The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-15
TWO TRADE COMMITTEES
APPOINTED.
To Secure Cooperation With Retail
Merchants' Association.


The Retail Merchants Association
yesterday appointed the two commit
tees decided on at the meeting the aft
ernoon before. One of these, which is
to see the real estate men to secure
either their organization or their CO.
operation as individuals, consists of
Messrs. NJ. Dryfus, Thomas West and
A. S. Nichols. The second, appointed
to see representatives of other local
organizations to secure their interest
in the movement for Greater Savannah
is composed of Messrs. 1. Collat, Mich
olas Lang and L. G. Schwarzbaum.
These committees will get to work at
once and hope to be able to report to
the next meeting, which will be held
Thursday. The interest that the move
Of the merchants has created in all
business circles is shown in the fol-
lowing communication which was yes
terday received by Mr.. Sig. Gardner,
secretary of the merchants associa-
ton, and which is intended to point
out what may be done in a certain
line:
Wants Fruit Trade.
I'm November and December, 1901,
and January, 1902, the Fruit Dispatch
Company fruit importers, operating
regular steamer lines between ATTAIN
tic coast cities and the West India
Islands and Central American repub-
lies, opened offices in Savannah, en-
ploying clerks and other help and es-
tablished a line of steamers between
Savannah and the West Indies, oper-
ating regular semi-monthly sailing
dates. These steamers are under char
ter by the company, and brought in
cargoes of tropical fruits, returning
light. They could have taken out all
class of merchandise, had the people
taken any interest in the foreign bus
mess and sent out men for the purpose
of investigating trade conditions with
these islands.
This line is now operating from
our neighboring city, Charleston,
where the railroads made concessions
and inducements for the quick dis
patch of the cargoes-this being essen
tial in the fruit businessman are en-
deavoring to facilitate the business in
every manner; while here in Savan-
nah, the railroads would not give the
Fruit Dispatch Company any accom-
mediation worth mentioning, it being
next to impossible to get cars from the
roads. This had but one effect, the
company removed headquarters to
Charleston, and is now operating reg
ularly between the West Indies and
Central American republics, the mer-
chants being given an opportunity Of
developing trade between the islands.
Savannah's Opportunity.
zone attracts another, and now there
is another line of steamers out for the
same business, operating two ships,
making a total of four vessels employ
ed in this trade. giving Charleston an
opportunity to get permanent foot
hold in a business which once establish
ed, will be almost impossible to wrest
from her.
THE Importance of this trade to Sa-
Vannah is apparent to any thinking
person: it means employing additional
laborers on the docks, increased earn
ings for the railroads and pilots, bust
ness for the merchants. butchers. gro
GERS, coal merchants, ice factories-for
1t is essential than an even tempera-
ture be maintained. hence large
amount of ice is always taken on-and
1t means the circulation of money.
These fruit lines are the means of
direct communication with that vast
territory, laying to the south of us, and
with which we should have already es-
tablished relations; this trade win be
Savannah's salvation. Shall we sit
idly by and see others reap the harvest?
Charleston, Mobile, Pensacola and New
Orleans now enjoy the privilege of mo-
nopolyzing this business. What shall
we do? If the business interest take
this subject up and go to work perhaps
we would be able to have this business
returned, for Savannah certainly pos
sesses advantages as a distributing
center over Charleston"