The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-13
FROM WATER FRONT
TALK OF STEAMBOAT. COMPANIES
REACHING AN AGREEMENT.
THEY MAY AGREE TO RATES.
NEITHER LINE CARES TO MAKE
FIRST CRACK FOR PEACE.

FIRST CRACK FOR PEACE.
1t Is Said Rates Have Been Lowered
Until Neither Line Makes Any
thinE-Bark entine e. S. Powell to
Load PiIes-BuII Street Wharf Be-
ing ImprOved-Matters of Interest
10 shippers and Mariners.
While it is not understood that the
initiative has ben taken by either side,
it is rumored in steamboat circles that
there is the possibility of the Savan-
nah River Steamboat Company and the
Southern Transportation Company
coming to terms which may end their
present proftless contest for business.
Neither side has taken the lead in
treating for peace for the reason that
they are at war for business, and the
one that intimated a willingness to
divide territory would evidently be re-
garded as hosting a flag of truce
pending terms of capitulation, which
neither cares to do.
If reports are correct it seems there
is possibility of the lines coming to
an understanding about rates. In dis
cussing this yesterday an interested
party said he saw no reason why rates
should be cut to point at which nei-
Their line could make money, when they
could agree upon scale, and then
fight for the business the same as they
are doing now. Talk of putting up
earnest money of $500 and $1,000 to
abide by agreed rates has been heard,
but 1t is not known from which side it
comes. Unless the competing lines
reach some such agreement the indi-
cations are the fight will be one of the
longest drawn out in the history of
Savannah river steampoat transporta-
ton. Rates have already been cut to
a point which prevents either line
making anything on, the business han
died.
With the completion of the new
steamboat Two States the Savannah
River Company will tackle the South
ern on it's through business, or the
freight it takes from the steamships
to Augusta and the interior. The fact
that the competition is gradually
growing keener is probably what has
given rise to the talk of some sort
of settlement by dividing territory,
agreeing upon a table of rates and
fighting for the business, or some 9TH
er plan.
Stevedore j. L. Graham will begin
loading the barkentine E. S. Powell
with piles to-day. The effort all along
in loading these vessels has been to
put as many piles into them as posi-
BILE, as they are chartered by the cargo.
1t takes anywhere from seven to
twelve days to load a schooner with
piles. 1t is said the movement of this
freight to the North has only begun,
and that it will be kept up at a lively
rate throughout the winter.
The Savannah River Steamboat
Company is making further repairs to
its wharf, foot of Bull street Some
time ago new flooring was laid on
part of the wharf and now the COM
pany is refiooring that part adjoin-
ing the Seaboard Air Line landing
dock.
The collector of customs of Savan-
nah asks the attention of the master
of any vessel clearing from this port
for the French West Indies to the fol-
lowing extracts from a letter of the
United States consul at Guadeloupe
dated the 4th inst:
Il have the honor to report that two
NdSCS having occurred WlInln the past
few months of vessels of the United
States arriving in this port without
manifests of cargo thereby mourning
fines that can only be called enormous,
and entailing considerable work upon
this consulate to have them reduced
believe that full explanation of the
customs regulations in force here on
that subject should be given shipown-
ers, charterers, freighters and masters.
NY 81,
port, whether in Gaudeloupe or Mar
Unique, or any other French colony, or
at any port of France, should have a
carefully made manifest in accordance
with these laws. 1t should express
not only the cargo by bales, etc, with
marks and numbers as set forth, but
also full list of all ships stores
spare sails. etc. provisions, ETC., under
their proper denomination.
1T would be useful to carry an ex-
ira copy of the manifest to be depos-
tied, on arrival, with the United States
consul. The expense of making this
copy would be small as compared with
the advantages to be gained at times
The ship should therefore have: An
original manifest for the custom
house, copy for the boarding Gus
toms officer; a copy for the consul
and probably a copy for the master of
the vessel; four in ALL q.
French Customs Law: Germinal
Year II. March "a, 1898. Title III, Ar
ticle mo merchandise shall be inn
ported by sea either from a foreign
port or from French port without
manifest signed by the captain which
shall set forth the nature of the cargo
with the marks and numbers written
out in full of the cases, bales, barrels.
hogsheads, etc.
Article 2. If the manifest is not
shown, if any merchandise are lacking
in it, or II there is any difference be-
tween the merchandise and the man.
ifest the captain shall personally be
fined in a sum equal to the value of
the omitted or differing merchandise
and fine of 1000 livres.
Article s. The captain, when arrived
within four leagues of the coast. shall
give, when he is asked for IT a copy of
the manifest TO the inspector who shall
board him and who shall wise the orig
inal
Passengers bT Steamships.