The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-13
SAVANNAH AND THE CUBAN TRADE

SAVANNAH AND THE CUBAN TRADE
Savannah merchants are very much in
earnest IN their determination to get IA
share of the trade of Cuba and Porto
Rico. They have studied the situation
very carefully. and viii give it stil fur
Their consideration before taking the steps
which are necessary to enable them to
establish trade relations with those ISL
ands The gentlemen who have been APP
pointed to visit the islands are keen bust
ness men, ana it can be safely stated that
the report they viii make will be one
upon which entire reliance can be placed.
one of the most encouraging features Of
the situation is the statements make by
Mr.. Gabbett Of the Georgia and Alabama
Railroad. One of these statements is that
his road intends to take into considera-
ton the trade with our new possessions In
the West Indies in building its terminals
on Hutch.son's Island. Another is that
an effort is already being made 10 get the
same freight rates from Chicago and
other Western cities to Savannah as are
in force from those cities to New York.
The rate from Chicago now to New York
is only about half what it is from Chi
ago to Savannah. The distance from Chi
cago 70 Savannah is no greater than from
Chicago TO New York. There is no good
reason therefore why the rate from Chi
cago to Savannah should be any greater
than that from Chicago to New York.
quite recently we said that by the right
kind of effort very large part of the
trade OF Cuba and Porto Rico with this
country could be brought through this
port. We have seen nothing yet to change
that opinion. What Cuba wants from this
country, particularly at the present time,
are flour. corn, hams, pork lard, agri-
cultural implements and machinery and
the coarser cotton fabrics. The West
win furnish all the foregoing articles, ex-
cept the cotton goods. The South can
furnish the cotton products at less price
than they can be obtained elsewhere. The
cotton mills of Georgia and South Caro-
lima can compete successfully with the
cotton mills of the world
But why should the Western articles
which Cuba and Porto Rico must have
reach them through New York? Why
shouldn't they reach them through Savan-
nah? The route from Chicago to either
Cuba or Porto Rico by way of Savannah
is 200 or SEQ miles nearer than by way of
New York. AS already stated, the rail-
road rates are now against Savannah but
the rates must be adjusted SO that New
York will have no advantage in that re-
spect. There is no good reason why New
York should have extraordinary advan-
tages in railroad rates over other cities
of the country. With lower rates she
can, of course, draw the bulk of the coun-
try's trade to her wharves, but the
other cities viii not submit to such dis
elimination in her favor
We must have a regular steamship line
to Cuba and Porto Rico, but we should
not have to wait long for a line If we
could get Western products routed through
our port. There would be plenty of bust
ness for several steamships, and where
there is business for them, steamships are
never lacking. There may not he a great
deal of money in Cuba just now, but
there will be before the winter is well
begun. The demand for agricultural ma
| ehinery and implements and for
provisions will be very great
just as soon as the Spaniards de-
part. In fact. the demand has already
begun. Pretty nearly everything on the
plantations has been destroyed. The ma
terials with which to put the plantations
in good condition win have to come from
this country. Therefore trade with our
West Indian possessions is certain to be
brisk, notwithstanding Cubas poverty.