and am of the opin-
ion that this matter should be thorough
ly ventilated in the Press. inasmuch as di-
rect shipments to and from Savannah af-
ter July 1 will be impossible to be made
from Philadelphia"
Though the changes that are to go into
effect July l. when the Philadelphia steam
er viii come off, were made public in the
Morning News several days ago, nothing
has been heard in Savannah of a prospec-
tive Indignation meeting. The statements
with regard to the influences causing the
changes do not agree with those of the
Ocean Steamship Company officials. The
changes, the officials of the company say,
are made for what is considered the good
of the service in a business way, the ben
eft of Savannah and of Georgia, Alabama
and Florida. IL is emphaucaily denied
by the officials both of the Ocean Steam
ship Company and Central of Geor-
gia railway that they were influenced
in the course adopted in any manner,
| shape or form by competing lines. The
| line has not proved a success, financially,
and It's discontinuance was suggested for
| the interests Of the company.
1t Is claimed that the freight service
that will be afforded by the Merchants
| and Miners Transportation Companys
| line of Savanna h- Baltimore steamers will
| equal in every respect that which has
been had since the Ocean Steamship Com
| pany has been running the Philadelphia
/ Savannah line. The route will be the
| Pennsylvania railroad between Philadel-
! phia and Baltimore, or by the canal, as
| may be seen fit
There will be no difference in rates on
| freight, of course, as rates have to be
| maintained. Passengers will be car
ried by the Merchants and Min
| ers Transportation Company from
! Savannah to Philadelphia and
| from Philadelphia to Savannah for $3.50,
the same charge that Is now made by the
/ Ocean Steamship Company on the City of
Macon. This will be the hrst-class pas
sage and will include the $3.50 railroad
| fare between Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The addition of the two vessels that are
to be taken from the Savannah and Bos-
| ton line to the Savannah-New York line
| is regarded as of vast Importance to Sa-
vannah II will make the Ocean Steam
| ship Company's competition with the Old
| Dominion line, between Norfolk and New
| York, much stronger, and IL Is
| expected that the increase in the
number Of sailings during a week will
| divert a large part OF the traffic that now
Norfolk. The Old Dominion line runs
/ six steamers a week. The Ocean Steam
| ship Company puts on two more at once
| increasing us service 40 per cent, and
does It for the good OF this section, and as
/ business consideration.
| The freight of Georgia, Florida and
| Alabama can find ready shipment I'M
der the increased service, and the facili-
ties offered after July ] by the Ocean
Steamship Company, will doubtless add
| greatly TO its business between Savan-
nah and New York.
| HF biitldiE ub not HtS now elLHtT Dd-
vannah or Philadelphia Is to be hurt by
the change. Fully as good a service Is
TO be rendered that is TO cost no more
than that at present They think that
a change which hurts no one. but helps
| their company, and the Mer-
chants and Miners Transportat ton
| Company, as well, should be
received with a better grace and that. in
stead of occasioning adverse comments,
the change should be welcomed as a
source Of profit TO enterprises that pront
\ by #.
The Philadelphia line is recognized as
failure. The officials say It does not pay
| by a good deal. Their companys inter.
ests demand It's being discontinued and
they do not see how or why the company
should meet with criticism on It's course,
when to maintain the line would mean a
| loss. Passengers between Philadelphia
and Savannah can secure tickets after
July I via New York. the route being tho
| Ocean Steamship Company's line and the
| Pennsylvania railroad. The price OF tick
cts for these trips will be so. the same as
that which prevailed before the city OF
Macon went on the Savannah Philadelphia