The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-16
GOOD TIMES IN GEORGIA.
,-URCUANTS REPORT SUMMER
TRADE VERY SATISFACTORY.


In-uiEh Prices for Lumber, Tur-
u,ntine and Phosphate Are Turn
inn Money Loose fin South Georgia
and Florida, While the Money Left
in savannah by the Troops Keeps
Trade in the City GOOd-Less Goods
u.inc sold on Credit and More
Cush business Being DOne-Farm-
ers Are in Fairly Good Condition,
TOO.
Styanuah's wholesale dealers are doing a
bigger business this summer than they
have done for several years. In all lines
If is reported that in spite of advanced
n-i-es ON many articles of consump. ion
,here is a very satisfactory business. Bet
for still the merchants report that cash
collections are ahead of any previous sum
,osr in years, and that their customers
seem to have less difficulty in keeping
themselves square with the books than
has been the case in a long time.
This prosperity is not confined TO the
civ. hut extends to the country as We'll
The state Of affairs is easily explained
The thousands of dollars which were spent
here by the government during the fall and
snrfrs still continue 70 grease the wheels
nj proeress and of trade. New buildings
are going up on every hand and the re-
tat.srs who prohted largely by the pres
snca of the troops, have cash in bank with
which to meet their bills. The government
also left considerable money in the city in
The paynent Of labor, which is also find
ins its way TO the pockets of the retailers.
The country received little benefit from
the presence Of the troops, but other things
have helped to make life easier Tor the
people in Savannahs territory. Turpentine,
iumper and phosphate have all been on a
boon for several months past and these
are the three things which contribute
chiefly to the prosperity of Savannah's
merchants and their customers. Tho mm-
Der men are enjoying an advance of about
81 thousand on last summers prices, and
as result all the mills are running on full
time md much labor is being employed al
good prices. to say nothing Of the profits
reao,d by the mill men.
The ligh prices which the turpentine
men have enjoyed for several months are
well known. IN the face of the fact that
the output appears likely TO equal that of
last year the price keeps up and the price
remains at a figure which the turpentine
men themselves would have considered out
of reason u few years ago.
There are two explanations of the high
price Of turpcutine. THE worlds demand
has caught up with the supply" said
Vel known buyer of spirits. More people
are using turpentine to-day than ever be-
fore Turpentine is used chiefly for paints
and as the world is more prosperous now
than 1t was a few years ago more paints
and varn:shes are being used. The conse-
auence is that there is a demand for all
the urpentine produced and the world is
willing TO pay a good price for 1t. Roslns'
too are bJinging fair prices"
Many naval stores producers sold con-
tracts early in the season at from 81 10
36 cents, judging by past experience that
these prices were fully as high as they
could expect. There has been some tau
kicking among the producers against com
plying with their contracts said a we'll
known naval stores factor. Had the
market price been a cent or two below
that at which they sold they would have
thought it all right but when they fill con-
tracts at present prices they feel just ike
so much money was being taken out OF
their pockets. They have no right to COM
plain however. Had 1t not been for the
extensive selling of contracts at what were
considered fair prices last fall, the pres
ent high prices could not have been OBJ
tanned The producer has been benefited
by the move in the market, anyway, you
see, ana Whatever spirits ne may Hdhc
above the amount required to fiji his con-
tracts he is able to sell at a very salts
factory price"
Savannah has a large trade in the Flor
ida phosphate district and the boom In
phosphate is naturally felt here. The
boom, which began several months ago,
shows no sign whatever of diminishing.
The phosphate miners have sold all the
phosphate they can get out for a year
ahead at prices nearly double what could
have obtained a year ago. Old phosphate
mines are being worked out and new ones
opened up, and a great deal of labor is
employed Like the turpentine business,
the worlds demand has risen to the phos-
phate supply, instead of the supply dimin-
isnlng to meet the demand The worlds
phosphate supply to-day is larger than
ever before, and yet the demand is I'M
diminished.
We are having the best summer bust
ness we ever had" said Mr.. Joseph Ferst
OF NJ. Fersts Sons &, Co. THE city bust
ness is very good, due no doubt to the
money left in Savannah by the troops.
Inc country business is very good. be-
cause Of the satisfactory condition of the
lumber and turpentine markets. We are
SSlhng more goods than last summer al
lAoush there has been a general advance
I'D several lines of goods. Hams and al
classes Of smoked meats are higher and
10 are canned goods. Collections have
oeen unusually good for the summer sea-
secretary Mendel of the Savannah Gro
Wy company corroborated Mr. Ferst S
is'n'Iks our summer business has
zen very good in spite of slightly higher
n..es in some lines" said Mr.. Mendel.
ne country trade has shown up very
HlaY. The improved conditions of the
po7pnate, turpentine and lumber indus
es account for this The farmers, TOO.
a az better off and are buying almost en-
sis'y for cash. While they got very little
Tor co-on, their other crops. such as corn
peas brought them good prices. They
earning the benefit of diversified
LOW. D2"n in the dry goods district pretty
rl1.n the same condition of affairs was re-
i9' 'e' Sales have been large at slightly
leI prices than last summer and col
IONS are satisfactory. There has been
I credit and more cash business done, -
s s3'u a member of the firm of Frank e. Co.
a. vas up in Bulloch and Tattnall the