The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-01
STRONGER SUPPORT NEEDED.
MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD of TRADE
NOT WHAT II SHOULD BE.

Necessity of Giving Up Its Build
iT.g-PresIdent Purse's Review of
the Trade and Trade Conditions
of the Port During the Year just
Ended-HarbOr Improvement and
quarantine Receive Special Atten-
tion-A Committee Appointed TO
represent the Board at the Public
discussion of Quarantine Before
the sanitary Board.
The annual meeting of the Savannah
board of Trade yesterday morning was
largely attended and much interest was
manifested The time of the meeting was
principally taken up in hearing the re-
ports of the president and of the various
committees.
Besides giving general review of the
trade conditions of the year just closed
and the work of the board during that
time, President Purse brought promi-
aentiy to the attention of the members
the fact that the board can hardly retain
ownership of the building which it now
occupies much longer. Although the
present revenues of the board are suffi-
.cient to meet current obligations and the
property is now upon a self-sustaining
bases the losses sustained during the
first year of ownership by lack of ten
ants may force the board to liquidate its
Indebtedness and to part with the building
Steps are now being taken, looking to the
closing up of the building account by
parting with the property upon the most
favorable terms obtainable from the cred
itors.
one of the potent reasons mentioned for
taking this step is the decreasing member
ship, which has made it necessary to fix
the dues for the ensuing year at $40.
There can be no question that our
membership could be made larger if it
were safe to reduce our annual dues"
said President Purse In the past year
only two new members have been admit
Ged, while fourteen have withdrawn, three
been dropped for cause and one claimed by
death. thus leaving a membership of sew
enty-four, against a roll of ninety at the
opening of the year. 1t is discouragiug
that upon so few falls the burden and
maintenance of your body where so many
hold back, whose added support would
make beth the labor and expense lighter
board of trade that has upon so many no.
table occasions demonstrated so signally
ats value and importance to this entire
community should be permitted to have
such an unceasing struggle for existence
When dissolution is forced upon it for
want Of support, its value may be recog-
EiZed when too late"
With annual dues at $40 the receipts of
the board from its present membership
will be $3.50. The expense of operation
for the coming year is estimated at s., 800
which, with the matter of the real estate
disposed of, will place the board in safe
financial condition, and leave a small sur
plus for extraordinary expenses.
The recommendation that the Chicago
daily telegraph reports be restored TO
the blackboards is given the full indorse-
ment of the retiring board OF directors
and favorable action is recommended to
the incoming board, to be elected Wed
nesday, April z.
Special reference is made to the naval
stores trade. the fiscal year of which
closed yesterday, and some interesting
figures are given.
OF rice and other large industries Pc
culiar to the port, Capt. Purse has the
following to say:
For several years past our rice plant
ers have escaped serious disaster and
oeen securing fair returns for their labor
AS a-legitimate subject for revenue, rice
Is likely to be literally dealt with in new
tariff schedule now pending in congress,
and thus make more profitable it's pro-
duction. Your officers have not hesi-
tated to exert their fullest influence to Sc
cure an increase of the present duty on
rice, without fear of being charged with
committing the board of trade to the prin-
cple of protection per Sc because rice is
so undemably revenue subject, though
1t does incidentally protect a limited ag-
rcultural interest of the SOUTH
The merchandise trade of Savannah.
embracing groceries, hardware dry goods,
SHOES, etc. has fully maintained itself in
volume, though under sharp competition
prices have been on a lower level. All in
dlcations point to a material enlargement
Of Savannah's jobbing trade, and this will
De accelerated If the efforts of the SaVan-
nah Bureau of Freight and Transporta-
ton are successful in retaining the
trade of West Florida and Southern Ala
bama, out of which Savannah has been
barred by the severest kind of railroad
determinations. The complaint involving
this issue is set for trial before the inter-
state commerce commission, which con-
Venes In special session at Savannah, on
April proXimo
The lumber trade of the port has main
famed its volume. Prices, however, have
not been remunerative and the ensuing
year opens without any encouraging feat
tSA a AAOA0 pAOnldDlt StdSOu. IN the
board output Canada completes sharply for
trade The moderate duty asked and ex-
peeted in any revision of the tariff will
Aeasurably assist producers and impart
confidence to enlarged operations by MAX
ing more stable fairer average return on
an charcters of lumber than that now pos
siOle. 1t is lamentable to realize that our
forests are rapidly disappearing without
adequate return and an extensive indus
ny furnishing healthy and profitable en-
Poyment for a large population, is waning
WIN 1t from this section Of the country.
SAder these circumstances, II is eminent
entitled TO the fostering care of the
government so freely extended TO pamper-
tons
interest has in no wise been abated In
eHorts to secure the location Of SUBJ
treasury al Savannah. The matter was
not pressed in short session Of
last congress because on the
eve Of a change of administration
was not the time, however favorably dis
posed congress might have been, TO divide
attention between local and general leg
hlauon. The failure Of four leading ap.