The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-28
STORAGE FOR SPIRITS
WILL BE FURNISHED BY SAVANNAH
TANK AND SUPPLY COMPANY.
FACTORS PUSHING THE PLAN
SYSTEM WILL TEND TO MAINTAIN
TURPENTINE PRICES.

Charter for the Company Was Grant
ed in 1s94--Prices Then Went Up
and the Demand ImprOved-This
Year the Production Has Exceed
ed the Consumption for the First
Time in Five Years, However, and
the Factors Want the Tanks.
would Mean Saving What Is Now
Lost by Storing in BarreIs-Capaci-
~ Needed for From 10000 to 49,
900 Barrels.
The Savannah Tank and Supply Com
pany, for which charter was granted
in 1894, is to emerge from its dormant
condition and become an active factor in
the naval stores situation in Savannah.
Its influence upon naval stores will not be
entirely local, for Savannah is the largest
naval stores port in the world, and any
thing having effect upon the situation here
will have effect elsewhere.
Storage tanks for spirits of turpentine
will be established by the company. This
has been decided, and it but remains for
those taking the lead in the matter to
settle all the details. A gentleman con-
commission houses in the city was seen
yesterday, and the information he gave
indicated very clearly that something is
sure 20 result from the effort that is afoot
and that the city will soon be supplied
with an adequate system of tanks for
storing all the turpentine that factors
may find it desirable 20 reserve from i'm
mediate disposal.
For the first time in five years, the pro-
duction of naval stores has exceeded the
consumption. This has stirred the local
factors to consider a means for storing
tUrpentine in more satisfactory manner
than has been followed in Savannah. The
result has been a determination to go to
work under the charter secured in 1894
by Savanna hans and establish tanks.
By the establishment of such system
factors in Savannah will be enabled to
take a hand in the maintenance of prices
They will have it in their power to hold
the product in a way that will not in
volve the great loss from leakage evap-
grafton and cost Of cooperage that is
suffered when it is kept in barrels. With
low prices prevailing, the factors would
be able to hold turpentine to the capacity
Of the tanks, and so considerable an item
would exert considerable influence upon
the market, causing the prices to advance
because of the Withholding of the sup
ply.
At the time the charter for the com
pany was secured, it was the intention
of the incorporators to proceed with their
work, but there was a sudden advance in
prices and an improvement in the de-
mand for the product. Under this inf1u-
ence, the movement for tanks was given
over, to be taken up again now. The need
for them is just as great as ever, and the
factor who gave the information is con-
WINGED that they will be secured.
why is it," he was asked, that Sa-
vannah, being so great a naval stores
port, has never had the tanks?"
THAT is question" he replied, that
cannot be answered. They should have
been here long ago. Jacksonville, Tampa,
Mobile, Pensacola and New Orleans have
such tanks, and there is no reason why
Savannah should not. The loss entailed
by keeping turpentine in barrels is enor-
nous, while, in tanks, it would be of no
moment
st is designed to establish tanks of
5000 barrels capacity. 1 do not know how
many such tanks will be required, but 1
should say there will be need for ca
pacity of from 10000 to $4,000 barrels for
the accommodation of Savannahs bust
ness. 1 cannot say what the price for
such a tank would be, as 1 have not
looked into that phase of the question
since seven years ago, when the com
pany was organized.
Another factor was asked about the
project, and he said he thought the tanks
would cost about 5000 each. 1t is the
purpose to establish the tanks near the
terminals of the Plant System, the Gen.
trail and the. Seaboard Air Line, as that
would mean a convenience for the fac
tors and economy in transportation. The
various commission firms will have repre-
sentation in the company, and charges
will be made for storage.