The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-01
WITH THE STEAMSHIPS.
Operators of the Inland Lines Dur
ing 1902-O3.


Savannah's inland steamboat lines
have for many years shown
steady development, and the ex-
tensions and added facilities
made by them during the old year
show it to have been no exception.
Better boats have been added to the
different fleets, and general improve
ment in the service has encouraged
shippers to patronize the lines hber-
ally.
The business of the inland steam
ers has been much more profitable
the past season because there have
been much larger freights to haul and
competition has to some extent been
eliminated. This has not been done
by any selling out of one line to an
other, as was the case during pre-
vious reasons, but by harmonious
agreements between them, resulting in
an apportionment of traffic The boats
in this way have applied in their man
agement the principal of the big rail-
roads to avoid disastrous rate cutting,
which left them, while this was going
on, without sufficient profit. The
past year they have done WELL and
cheerful reports come from those ac-
tive in their management.
The up-riVer business is controlled
by two companies, the Southern Trans
portation Company, whose steamers ply
between Savannah and Augusta, and
better known as the Gibson Line.
Through business from the East, via
the coastwise liners, and through nusl-
ness bound North from the interior,
is handled by this company which
takes the freight direct from the
steamers here and delivers it in the
interior. and collects freight from Au-
gusta down and also delivers 1t TO
the coastwise liners here to be hauled
North. 5.
BY an understanding with the Sa-
vannah River Steamboat Company, the
latter runs only between Savannah and
Stoney Bluff, and is given complete
control of all traffic to and from all
landings between Savannah and that
point. This leaves the Southern Trans
portation Company complete control of
all landings between Stoney Bluff and
Augusta and all through business. That
the arrangement has been profitable is
indicated by the mutual satisfaction
and better relations which exist be-
tween these companies. The Southern
TRANSPORTATION Company owns and op-
crates the steamboats, Louise, Ethel,
Katie and others. No new boats were
bought during the year.
1t has been the policy of this COM
pany to build it's boats in Savannah,
and this has been done in one or two
instances. They built the iron hull
steamboat Louise, which is one of the
fastest and best equipped on the river.
The Savannah River Steamboat Com
pany owns the steamboat Two States,
which is large and commodious car
rier. This company has not only given
satisfaction to it's patrons in it's de-
liveries on the river, but during the
season it has run a number of excur-
sions to neighboring RESORTS. It's Off
GERS are: P. H. Haddon, president;
c. H. Hardee, secretary and treasurer,
and Arthur Haddon, agent. It's wharves
and warehouses are at the foot of Bull
street.
Beach's Beaufort Boats.
The Beaufort line is operated
by Capt. George U. Beach, owner
Of the steamers Clayton and
Clifton. The business on this line dur
ing the season has been on the whole
satisfactory. The removal of the naval
station from Port Royal to Charles
ton was felt, however, and but for this
the chances are the showing for the
past year would have been a better
one. AS it is the steady DEVELOPMENT
furnishes a great deal of traf-
fic, which Capt. Beach has taken care
of with complete satisfaction. The pol
icy of keeping these boats in fine re-
pair is popular one, because it enables
them to better make their schedules and
carry freight, and the cleanliness
aboard adds to the pleasure of patrons.
A trip by boat from Savannah to Beau
fort is one of the delights of the sum-
mer visitors, and the passenger travel
FOR the year shows that many include
this trip in the itinerary about Sa-
vannah.
The Georgia Carolina Navigation
Company, Capt. Harry A. Strobhar.
agent, with wharves foot of Whitaker
street, has been very successful with
the steamboat Louise on the Bluffton
line. During the year they declared a
substantial dividend on their capital
of $4,000. They own the Louise.
which was bought from Charleston
parties and brought over to take the
place of the steamboat Doretta. which
will be remembered as one of the old
est steamboats, on the South Atlantic
Coast. She has since gone to pieces
after long and faithful service in the
waters between Savannah and Bluff
ton.
Talked of New Line.
Talk was heard during the year
about an inland steamboat line TO
Florida ports to bring naval stores
here for both coastwise and foreign ex
port. 1t was thought that il naval
stores could be towed up on lighters
and if possible landed direct from
them on steamers on which the stuff
was to be exported, that il would he
great convenience to the exporter
and popular business move. II was
realized that the active forest OPERA
lions IN naval stores was drifting far
Their and farther south, and largely In
recognition OF this further considera'
ton was given the idea OF a new line
The existing lines are giving salts
factory service In the territory thew
reach. As new territory develops ma
the demand FOR transportation arises
me enterprise OF savannah steamboat
ply the facilities, NNP