The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-04
PROSPERITY AND ECONOMY.
THE FACTORS IN sAVANNAH'S PRO-
GRESs DURING THE YEAR
JUST ENDED.

No Increase In the Totals of Trade,
But Business Done On a More sat
isfactory Basis and With Better
ResuIts-LOw Prices of Cotton and
Everyl".nE Else Prevented Any
Increase In the Total Amounts,
But the Actual Business Done Lar
ger In Volume and More Profit
able.
Savannah as usual closes the trade year
right side up with care and ready 10
meet the wave of prosperity with open
arms and make the most of il. IN spite
OF the generally low prices which have
prevailed throughout the year, there has
been no evidence of financial weakness
anywhere. There were fewer failures
than during any year for a number of
years past The financial institutions and
business houses generally are in sound
condition, and without the suspicion of
shakiness anywhere. In fact, the weak
brethren were pretty well shaken out long
ago.
While the merchants, as a rule, could
have done more business with sausfac-
ton to themselves, the business that has
been done has been of a satisfactory char
acter il is safe to say that there was
never year in the history of Savannah
when business was so carefully done and
with so little risk. The business men are
not spending sleepless nights worrying
over the price of cotton. Whether cotton
brings Z cents or s cents or only cents
there will be enough money in the country
to meet all Liabilities, the price at which
the crop has been raised assures that the
farmers win have a surplus left after mar
keting the crop with which to meet ex-
penses accrued in harvesting and to invest
in improvements, farm implements and
machinery and home supplies. In fact, it
is the belief in this economy which is the
strength of the situation at present Mer-
chants have economical as well as farm
ers. Long credits have been
few, and as a result the country merchant
to-day is about as independent now as
his friend, the farmer.
The trade for the year varied little from
that of the previous year. While the in
crease in cotton receipts amounted to Co.
900 bales, the lower price caused the re-
ceipts TO sell for less than the smaller
amount of the previous year. This is
largely accounted for by the drop In the
price of sea islands due 10 the large crop.
A reduction of so to $12 a bale on $1,000
bales of cotton is quite an item.
The reverse was the case with naval
stores. The smaller output brought high
er prices, with the result Of practically
the same amount of cash received as for
the much larger crop this year. This
marks the first successful effort
on the part of factors and operators COM
bined to reduce the output for the benefit
of the market. 1t is to be hoped that
the lesson taught will be lasting one.
There was a decrease in lumber ship
ments, but prices were better, though the
market was slow during the greater part
of the year.
There was heavy increase in the out
put of fertilizers, though at lower prices,
so the accounts for the two years about
balance. This is one point where the farm
ers did not economic, except in getting
their fertilizers at lower rates.
1t was the same with groceries. The
volume of the movement was larger but
the money transaction IS the same.
There was a heavy squirt in the
liquor trade during the last few
months, due largely to the
big business done by Savannah houses in
the way Of original package stores estab-
lished by them in South Carolina. This
increase is estimated at $500 900.
The movement of fruit and vegetables
was larger and with better prices, an in
crease of $4,000 was reached most of
which is clear profit.
In dry goods. clothing hats. boots and
shoes about the same business was done,
but with improved methods and profits
and collections surer than heretofore.
The hardware trade showed an increase
in volume, but with lower prices and close
profits.
Among the new factories established
during the year are the Georgia Car
and Manufacturing Company's car works,
the Southern Cotton Seed Oil compa-
ny's new refinery. and the Dixie OIL Com
pany, with its plant for manufacturing
Illuminating and lubricating oils, all rep
resent.ng large capital invested
one OF the best evidences of the health
ful condition Of things and the feeling of
restored confidence is the large increase
shown in the sales of builders supplies
the Increased trade in this line being plac-
ed at 800 900. This was largely for local
use as is shown by the number of hand
some buildings recently erected or in
course of erection.
Another satisfactory item is the $1,000. 600
increase in the value of exports through
thS CHSioiii mousse ana likewise the in
crease of $4,000 in the imports. A table
showing the character and value of the
exports is given elsewhere in the review
the figures for the previous year being
given in the last line of the table
The following table gives a comparison
of the trade for the year just ended. with
that OF the previous year the figures be-
ing obtained from the most conservative
sources
The following IS a comparative estimate
of the value Of Savannah's trade during
the year, beginning Sept /, 1896, and end
ing Aug. 81, 1897, with that of the previous
year:
1S96-'97. 1885.
Cotton ...............,.$ 345o0, 600 S 30 600 200
Naval stores .......... 100000 10000 go
Lumber ................ 100000 1900 600
Fert.. and phos. rock 100000 5000 Goa
Groceries .............. 100000 1900 900
Liquors and tobacco. 100000 4.5OO O00
Fruits, vegetables
and produce ........ 100000 ]. 500 O00
Provisions ............. 100000 5000 600
Dry goods, notions,
etc. ................... 100000 5000 Goa
Clothing .+............. $500 900 1900. 0OC
Boots. shoes and hats 100000 . 2oO O0C
Hardware ............. $500 900 $500 00C
Furniture ............. 800 600 600 OOf