New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-05-19
THE TRIBUNE.
THE Lead Trade of the Great West.

u he Editor Of The tribune:
In late number Of your journal it is stated
that q if there was a Railroad from Milwaukee
". t. to the Mississippi, and the tolls reduced
On Lead passing through the Ere Canal about
250O0,000 pounds of Lead would be sent Last
br the Lake route" The amount OF tins a!'lcie
shipped from the port in question IN the year
1912 was two and a half millions pouho' anu
al the latest accounts there were three huhoreu
tons awaiting shipment. a..
The Board Of Canal Commissioners OF lsiS
State. in 1904, fixed the toll on Lead at TWO
nile Nor mile on each 1000 pounds; but the
,,essn, BOARD. believing this reduction TO have
bsen made without lawful authority, increased
,be rates for the current year to four and hall
a,;rs-beinr an addition of 100 per cent. 1t IS
bsI;cycd that there was proposition brought be-
fs.a tho legislature at IFS recent Session, i'll some
o- or other. to reduce the toll on lead per cent
t,om the rate of 1912, or from two mills to half
mill ner mile on each 900 pounds; what It's fate
a.as is not known to the writer.
The result and bearing Of these rates are thus
stated in the Racine CIV. r. Advocate:
uTbe toll on 900 pounds Of Lead. passing
from Buffalo to Albany, at half mill, IS -
cen,s: at four and half mills, it amounts TO
81 63-making a difference Of 81 10 The
difference would be nearly equal to the cost Of
Transporting the Lead TO the Ncw-lorIi market
10 New. Orleans and the interest on the capital
Invested, allowing two or three months for the
emeIter TO receive returns. The profits on Lead
.r co small. that none but the heavy dealers
make money at it; and add a few cents per
1000 pounds on the cost of transportation, and
i would be losing business. Should the high
rate of toll be continued by New \ orlS, nearly t
not quite all the Wisconsin Lead will take the
Southern route on the other hand, should New
York reduce the rates to half Il mill, all the Wis
konsan. and large share of the Illinois Lead
will 90 by the Lakes
Under these circumstances, the true policy for
New York to pursue would seem not to admit OF
doubt. The subject is one which affects not only
br Treasury, but likewise the interests of great
numbers of her citizens engaged in the carrying
trade, as well as of many engaged in mercantile
business in Buffalo Albany and New \ orli for
il cannot be doubted that the avai!s of the Lead
would be carried home not in the shape of Money
hut in that of Groceries, Dry Goods, &c. Nor
will any one who is acquainted with the enter
prslng character oil Inc people OF W lSho'Sai' ioi
moment suppose that they would be slow to CO.
Operate with us by opening, if not Railroad,
rood common roads from Milwaukee and other
points on Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River.
The introduction of the policy now under dis
cussion into the management of our Canals,
would constitute an era in the history OF this
State. By concert of action with the States oil
Ohio and Indiana, vast quantities of Produce
from the Southern portion of those States and
from The great State of Kentucky. especially her
Tobacco,) might be made to swell orr trade.
This statement is not rashly advcnturcd and 1t
is TO be hoped that the subject will command the
attention Of those TO whose keeping the dcstinlcs
of Ncw-Yorl have, for the time being, been en-
trusted. MERcAToH.