The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-30
NAVAL STORES BIG YEAR.
PRESIDENT PURSES REPORT TO
THE HOARD OF TRADE.

same. Probably the Largest In
,reose on RecOrd-The Cotton and
nice crop OutIOoks-Greatest Ac-
Hvitv in Lumber Trade in Ten
1cors-COmmerciaI Conditions Re-
,ieved-The Board of Trade and
no TrOops-Presfdent MckinIey's
Ntsit-GenernI Trade Outlook.
The Savannah Board of Trade celebrated
is fifteenth birthday yesterday. With the
.vcenfion of the annual report of President
Purse and reports from the various com
Dnees nothing of Importance was done at
,be meeting. The election of officers for
the ensuing year will take place at
n,eering to be held next week.
The members of the board are satisfied
with what has been accomplished during
The mast year, which embraces many
things of commercial Importance TO Savan-
,,b Much interest has been taken in
che work. new members have been added,
and every effort has been made to in
crease its Importance and usefulness. The
YEARS work was clearly outlined in the re-
mart of President Purse, which was heard
with pleasure by those who attended the
meeting.
In reviewing the naval stores situation,
President Purse said:
THE receipts of naval stores for the year
estimated 90 April past, show an aggre-
gate of ,456.62O packages, consisting of
1850 casks of spirits turpentine, and
l1g7l 20 packages of rosin, being an in
crease Of SOB casks of spirits, and rosn
about the same. If the estimate for re-
ceipts for the next two days prove correct
the receipts of spirits will be the largest
in any previous year.
''The demand for spirits of turpentiEe
Il has been so great that, Notwithstanding in
4 creased receipts, the market to-day is
4 practically bare of stock, and the highest
4 quotation reached in the year, 46 cents per
/ Gallon is The highest figure al which it has
been sold in ten years. The average price
for The year shows sharp advance com
pared with previous year, but the decline
in rosn. in same period, counterbalanced
4 the advantage that would otherwise have
/ accrued to the producer.
The course of the market for naval
stores during the year has inspired conf
dence in the prevalence of a higher range
q prices for the future than has been en-
jOyed for number of years.
/ The fear at one time entertained that
/ Savannah's receipts would diminish as the
areas devoted to naval stores production
moved further South and West no longer
gives present concern, for the reason that
/ the liberal policy of our railway managers
/ Tor controlling this traffic, and the supe-
rior advantages possessed by this market
for selling and distributing the product,
coastwse and foreign, overcomes the
greater distance much of the receipts are
now moved to reach here, and these fac
tors will continue to control shipments
for years yet.
1.-THE completion of extensive improve
mems at the terminals of the Central Of
Georgia Railway and Plant System afford
now the required facilities for the better
storage and more economical handling of
naval stores at this port, and will be of
great advantage TO both factors and ex-
porters in the conduct of this extensive
industry. These efforts of the
railways to provide needed facil-
ties for the encouragement OF this
business is in line with their general de-
sire TO contribute i'm every proper way to
the development of the commerce of the
port and is worthy of commentator.
AS to the cotton and rice crops. Presi-
dent Purse said: Another large crop of
fastening a change in the agricultural
methods of the South, and If the agita-
uon now going on result in such a di-
Versity of crops as to make the farm self
sustaining, the cotton crop of the future
Will be under the control OF the produc-
eTs' and prices be governed more by the
principle of supply and demand, and not
as now by the necessities of producers,
mat place them at the mercy of specu-
hton.
Our rice crop suffered nearly complete
obstruction from storms that devastated
ullS section Aug. 81 and Oct: last. The
e1peclatlon was of receipts between 400, 900
Suu 4o)'W0 bushels; the result only co.
y" Ousnels, in a more or less damaged
Vuulpon, constitute the receipts for the
uop at Savannah. But the producers I'M
usmayed by the disaster to this valuable
ugp' viii plant about the same area an
other season."
The lumber trade" President Purse
a9' shows the most active demand in
uecade' with an increase In volume of
shipments at an advance of 50 per thou
oaIu ieet. Indications point to contin-
uance Of this activity
Inc Jobbing trade shows increased vol
ens' ana has been satisfactory in gen
ndi results. Each year Savannah is
"'tIonted by sharper competition, and 1t
ue 70 the foresight and activity of her
'D'efs that the situation continues so
favorable"
"'t part of the report which deals with
'ommerce of the port is of interest.
40 actNe steps were taken at the ses-
th Sn VI congress just closed to press upon
i 1 "o'lF the necessity for further deep
Gun river and harboT in the inter-
ra Vi commerce and for governmental pur-
o. until at least % feet depth is attain
ter l. was thought best to let the mat
s,o.. 'st until December, because in the
snS session, measures relating to war
log', 'Ne conditions of peace that have fol-
bo would make it impossible to have
rg.- matter satisfactorily presented In the
htlon. ''i sUia'eiy necessary leSis-
,.e. railroad situation is attracting keen
MAJ al this time in consequence OF the
mi 'e1 conversion of Hutchinson's ISL
for mo an extensive terminal property
Rsur' use Of the Georgia and Alabama
Inc IN connection with the controll-
bo,rl rest recently obtained in the Sea-
po1.,'..+4ir Line and Florida Central and
teros. var Railroads by those largely in
me- "a an inc Georgia AMI Aiahoyoo r3ay