The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-22
AFTER LOWER DUTY
BOARD OF TRADE WANTS RUSSIA
To RECONSIDER.
DUTY ON R0SIN TOO HIGH
CAPT. PURSE SENT DISPATCH TC
SECRETARY OF STATE.


Jensen Adheres to His View That
the Increase in the Duty Would
Scarcely Affect the American Elk
pOrts-Lenrns From Private Adj
vices That the Advance on ROsin
Is Not 80, But 20, Per Cent.-Capt
PURSES Figures on the Georgia
Crop--Factor Thinks Convention
Would Not Serve.
The Savannah Board OF Trade protests
against the imposition by Russia of an
| increase in the duty on rosin exports
from this country. A meeting of the
board was held yesterday, when the eff
feet of the increase upon the naval stores
trade was discussed. The general opin-
| ion was that the increase will mean that
American rosin exports would diminish,
and it was agreed to have the President
send the following dispatch to the Sec
rotary of State:
Savannah Board of Trade prays that
you will throw weight of your influence
in meeting of cabinet to-day in favor
of measures that will relieve products
| of South Atlantic and Gulf states from
onerous impositions of Russian govern
ment on account of dispute over sugar
| importa tons
Russias action in increasing the duty
was result of the United States having
raised the duty on importations of sugar
from Russia. In a spirit of retaliation
Russia raised on American bicycles and
on American rosin. The announcement
of the advances was made three or four
days ago.
Mr.. H. Jensen, manager of the foreign
department of the S. P. Shotter Company,
exporters of naval stores was seen the
day the announcement of the increase
| appeared Mr. Jensen gave the Morning
News an interview then, in which he was
quoted as saying that he thought no ma
terial results would follow the advance
in the duty. He based his opinion upon
his own personal experience and upon his
information, much of it derived. from ia
miliarity with the situation through bust
| ness trips abroad. He believes France
cannot supply the northern ports OF Rus
STA, even with the duty on rosin in her
favor, as against the United States,
though it might be able to control the
trade with the Black Sea ports. The use
of rosin in the north of Russia is so ex-
can be filled in no other way than by
having recourse to the American product
Despite the fears of the trade, Mr. Jen-
sen, when seen yesterday, was of the
same opinion.
1t has been currently reported that the
increase in the duty on rosin from the
United States was 80 per cent. of the
former duty. This is not in accord with
private advices received by Mr.. Jensen
from the St. Petersburg representatives
of his firm. The advance is 20, instead of
80 per cent.
Naturally, however, Mr.. Jensen said.
the trade would feel some alarm over the
increase in the duty 1t would be feared
that exports to Russia would be cut off,
but he does not think that there is any
reason for worry.
Capt. Purse has been supplying infor-
nation relative to the naval stores sftua-
ton to a correspondent at the North. A
recent communication, addressed to Mr..
N. w. Armstrong, New York, is as fol-
lows:
Replying further to your valued fav-
or of 25th ultimo, beg to say that, in
order to answer your question. have
had to determine for the first time the
crop of Georgia, for which you ask
1T has involved much labor in gath.
ering statistics and in settling Georgia
proportions of the mass of production
represented by them, and as the result
l find that the crop of Georgia for year
April l, 1900. to April l, 190l,sis in spirits
turpentine 24s,742 casks of 50 gallons
each, and s20,79S packages of rosin. aver.
aging sos pounds each, and equal to l..
4SO357 commercial barrels of $50 pound:
each.
While the receipts at Savannah are
maintained, and the past year shows
gain. the crop of Georgia is slowly di
minishing from year to year.
This year shows smallest crop fcl
Georgia in past seven or eight years. TIL,
increase in receipts at this port ar,
therefore due to the superior advantages
possessed by Savannah naval stores fac
I tors for handling and shipping the prod
, ucts of the farms of this and ADJOINING
states at minimum charges for .sthes,
items of expense" ta
The letter that appeared In the Morn
ing News yesterday from Tampa nava
stores man was read by many interested
in the business in Savannah. The writer
suggests convention of factors and op
orators for the correction Of certain ex
listing drawbacks in the naval stores bust
ness. He wants the prices of labor mad,
uniform, the number of boxes to be Gu
J 10 be agreed upon, care taken OF timber
] and measures adopted that would prov,
effective in keeping up the prices upor
the products.
A prominent factor was seen about tn,
letter, and his view was that such a con
vention would be very well If it coult
I only effect tho measures suggested. o.
that. however. he has grave doubts
There would be no chance, he says, t
( get enough of the factors and opera tors
: together TO have the representation gree
enough 10 really control the business. TIL,
agreements that might be reached woulC
not, therefore, be sufficiently general.
T The establishment of the storage tanl
system. now in process OF construction
the factor thinks, will serve to a certain
r extent to make prices of spirits remain
! at a figure that will be equitable to al
concerned. AS 1t Is he says. the marke
is so manipulated as to send prices up o.
{ down at will. With storage tanks, n
e which thousands of barrels of spirits ma!
. be kept. the factors will be given an op
portunity to exercise some control owe
the situation. and they will be giveI
greater power in the naval stores mar
ket than they now exercise.