The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-07

In the regular annual tra1e reFieN i"'
The city ana port OF Savannah for the
commercial year ending Aug. 81. 1870
which the Morning News presents this
morning there is much TO interest and
crafty every person who has che welfare
and progress OF the city at heart.
The facts and figures given IN the sue
ceeding columns. gathered from the most
reliable and conservative sources. sho"
individually that Savannah is founded up
on commercial bedrock. and that she ~
destined 10 be the greas mart OF the south
Atlantic section She has no, only held
her own during the twelve mon,hs. but
bettered her position all along the line.
Taking into consideration che shortage
in she cotton crop Of iSs9-ieoo as compared
with that OF the year before. savannah's
cotton receipts held up phenomsnally
well; relatively better than those OF any
other port. while the decrease at some
OF .ho other PORTS was quite heavy, Ia
vannah received within about ioeo bales
OF the number that came to her from the
great crop OF the previous season. This
Illustrating eonciusively the superiority OF
this city as q market aud export point.
Not even the most enthusiastic and opti-
mistic ''rooter'' for Savannah could rea-
sorahiy ask more than the showing that
has been made.
As 20 the volume OF business transact
ed during the year. n glance at The table
OF bank ciearingS Is sufficient to Indicate
how great It was. and how large the In
crease. The olearings for the year ag-
erezated in round numbers seOo0e0.ooo: an
increase Of sGs.O0Oo over the preceding
twelve months Il Is doubtful II there
IL another city in the United States able
10 show such a phenomenal percentage OF
Increase for the corresponding time.
The reason Of this great swelling OF the
clearingsis TO be found chiefly in the high
or prices which obtained Cor cotton. naval
stores. etc, during the period under con-
alteration. During isa9-l9m cotton aver
aged IN price about cents per pound
higher than during the year before. anu
shat difference means lot OF money
where more than one million bales are
handled. as al this port. Naval stores
ruled higher. too. throughout the year
adding millions OF dollars TO the value Of
the total of trade. And the same - true
OF lumber.
The exports for the year reached the
b,g total Of sss.757.osS. an increase Of more
.hap 100000 over the preceding year
What has been said with respect TO the
hlsher prices of cotton. naval stores anu
lumber accounting for larger bank clear
.,cs. aoulie. in a measure 10 the Increase
IN exports: but II does not cover the
ground fully. There has. as a matter Oh
fact been considerable new business
brought in By the railroads. During the
wear two great systems, the Southern anu
,he geaboard. were added 90 Savannah's
feeaere The latter OF these systems Is
tu~t now finishing up one Of the largest
and most complete terminal plants in the
limited states. on the river front. ana
shire are being loaded at It's wharves.
During the business year now opening
IA 10 be expected that many million dol
lars. worth OF freigh,s viii BE- handled at
shese new terminals. Meanwh ile the older
systems. the Central and the Plant have
maintained their established reputation as
great contributors 20 the material pros
perity Of the city.
A careful estimate. arrived al through
the averaging OF the figures Of oonserva-
tive business men. places the volume OF
business done by the stores wholesale
and retain and manufactures al not less
than gs5. 775oco. Not only Have
better prices been obtained for
commodities. but they have moved In
larger volume. Merchants ia the interior
have purchased on a more liberal scale
and collections have been good With the
better prices for cotton and naval stores.
the interior consumers have had more
money TO spend for store goods asd
they have bought with comparative free
dom. All lines OF merchandise have shared
IN the general prosperity. There Is not
on any hand any well-grounded complaints
OF the years business. Most merchants
express themselves as highly gratihed
with respect 20 the year past. and very
hopeful as 20 the one now just fairly be-
sun.
This brief summary merely touches, OF
coursc. upon the leading features Of the
years business. In the subjoined articles
on this and succeeding pages viii be found
exhaustive resumes OF operations and
movements IN the various commodities
which so 90 make up the city's trade.
Estimate of Years business.
An estimate OF the trade OF the city and
port for the year. made up from the re-
ports OF the most reliable and conserva-
tive business men. shows that the total OF
business done from sept. ]. 1899. to Aug.
81. 1900 appropriated very closely the fol-
lowing figures:
Cotton ........ ............ ......... xi2.Ooooo0
Naval stores 5000. -. ........ II .5O09lo
Groceries ............ .......... 80. iaooool
Liquors ard tobacco ........ ...... 1900 900
Lumber .......... ........... ...... 5.00p0DQ
Fertilizer and phosphates ........ 2500Oo
Dry good and notions ...... ...... 6.J00O0
Ciothins ...,.... ........ .......... s0o0Op1
Hardware ...... ........ .......... 3500ol0
Boots, shoes and hats ...... 49,. 100000
Fruits and vegetables ...... ...... goo0oD
Provisions ........ ........ ........ 2.ooooOl
Hay grain hran efc 10. oao