The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-22
PLANS OF THE NEW LINE.
Merchants and Miners Philadelphia
ships WIZ he Warmly Welcomed.

mi WV Lima
Merchants ana Miners Philadelphia
ships VIII he Warmly Welcomed.
The business interests OF PHILADELPHIA
which have been backing the movement
for direct line OF steamships from that
port 20 Savannah arc alive to the advan,-
axes which will accrue 10 them from the
establishment OF the new Merchants' and
Miners Line
The Merchants and Miners is the
largest coastwise steamship company
on the Atlantic seaboard and the
business men OF Philadelphia feel assured
that the new linz viii be- an important
factor in making Philadelphia Northern
outlet for the trade Of the South The
berkshire and Allegheny. which will he
signed 90 the new line. are first class
steamers Of $500 tons. with accommoda.
tons for both freight and passengers.
They have recently been very thoroughly
oVcrhauled at an expense OF N25coo max
lux them modern in every respect
Pier "a South wharves. where the new
line VIII have It's terminus In Philadelphia.
Is located az the foot OF Pine street. con
venient Tor both freight and passengers.
IL - one Of the big new piers recently
constructed 20 che new Port wardens'
line, and tracks are laid Us entire length.
making direct connection with the three
| hix railroad systems ccnterlng in Phia-
dclphia.
Traffic Manager Whitney has issued a
"a ah
the Inauguration OF the line IN which he
says:
The reputation we have earned during
the past forty-fve years 81 our existence
warrants US in stating TO the public that
the service will be satisfactory and first
class IN every particular.
Arrangements have been made to con-
meet al Philadelphia wish all Of the trunk
lines centering there. also NJ Savannah
with al OF the rail lines diverging from
that port. thus enabling US to give through
rates and through bills Of lading between
| Philadelphia and interior Eastern points
aud Savannah. and all other points In the
South. Southeast ana Southwest.
Arrangements have also been made for
through package cars from Savannah 60
al important competitive points In the
South, Southeast and Southwest. which,
with fast through freight schedules VIII
wv tf--tft+ ~ $500 H+*fF
tory service"
To show she interest Philadelphia feels
Zoo the new line the Record prints the fol-
lowing tn regard 70 the movement which
has resulted IN securing 81:
''rhe agitation which has finally result
ei in the establishment OF the new steam
ship line 10 the South has been kept up
continuously Ia spite OF temporary fail
ures and disappoiniments. since the ser
vice % che Ocean Steamship Company.
operating between Philadelphia and sa-
yanuah. was Withdrawn, on July ], 1897.
That action caused considerable excite
ment among the merchants and manu-
facturers. who ship goods TO the South
and led 10 mass meeting being held in
the Philadelphia Bourse 90 protest against
the Withdrawal OF the line. committee
was appointed at that meeting including
representatives from every commercial
organization iu the city, for che purpose
20 trying to establish a new line to take
the place Of the one Withdrawn. Tina
committee worked FOR some months with
out success and finally abandoned the
effort
The Trades League. however. contln-
ued 20 agitute the matter, and began ne
gotiating with the various interests. hop
ing TO induce an independent steamship
company. or some already established line.
90 enter this port.
The Freight Committee OF the Trades
League. through IT, commissioner. ". y.
Kelly. ~ gotiatcd with one Of the present
coastwisc water lines. and arrangements
were about completed 20 have IL inaugu-
rate q service he'wetn Philadelphia ana
the South. but before the plans were I'm
ally cousummated other arrangements not
favorable 20 Philadelphia were made by
that line. which caused It 10 withdraw
from thc original proposition. About that
time the war with Spain broke out. ana
the Trades League Freight Committee
vas Obliged TO abandon its efforts during
She Continuance OF the war. But imme-
d.aiely after the signing Of the treaty Of
peace t9e freight committee instructed
Commissioner Kelly 20 again begin work
toward the esiab ishing 81 a new steam
ship line 10 the South.
other water lines were solicited 20 put
on line Of steamers. hut without result
Commissioner Kelly then visited most OF
the important cities In the South. and
came into communication with the differ
ent commercial bodies and the railroad
and steamship officials IN that section.
After many revcrscs. the Merchants
and Miners Transportation Company o.
Baltimore. was finally induced TO estab-
lish the present line, after resolving prom
ises OF co-operaucn from the Pennsylvan-
ia Baltimore and Ohio and Reading Rail-
road Companies
The Record enlisted early In the fight
and has steadily advocated snd worked
for the establishment OF a direct line Of
steamships from Philadelphia TO the
South"
savanuah's business men who have been
seen. heartily indorse the new line. which
will put Philadelphia on par IN water
transportation facilities with the other
great Northern ports