The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-21
WANT TO ENTER NEW FIELDS.
BUSINESS MEN MEET TO DISCUSS
WEST INDIAN TRADE.
DIAN TRADE.


Trade Yesterday - Committee OF
Nine Appointed to Act With other
Committees Commission VIII
Probably BE Sent to study the Sit
UatiOn and Report As to the Best
Way to Secure Business From
Cuba and Porto RicO-DP. Drummer
Tells what the Marine Hospital
Service VIII Do.
There was a large gathering of repre-
sentative business men at the Board CT
Trade yesterday morning at II O'Clock TO
consider the establishment Of trade re-
lations with the Islands of Cuba and Porto
Rico and such other islands of the West
Indies as it may be possible to bring in
to direct communication with Savannah.
Nearly all Of the large jobbing houses
Of the city were Represented and in ad-
dition there were representatives present
of the railroads. exporting houses, manu-
factories and general business interests at
the city. Great interest was manifested
throughout the proceedings and it was
evident that it was the hearty wish of all
that Savannah should put herself into
which is bound to spring up between this
country and the West Indies under the
changed conditions.
President d. G.. Purse, of the Board of
Trade, presided. The meeting, though, was
not Board of Trade meeting but one of
all business men interested I'm the SUBJ
Ject under consideration. In his remarks
declaring the meeting open for free dis
cussion President Purse said that it was
the desire of all to understand the ques-
ton thoroughly and go ahead advisedly.
Mr.. j. NJ. Dixon then presented the fol-
lowing resolutions as a basis on which
the meeting could proceed to express it's
views and prepare for such action as
would bring about the desired results:
The imperious necessity that demands
unceasing effort for the expansion of trade
areas of commercial centers invites our
attention to the opening of Cuban and
Porto Rican ports under American aus
pices and bids US to move quickly IL we
would secure a part of the rich trade Of
these islands, to which has already been
attracted delegations from other cities to
study the trade conditions aad business
methods of the merchants of our new
insular acquisitions; therefore, be 1t
Resolved by this meeting, That, In or
der to secure to Savannah a foothold in
the trade of the islands of Cuba and Porto
Rico, the chairman Of the meeting be re-
quested to appoint, at his earliest conYen-
ience a committee of nine, who are to be
charged with the duty of arranging for
delega lions, to be selected by them, to visit
the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico devise
some plan for meeting the eXpenss of such
delegates as do not prefer to pay their own
expenses, and, by a subcommittee of their
own number, make thorough inquiry into
all matters pertaining to quarantine in
their relations TO commerce with Cuba and
Porto Rico, and make public the result of
their Investigations to an adjourned meet
ing of this body, or through the daily pa
pers; and for the accomplishing of these
purposes this committee be, and they are
hereby, clothed with pheuary powers in
carrying ont the letter and spirit of this
resolution, and, second,
Resolved, That the city of Savannah be
requested to cooperate in this movement
for the city's material benefit by an APP
pointment of five delegates for the same
purpose, and that all business organiza-
tons be likewise urged to cooperate by the
appointment of one or more delegates, es-
peciaily representative of their organiza-
tons; and lastly,
Resolved, That when this meeting does
adjourn 1t be subject to the cali of the
chairman, in his discretion, or upon the re-
quest of above designated committee"
The resolution originally urged the city
of Savannah as well as requested it to
cooperate. Mayor Meldrim, who was among
those present, stated that 1t was not neces-
sary to urge the city as 1t was willing to
do all il could TO assist any movement
looking to the expansion of the citys trade
and the words were stricken out, leaving
the resolution as printed above. In this
form it was adopted unanimously. Under
another resolution the president of the
Board of Trade, over his objections, was
made chairman of the committee charged
with the investigation and preparing of
plans
Mayor Meldrm spoke at some length In
assuring those present of the earnest per
sistent and most determined support of
the city" He favored reaching out for for
eign markets, but at the same time he did
not like to see markets at our very doors
neglected. He had recently been, he stated,
in one of the wealthiest and most prosper
GUS sections of the state up in Baldwin
and adjacent counties, and there he had
been mortified TO find that Savannah
newspaper and a Savannah drummer were
never seen. This was in the section between
Mllledgeville and ESatOnton, probably $50
miles from Savannah, and to the people
of that part of the state Savannah In a
trade sense, was no better known than
though Il were in Porto Rico He accord
inely suggested that the committee be
charged with the additional duty of look
Ing into the matter Of home trade and see
ing what could be done to develop the mar
ketS al savannah very aOOTS.
Mr.. l. b. Tiedeman, speaking in behalf
of the jobbers of the city, at once mildly
took exceptions to the Mayors remarks,
which he considered as a reflection on the
energy and ability of Savannah mer-
chants, and calculated to create a wrong
impression abroad as to their enterprise
and business capacity. Mayor Meldrim,
he said, was evidently not acquainted with
the facts. AS a matter of fact, Savannah
merchants had worked all the territory
he referred to, but found 1t Improbable
as freight rates especially on heavy
goods, were too much against them. The
fact had also to be borne in mind that at
Milledgeville there was a wholesale house
at Naldosta two, and in other small cities
other jobbers. who enjoyed freight ad-
vantages In handling trade in certain sec
lions. Savannah merchants he regarded
as the equal in enterprise OF those of any
other city, and they were not likely to
allow any fields al their doors 10 lie unex-
plored. He objected to the committee be-
ing charged with such duty as investi-