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

small degree, less than that Of the year be-
fore. the trade year of 1896, it was
upon a more solid basis. and results were,
If anything more, satisfactory. There was
a stronger feeling of confidence in the
trade world, credits were more generally
extended and the conduct of business was
easier throughout.
The Morning News presents to the bust
ness world to-day and to its readers gen.
orally, a compete but concise summary
of business of Savannah during these
twelve months. Each class of business
has been thoroughly canvassed and
care has been exercised in the preparation
of these reports which may be said to in
sure their correctness. 1t has been the ef-
fort of the Morning News to present the
facts as they are in an attractive man
ner, but concisely; and that the effort has
been a successful one the results will
show. There have been deficits in Ger
tain lines of trade, there have been in
creases in others. In some instances
there have been low prices, in others the
prices have been above the average. In
each case care has been taken TO get at
the exact facts that they may be made
the basis of future calculations.
The small difference in the bank clear
ances as compared with those of 1866,
the decrease for the year just closed be-
ing about 100000. indicates that alto
gether the volume of the business for the
two years was about the same. In fact.
where there was a slight falling off in one
line there was an increase in another, ana
the two years will come pretty near strik-
ing a balance.
Despite certain adverse circumstances
Savannahs cotton receipts for the year
were more than 600 bales ahead of what
they We're the year before, though with
more favorable conditions they might have
been stin greater The increase in the
crop which was more marked in the crop
of sea island cotton in proportion to the
size of the two crops, affected the price to
some extent, but the result as a whole
was comparatively small. the total de-
crease in the price received for the sea-
sons crop being only about 100000. as
compared with the amount received for
the crop of 1856. This decrease in the
amount received was mainly in the item
of sea island cotton, which experienced a
drop owing to an unusual overproducton.
So it may be said that upland cotton man
aged pretty well to hold its own Money
was had on easy terms, so the farmers
managed to move their crops pretty
promptly, and collections were therefore
good. The prospect for the present year
is unusually encouraging, and receipts of
100000 bales or more are looked for,
There was not a dollars loss OF cotton
from fire during the year. The cotton
came in a rule. in good shape and the
handling was thereby greatly facilitated.
The year was not so satisfactory to the
sea island cotton planters as it might have
been, because of the decline in price, ow-
ing TO an extraordinarily large crop There
are comparatively few fabrics
for which the long staple cot
ton Is used. and when it is taken
into consideration that the supply exceed
ed the demand by several thousand bales,
it will readily be seen why there was de-
cline in price.
In the naval stores world the situation
has been somewhat different In 1896
the supply of naval stores was largely in
creased and there was a consequent de-
crease in prices In 1867 there was a
remarkable decrease in the supply of rosin
and spirits as compared with the year be-
fore, prices advanced, and the operators
received about the same amount of money
for much smaller crop. The decrease
an quantity just about balanced the in
crease in value, and altogether the situa-
tion was practically a reverse of that Of
the year before. The operators entered in
10 an agreement during the year by which
the crop was largely curtailed. and this
was responsible for the reduced supply
The operators had a similar agreement the
year before, but there was a slip-up some
where, and the result was an extraordi-
narily large crop. This time, however,
self-interest led them TO hold TO their
agreement, and the result was far more
satisfactory all around. Now that the OPP
orators have seen where their interests
lie, the chances are they will follow some
such plans each year, and make every et-
fort to turn the market more TO their
favor.
The grocery and provisions trade showed
which it also exhibited the year before.
In this fact is 10 be found the continued
prosperity of the farmer, since his pur-
chases depend largely upon his failure TO
raise what he needs for the sea-
sons supplies. The farmers have raised
considerable grain. vegetables ana meal
during the year, consequently their de-
mand for supplies from the market has
not been so great. Prices on all staple
goods have been low during the year. but
they have recently risen, and ali In all a
far better year is looked for in that which
Is ahead. Prices VIII be better, and the
farmers will have more money with which
TO make purchases, which fact win tend
20 enlarge and increase their wants.
There has been some what OF a falling