The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-01
TIE BUSINESS SEASON OF 1oO2-a.

| line. Her commerce increased, a wild
err extent of territory became tributa-
ny to her, there was a very consider
able growth in her population and the
number of new buildings erected was
so large as to make glad the hearts of
the owners and dealers in the city's
real estate.
The most noticeable thing during the
year in connection with the city's COM
merce was the increase in the cotton
receipts. The increase was between
100000 and zoo, 900 bales of upland cot
ton and between 10000 and 80, 900 bales
of sea island cotton. The receipts were
the greatest in the history of the port
That means of course that a larger
percentage of the cotton of the state
is passing through this port and also
that cotton is being brought from more
distant points in other states. Cotton
would not be coming here from such
far away points if 1t were not for the
fact that this port offers better facil-
tiles for handling cotton and the adj
ditionaI fact that there is an advan-
tage to be obtained here in the matter
of price.
And the ports facilities for handling
cotton are better now than ever be-
fore. Additional warehouses for shell
tering the cotton have been erected
within the last few months and the
steamship service for carrying the
cotton to its destination has been
greatly improved. New and bigger
steamers have been added to the coast
wise service and the two foreign lines
that were established last year are so
well pleased with the result of their
experiment that they will increase the
number OF their ships this season.
A year or so ago there was talk to
the effect that the competition of
interior towns would injure Savan-
nah's trade in long staple cotton. The
figures which we publish to-day show
that the talk was without foundation.
The long staple comes here, and will
continue to come, because this is the
best market for it there is in the en-
tire country. The buyers are here and
that makes competition, and competi-
ton keeps up the price.
There was a falling off in the naval
stores receipts. but the signs multiply
that the loss in this branch of the
city's commerce will not be as great
as many thought it would be when it
became evident that the Florida ports
were determined that the products OF
Florida's forests should be shipped
through them. A very considerable
amount of naval stores now
goes to Pensacola, Jacksonville
and Fernandina, but Savannah
makes the price for both spir-
it's and resins. That fact is well
understood by producers. And they
also understand that If the best prices
are to be obtained there must be COM
petition. Therefore, producers, even
at far away Florida points, are ship
ping to Savannah in order to encourage
competition AS none of the Florida
ports are open markets there can be
no competition there. There is no in
centive therefore to ship to them, ex-
cept a slight saving in freight
charges. Competition in Savannah's
open market quickly overcomes that.
But what Savannah has lost in ma
val stores she has more than made up
in the increase in her cotton, lumber
and phosphate rock shipments. Not
only was there a marked increase in
the volume of exports during the past
year, but also in the imports. Never
before in the history of the city were
the Custom House receipts so large.
And in all of the other kinds of bust
ness-business that can be properly
classed as the commerce of the port
there was activity above the normal
and an increase in volume that justi-
fies the brightest expectations of the
ports future. The fertilizer manu-
facturers did well and the Wholesale
merchants, in all lines of business.
speak of the year as being a good one.
While the cigar factory is the only
important factory established within
the last year there have been additions
to a number of factories. making them
much greater contributors to the city's
prosperity.
The Chamber of Commerce, an insti-
tuition recently established for the ad-
vancement of the city's welfare, has
number of industrial enterprises in
hand, and it is a safe proposition that
before another year there will be a
considerable increase in the city's fac
tories. Factories are needed since
they afford employment for the citys
rapidly increasing population.
The building done during the past
year is the best kind of evidence of
the city's steady growth. New build
ings are being erected all the time,
east. south and west, but particularly
in the southern section. There wouldn't
be this activity in building if there
were not a demand for additional
homes. Among the more pretentious
buildings are two erected by banks,
one a branch and the other to be the
home of one of the city's leading 1inan-
.cial institutions.
That the city is forging ahead there
is no doubt. And the present season
will in all probability be record
breaking one. With the price of cotton
higher than it has been in many years
the farmers will have more money
than they will know what to do with.
They will spend 1t and that will help