New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-28

arx and in good order. Each common -four bar
rel will hold about three and one-third bushels,
FOR which the freight from Indianapolis to this
CITY il about 81 40 to 81 60 per barrel; and as
a general rule, the charges on rolling freight
on every line Of railroad is from fifteen to twenty
per cent less than on other freight. Aud in-
depepdeut of the evident economy of this sys-
tenn. there ia another consideration which CON-
mepds itself to the attention of farmers. IL is
well known that grain is even more liable to
heat and spoil in bags than il is in bulk; whue
in barrels it is impossible to stow it in position
which will prevent the circulation of the air
around t-aud if the wood Of which the barrel
is made be well seasoned, it will absorb and dry
ont auy moisture which may be in the grain.
For in the transportation of grain from the
warehouse to the cars, vessel or stoFeroOm, it is
often necessary to do part of the work IN un-
favorable Wonderland thus, in Winter time,
SLOW frequently drifts into the cars and moist
ems the bags, and in this or some way they are
dampened; and then, if packed in bulk, there
frequently ensues more injury from mold and
other causes than the vi ole cost of barreng
would amount to. A friend of ours who has had
A great deal Of experience in this matter, estl-
mate the saving to the farmer at at least six
cents bushel on every bushel of grain sent
10 this market in barrels; in fact, that by the
present system Of sending it in bulk or bags
the farmer is losing six cents a bushel at the
yery lowest estimate.
There is another view of the matter, in the
consideration that the manufacture OF the bar
reIs would add so much more to the productive
interest of the country. What vast amount
of raw material, quite worthless in wooded
region, it would convert into cash for each
buyer of the grain would pay the value of the
barrel at the point where it changed hands
when it reached France it would be worth its
original cost for re wood; for there fuel is sold
by the pound at a high price. At any rate there
would be no loss "a in the case Of bags, while in
cost of freight, handling, storage, leakage, wet
age, injury from mustiness, &c, there would
be considerable balance in favor of the barrels.
With Indian Corn this saving would be more
important than with Wheat; because it is grain
so low in price that it will not bear costly trans
poriation When Corn is only worth % cents a
busbel at point in the West, whence 1t
costs so cents to get it here, difference OF
six cents bushel in freight may entirely pre-
vebt it from being sent forward, as the market
price would not allow higher rate of freight,
ard any increase would take so much from the
farmers low price. But there is yet another
fact regarding the transportation of grain
in barrels, that is worthy of consideration.
The motion of the cars keeps the kernels of
grain in the barrels in constant m )tiOn, and the
natural tendency is to follow tse circle round
and round, instead of settling down to the bot
tom as it does in bags or bulk. This has been
proved by experiment. Beside this, the fire.
qoent rolling OF the barrels gives motion to the
grain and helps to keep it sweet If there
should be any danger of dampness it is sug-
gested that few dry corn.cobs or husks amoog
the grain would be likely to prove preventive.
In conclusion we are quite confident mat il
these hints should be folio we'd by the majority
of western farmers, the amount of money saved
in a e year would be as much a source of sur
nrise M self cOngratulatiO