The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
MARINE INTELLIGENCE.
PROPOSED NEW STEAMSHIP LINE
TO THE NORTH.

The Philadelphia Trades League
Agitating "A Movement to Connect
Savannah with the Quaker City.
Commissioner Kelly Here to In
spect Terminals and Sound Senti-
ment-He Says Financial Men Are
Ready to Establish the Line If As
sured of SuppOrt-Matters of Inter-
est to Shippers and Mariners.
Commissioner N B. Kelly of the Phila-
delphia Trades League has been in Sa-
vannah several days quietly inquiring
what chances a steamship line would
have that connected Savannah with the
Quaker City. Mr.. Kelly left yesterday
for Jacksonville on che same mission. His
impressions of this port and the prospec-
tive business to go through it are said to
be favorable to the establishment of the
line.
For some time past the commercial
bodies of Philadelphia have been strongly
agitating the esta blishing of a line which
would connect philadelphia directly with
the South, and the line that seems most
in favor is the one to connect it with Sa>
ton. Commissioner Kelly says the Trades
League has men behind it ready to fur
nish the NECESSARY capital to establish a
line, provided the business men here will
give assurance of supporting it.
A part of the commissioners duties,
aside from sounding sentiment in a gen.
eral way, was to inspect the terminals,
and see what facilities may be relied upon
by the promoters in this respect. The COM
missioner went in a tug along the
wharves, Inspecting the Ocean Steamship
Merchants and Miners and the Georgia
and Alabama terminals with all of which
he was pleased. Asked if he would not
expect to find local companies reluctant
TO make concessions, and especially those
the new company would compete with,
the commissioner said he would not. On
this subject the Leagues prospects says:
"A fear has been expressed that there
would be difficulty in securing Southern
connection at Savannah This fear is
groundless. There are four railroad lines
out of Savannah, by either of which all
the main points in association territory
may be reached. While it may be 60 the
interest of the Central of Georgia Rail
way to prevent another steamship line
from entering the port such a line would
be welcomed by all the other RAILROADS.
1t would be impossible to get all OF these
lines to combine for the purpose of shut
ting out new steamship line; on the
contrary, they would each be anxious to
secure the largest share of its business,
and if 1t were settled that it was inevta-
bly, going in, there is little doubt that
the Central of Georgia Railway would be
one of the readiest to make terms with
ii, and offer terminal facilities"
Ia is understood Commissioner Kelly
called on most of the local traffic officials
and discussed the proposed line with them.
No action has been taken by any of the
commercial organizations respecting the
line.
''What the line expects is the business
of Savannah shippers to and from Phla-
delphia territory. At present this bust
ness in divided between the Ocean Steam
ship Company from New York and the
Merchants and Miners through Baltimore.
1t has not yet been decided whether the
Southern terminus will be Savannah or
Jacksonville, as the intention is 20 favor
the port which offers the best induce
ments. When assured of support the new
company will charter steamers for tenn
porary service until 1t has the time 90
build its own vessels"