The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21
EAGER TO GET THE TRADE.
prsINESs MEN IN FOR A CHANCE TO
REACH PORTO RICO.

leland Wants Is Exactly What Sa-
vonnah Can Best Furnish.
Tho feeling in Savannah mercantile cir
NO. in favor of attempting to open up
trade relations with Cuba and Porto Rico
d growing. There is no doubt that hearty
s,,nnort would be given any steamship
war might be engaged to run between
This mort and Santiago, or Havana, or to
San Juan. With the latter port especially,
# is thought this city could build up an
ovtansive business and the wish is general
oroona wholesalers that some means of
communication with the principal port of
Porto Rico will be secured before the
trade of the island has been directed into
other channels.
Savannah. it is pointed out, Is nearer to
San Juan, which will continue the princi-
nal mort of entry for Porto Rico. than
rTampa or any other Gulf port. Distance
&c in its favor, and in addition IL has the
,rmeasurably greater advantage of being
a heavy jobbing center, of being the
cheapest lumber market in the South, and
of having admirable distributing facilities
for imports from the new American pos
session.
In opening up and continuing trade with
Porto Rico it will be necessary to take
the matter of return cargoes into consid-
Grafton to ensure success. With cargoes
only one way the enterprise could hardly
be made profitable. Sugar, molasses, fruits,
nuts. spices, etc, are produced in the isl
and and largely exported TO the United
States, while the imports from this coun-
try would consist of breadstuffs, meats,
groceries. dry goods, hardware, agrlcultu-
raj implements, lumber, etc. goods that
can be furnished from Savannah to as
good advantage as from any port north
of here and TO far better advantage than
from ports south of this city. Coal is also
a considerable item of shipment to the ISL
and, and Savannah, in close touch with
the soft coal mines of Alabama, with
cheap freights by way of the Central,
ought to be able 10 handle a share of the
business in that article to mutual advan-
tage. On lumber, coal, provisions from
the West and breadstuffs from the same
section, Savannah could meet prices of
any other market. That is the sentiment
fered them viii be quick TO seize it.
In talking with the grocers, dry goods
men dealers in boots and shoes ETC., yes
terday a Morning News reporter found
that they were all discussing the posi-
bilities OF getting into the new markets
to the south that war has so provident-
tally placed entirely within the control of
the business men of this country. With
Porto Rico as a possession of
this country trade with it
will be as free as trade between
the states. Indeed, the opinion is general
that the navigation laws will be extended
to 1t and that as only vessels carrying
g the American flag are allowed to trade be-
tween the coastwise ports so only those
Of American registry will be allowed to
trade between this country and Porto
Rico.
Although there is no intimation as to
what will be done in the case of Cuba
1t may be that as long as that island is
under American military control great adj
vantages will be accorded American COM
merce. If il should come under a protec-
torate Of this country, or be annexed then
II would doubtless be in the same category
as the states and the vast bulk of its rich
trade would be turned this way. Every
thing IS unquestonably favorable for
american business enterprise to step in at
TINS Juncture and reap a rich harvest
worth OF goods last week, 1t is felt, should
De only an indication of what is TO come
II one house can open up trade with Ha-
Vana IN the present unsettled condition
OF business there is no reason why others
cannot follow suit, both as regards that
Guy ana the other commercial centers of
the two islands.
Mr Ferst, Mr.. Myers, Mr.. Well and
others who We're seen were of the opinion
mat savannah would get into the new
mal Aets. All the jobbers are anxious for a
CndAce to send representatives down to
Sduuago and San Juan, and see what can
De zone. Special men from dozen or more
savannah houses would undoubtedly go if
steamer was started from this port, and
WIN their capital and enterprise enough
u"ue should be secured TO guarantee good
GdI goes. That is the prevalent impression
steamer running from here and stopping
at several ports on the north side of Cuba
& a',u men on to San Juan could almost be
guaranteed cargoes in both directions
& Lumber and coal could be the basis with
s. miscellaneous merchandise filling in. on
e return trip fruits, etc, could pc
plIousAt here for shipments west by rail
iIe markets of that section being supplied
Fl ern ports
WI Ferst is decidedly in earnest about
plornoUng trade with the islands and Is
81 mug 10 unite with other business men
81 - auy steps that Will tend to give Savan-
SeI liberal slice of this business He
NJ ,on0Fes some joint action should be token
81 NJ ~" f inducing the placing of a steamship
a SON ON TINS port to Cuba and Porto hlco,
& 80 men from all the wholesale houses
s ss out on the first trip to establish con-
Il IONS ana look into the situation thor
ousHy. Mr.. Herman Myers also advo-
81 ~ such a Plan Mr.. Ferst believes that
e Oile has come when if Savannah is
81 n peel further development of it's trade
must seize chances to build it up along
NV, mes with the West Indies and CEN
~, american countries. He has been At
w. 9'h On THIS line for some time in his priv
g. capacity ana has sent out
t'sIai hundred letters to mer-
IN the Bahamas and 9TH
no., stands with price lists, etc, and has
l,,, @ssurances Of quite a considerable
49,, s'''ess with Nassau and other points. The
q a. t"' is expecting to ship a schooner load
ocefes and provisions to Nassau
",lnln short time.
ffrarr