The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-26
NEED FOR DEEPER WATER.
WOULD RESULT ~ CHEAPER MA
RINE INSURANCE. RATES.

savannah Now Disseminated
Against In Favor of New Orleans.
Vessels Go out From the Latter
Port With Sufficient Coal 20 Make
the Trip Across, while Vessels
From savannah stop at Norfolk
for CoRI-Careirss Handling of cot
ton Here Alleged co Ne Responsi-
bile IN Part-ssNannbh Gets Lower
Freight Hates. However. and Pays
HiEher Prices Than New Orleans.
4 strong argument 90 favor Of deeper
water and better hsrpor facilities Tor sa-
vauuah. and one which has occurred 90
but few Is tho matter OF marine insar-
ance rates while there has rarely been
any complaint on the part Of the CONNER
cial and shipping interests on account OF
the marine Insurance rates che fact new
crtheless exists that there are other ports
which enjoy better rates Ia this respect
than does Savannah The dis elimination
is particularly marked In the case OF New
Orleans. which has marine in
surance rate upon cotton 20 the amount
Of one-aixtcenth cent pr pound less than
that Savannah. This discrimination
has existed Tor years and IS attributed
10 various causes. but chiefly 70 the claim
that New Orleans has the advantage Of
deeper water and larger ships. some Of
which are operated as regular freight lin
ers 20 European ports
Air v. l. Wilson. who s. one OF the few
marine insurance underwriters 90 sa-
vanuah when asked about the matter
yesterday. said. The discrmina Jon is
nothing new. IL has existed Cor yelts.
ever since ] have been Ia the business ~
any rate. There De- no Partially T. New
orleans ia this matter on the part Of the
Insurance companies. but itis simply due
90 the fact that better risks are offered.
This advantage TO New Orleans does MOI
hold good on an lines. In some iustan IS
Savannah has better rates >tw orleans
with deeper water has the advantage q
being able 90 use larger ships and besides
operates regular liners Co European cot
ton ports. There g. always a di-efimiua-
tion iu rates 90 favor OF the regular liners
These uners and most OF the o.ner =hips
leaving New Orleans with cotton are anle
% take on the full amount ol cnal re-
quired 90 make tne trip 90 tne otne size,
while the majority 81 cotton vessels leaV-
Ing this port are compelled tp put 20 AZ
Norfolk. being unable 20 take on suii ieAt
coal here To make the "trip across. with
more water in the river this additional *
penso and delay could boz saved
Another point in favor OF New or
leans" said Sir. Wilson. EDS that more
care Is exercised there "a the handling Of
cotton There D. not another southern
port, unless % be- Galveston, where cotton
is 50 carelessly handled. as 80 is ia saNan-
nah Il h only within very recent years
that the railroads have provided shelters
for cotton. and good portion or " Is
yet allowed TO remain in the open. cN-
posed TO the elements. Cotton once thor
oughly wet remains 40 for a long time.
and wet bale packed aboard ship not
only dictionaries greatly. bat injuries the
neiEhhoriug bales as well Marine m
surance IN most clses covers country
damage" and country damage Simply
means loss and damage by exposure ana
tn handling The claims for country dam
age for savannah shipments have been eN-
cesslve. ana some very serious complaints
have been made by the insurance com
panies In New orleans an cotton IS kept
under cover and they seem 20 exercise
greater care and better judgment 10
handling a."
Mr.. Wilson remarked incidentally that
Notwithstanding the discrimination 10 IN
surauce rates he observed that Savannah
IS paying an eighth 90 a quarter more yer
round for cotton than New orleans. tot
on the same grades. az the two ports
grade differently. but on cottons which
would class the same in this part
Mr. T. A. cunts. who does large brok-
erage business. was asked about this. and
said that 70 Be- true. As to the reason
why Mr. CUTS said simply because We
are so much nearer the other Side. Il
takes vessel fifteen days longer Co make
the trip across from New orleans than q
does from Savannah. and the time Is
matter OF great importance especially IN
the market conditions which have ruled
this season. Having a shorter distance 90
travel. our freight rates are also lower.
Mr.. cults might have also remarked that
Savannah has "a number OF energetic nus
tIers who reach out and bring in cotton
from a long distance and pay che highest
prices which the market warrants iu or
der TO do 50 Savannah b. also oVcrstock-
"a at present with freight bottoms and
the ship brokers are making almost ony
sort OF rates In order Co get business. This
Is also IN favor Of the shippers
with an Of Savannah's natural ndvau-
taEes her ncarness 10 the great cotton
producing area east of che Mississippi. inc
saving Of over 900 miles % sea travel as
against New orleans ana che absence
OF the dangers OF navigation incident TO
Gulf travel Il seems strange that the
same advantages which exists in the mat
ter Of ocean freight rates should not also
exist in the matter 81 marine insurance.
II the inability ~ vessels Co take Qua SUIT
ncient coal 60 make their voyage across
account for shiS discrimination 10 is sim
ply another argument why the movement
for deeper water should not Zoe prosecuted
more vigorously.