The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-16
FREIGHT BUREAU WOUND UP.
WAS FORMALLY DIsCoyTINUED by
THE SUBSCRIBERS.


The, Benefits Resuiting From the
bringing of the Troops to savnn-
nah, was Due TO the Efforts
OF the Bureau-Board of Trade he
auested, TO Take Up the WOrI<-The
Bureau Closes Its Work with n
Clear Financial Record.
The Savannah Bureau OF Freight and
Transportation is now thing OF the past.
At the adjourned annual meeting of the
subscribers held at the rooms of the bu-
reau in the Board OF Trade building yes
terday at noon it,was formally decided
that the bureau should be discontinued and
the charter SURRENDERED. This step was
taken with great regret by the subscribers
present all of whom had taken a deep in
terest in the organization and work of the
bureau and who fully realized the benefits
which had resulted to Savannah by reason
of it's existence. sN
This step was foreseeu at the annual
meeting held Nov. T. owing to the lack Of
interest manifested in the work of the bu-
reau by many OF the subscribers. 1t was
decided however, to take further time in
which to present the question TO the sub
scribers by circular letter and by personal
solicitation on the part of the directors
The step taken yesterday shows that these
efforts were not successful The eubscrip-
lions guaranteed for the current year only
amount to about 81 $780, or about one-hslf
the minimum amount required TO sus-
tain the bureau for the year.
The meeting was presided over
by the president, Gen. W. w. Cor
don, among the others present being the
secretary, Capt. w. w. Williamson, Col j.
H. Estln, Mr.. B. II. Levy, and Commits
sloner D. G. Purse. OF the $S,6SS.3S sub
scribed for the last year ala, with the ex-
ception of $780, was represented in person
or by proxy The reports showing that
only 81, 800 has been subscribed for the
present year, whereas the charter required
SO, 500 as a minimum amount, IL was de-
cided to discontinue the bureau and sur
render the charter and a resolution to this
effect by Co. EstiH was adopted. The
resolution included The following clause:
THAT the Board of Trade be and 1t is
hereby requested 10 continue the work
heretofore performed by this organization,
namely the advancement of the COM
mercial interests of Savannah in the mat
ter of securing just and equal rates ON
freights into and out of this city and the
territory tributary thereto.
A resolution offered by Capt. William
son, was adopted rendering the thanks
of the bureau to Capt. ID. c.. Purse its
commissioner during the five years of its
existence, ''for his faithful labors and I'M
firing energy in carrying out the purposes
for which the bureau was organized" 1t
was decided that the books and documents
of the bureau be turned over by the Com
70, fha lnaF of
The bureau was fortunate in having suf-
ficient funds in hand to meet all out
standing obligations of every kind and
will close its existence without single
dollar of indebtedness remaining unpaid.
Capt. Purse requests that all outstanding
bills be promptly presented in order that
the funds in hand for this purpose may
be disbursed at once.
The dissolution of the freight
bureau has been foreseen for some time,
owing to the gradual falling off in the
subscriptions For instance, in 1898 the
subscriptions amounted to $500, while
last year they were barely sufficient to
come within the charter requirements,
while for this year the subscriptions were
barely half the required amount Many
of the smaller subscribers, for amounts
of $40 to SIS, representing the smaller re-
tail dealers, declined to subscribe again
this year, and many Of the larger sub
scribers cut down their subscriptions, thus
making it impossible to secure the requir-
ed amount.
The general lack of interest is evidently
due TO the feeling that the state of affairs
al present no longer requires the mainte~
nance of freight bureau, which is in it.
self tribute to the work of the organiza-
ton. The fact that the work of the freight
bureau during the last two years has not
been confined strictly to rate questions,
but that it has taken a leading part in ev-
cry movement affecting the business well
fare of the city seems to have been over
looked. When it is remembered that it was
Largely due to the effective efforts of the
officers of the bureau that the advantages
offered by Savannah as a suitable location
for the encampment of the army which
was TO be embarked for Cuba, and as
port for the embarkation and debarkation
of troops going to and returning from
Cuba and Porto Rico, were brought to the
attention of the war department and Sa-
yannah selected as the chief headquarters
oe the army in the Southeast, IL will be
1een that the results of This one item OF
work of the bureau more than repaid the
community for the entire amount expend-
ed for the maintenance Of the bureau dur
ing the five years of its existence. AS the
results of this successful move on the part
of the bureau thousands of troops were
encamped here for months at time, large
thousands of dollars for supplies, and Sa-
vannah was made the headquarters for the
transport service to and from Cuba and
Porto Rico, which in itself furnished a
very profitable and lucrative business TO
the port. The money expended here by
the government ran up into the millions,
of which hundreds of thousands were ex-
pended directly among the business people
of the city, the smaller tradesmen receiv-
ing their full share of the benefit.
The good effects Of this lucky stroke of
business on the part of the bureau are still
felt in Savannah. Besides the benefits
from the money expended here, thousands
of soldiers and civilians from all parts
of the country, few Of whom would have
ever come here otherwise, were brought to
Savannah, and gained a most favorable
impression of the city. one business man.
whose establishment is not by any means
a large one, stated recently that his clear
profits last year were S27, 600, fully half
of which was due 70 the presence of the
soldiers.
CONSOLIDATING tboga farfa L. fo gas,,o,.,t,ot