The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-27
Line OF SHIPS
To CUBAN PORT
INTERESTS BUSINESS MEN.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMIT
TEE TO INVESTIGATE SUBJECT.

VIII Probably Consult Steamship
Companies and Railroads Now
Having Terminal Facilities at
This Port Relative to Support That
Can Be Counted on From Them.
Committee Appointed TO Invite
Judge Speer to Make Savannah
His Home.
The directors of the Chamber of
Commerce held an important meeting
| yesterday afternoon and matters of
more than usual interest came uD.
Chief of these in Importance was the
discussion of the possibility and plans
for securing a steamship line between
this port and Cuba, probably Havana.
There has long been a feeling
among the business men of the city
that such a line should be secured as
| it would mean a large additional bust
ness for this port, and this section, and
the plan will meet with hearty support
if it should be launched
An investigation of the possibilities
of such a line was started quietly
some time ago and Mr.. w. ]. Donlan,
secretary of the Chamber of Com
merce. was able to read a lengthy
communication from Cuba, in which
much valuable information was given
| as TO the class and quantity of freight
which might be expected from that
| island, the preferences of shippers, the
| advantages of such a route, and the
probability of developing large pas
senger traffic of tourists going south
in the winter, and of Cubans going
| north in the summer.
The writer of the letter took a most
| optimistic view of the possibilities of
the plan and thought that such a line
| could be successfully established with
| but one steamer that should be able to
accommodate a fair amount of freight
some $50 passengers, all first class, and
| have a speed of approximately IS
| knots an hour.
To Interest Transportation Cos.
The entire matter was referred by
| the directors to the Committee on
Transportation, of which Mr.. F. G.
Battey is chairman. 1t is probable that
this committee will have a conference
| with the proper officers of the Ocean
Steamship Company and the Mer-
OAidllto anu AllIIClS IAdDSpOIl OOIIl-
| pany, as we'll as the officers of the
Central of Georgia. 1t is not improb-
able that other lines may also be con-
suited relative to the support that they
would give to such a line.
1t having been reported that Judge
Emory Speer, of the United States
| Court, contemplates changing his home
from Macon, it was decided to invite
him. if he makes such a change, to
take up his residence in Savannah. To
| extend this invitation to him, a COM
mittee was appointed consisting of Col
j. HI. Estill, president of the Chamber
of Commerce; Mr.. Frank NJ. Oliver,
Gen. w. w. Gordon, Mr.. A. B. Moore
and Mr.. Leopold Adler.
To Invite 4. p. AS Here.
Mr.. B. H. Levy, on behalf of the
| Travellers Protective Association, ask
| ed that the Chamber of Commerce
again appoint Mr.. Robert NJ. Hitch to
go as its representative to the annual
| convention of the national gathering
I. F. A. to extend an invitation on
behalf of Savannah that the conven-
ton of 1905 be held in this city.
AS has been stated, Mr.. Hitch went
on a similar mission last year when
the convention met at INDIANAPOLIS
Ind. He bore at that time a request
for the convention for Savannah, not
only from the Chamber of Commerce
but from the local branch of the T.
P. A, from the Board of Trade, the
Mayor and Aldermen, and the Cotton
Exchange. Each of these organiza-
lions and bodies will be requested to
repeat this invitation this time
Hitch Secured Support.
On his former visit MIR. Hitch sue
ceeded in impressing the convention
most favorably in regard to Savannah,
|
the officers of the convention could not
assure him that this city would be Sc
lected they expressed the desire that IT
should be and promised their influence
to that end. Since that time the ma
tional president of the order Mr.. Don
ham o: St. Louis. has been in Savan-
nah, en- route home from the state con-
vention at Augusta. a few months agu.
and he. too. promised his influence t =,
have the convention brought here.
The petition that was made to the
Chamber OF Commerce yesterday was
referred to the Executive and Finance
Committee with power to act. AS the
delegates to the national convention,
which will be held at Springfield. Ill
this year. will leave the early part of
next week. immediate action on this
| question is necessary, and a meeting
of the committee will be held this aft
ernoon.
Change in Directors.
Two changes were made in the per-
sonnet of the directors yesterday. Be-
cause of his removal from the city Mr..
John NJ. Egan resigned his position on
the board and Mr.. j. D. Carswell also
| resigned for business reasons These
places were filled by the unanimous
election of Messrs. w. Trenholm Hop
kins and J. B. Chestnut.
Thirteen new members were elected
as follows:
Messrs. P. R. Cohen, George T..
Whttemore. John Fitzgerald, NJ NJ.
Stewart w. M. Bennett George j.
Mills, f. HICKMAN, ]. H. Hoffman, w.
T. Rainey, F. S. Van Giesen, H. l.
Frank, Max Krauss and A. Gutman.
There was some routine business
transacted and Mr.. w. ]. Donlan also
made a report of work in the interest
of the city that he has lately been en-
| gagged on.
Atlantic Coast Line, with its quick