Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-07-23

The above tables, says Capt. Griffith, are
Incomplete. Corn" report being from Cass
vile, Dubuque and Rock Island BARLEY
from Dubuque and Rock Island "Oats"
from Cassvile, Dubuque and Rock Island,
only when the fact is that Davenport shipped
more corn, more wheat and more barley
than either Of the towns above mentioned.
Next We have carefully prepared tabular
statements BY which il 10 shoe that the
actual cost Of transporting wheat from st.
Paul or winons to New York vie St. Louis
and New Orleans, is between 10 aud 20
cents per bushel, and the actusl cost of -four
per Dbl. over the same route il 70 csnts.-
Every shipper and every farmer knows how
those figures compare with shipments per
rail by way of Chicago.
Upon these tables showing the precise
cost of river transportation, Capt. Griffith
comments and closes bis report % follows :
Excluding river frcights the rate Of
freightsge from the river shore by north
eastern routes. say rail, lake and canal at
the most favorable time. may be safely
stated ~ $1.50 per barrel for flour and 43c
per bushel for wheat price or charge
easily aud often increased by . railroad
combination. All rail transpor tation varies
80 widely that I can give no correct average
Ny returns show from <2.l7 to So The
uearest statement l can give 10 all they
can obtain
"As others may differ with me in estima-
ton, let them make their own calculations,
based on an unobstructed river. The ca
pacity Of the barges; the fuel consumed; the
cspsbilitv of the tow boat the number Of
the employees are determined, fixed facts
proven facts, and should not be altered. As
to the compensation vf the crew, thiok
the rates are . fair compensation for :he
| services rendered; the valuation Of the YES
sells and their usage, though not "war
| rates" will very soon be attainable and the
ruling rates. There certainly is ample room
to swell the freightage by river, yet trans>
port exceedingly cheap. In ocean rates
the rates Of grain from San Francisco to
New York, are. an given to understand,
| a. per ton
with respect 10 transportation Of wheat
in sacks, from the above rapids, the cost,
excluding carriage BY water, extra labor
involved, swine. deterioration Of sacks, and
other unavoidable expenses, 10 no less than
twelve cents per bushel to st. Louis to
New Orleans and New York greater, though
to what extent Il 10 fsuitless to enquire or
estimate, 40 commercial economy precludss
shipment BY that mode. IL 10 the disabili-
" Of shipment Of grain in bulk thst has
diverted our trade from ". Give ~ faeili-
ties oftransporsing in bulk, With minimum
of re>handline, and our traffic will be vast
ly increased, not only in cereals, but 10 po.
tatoes, onions, roots, bulk meats, 10 fias, oil
cheap commodities, coal Included Let it
not be supposed the cspsbility Of tow boats
is exaggerated. The tew boat Ajsx, six
boilers, has towed to New Orleans, 12.276
tons Of coal. in twenty ordinary coal fats-
ST. Louis. and the upper rivers, using model
barges, which tow easier, and are more read
lily controlled. We he'd on the Mississippi
TOW boats with eight and ten boilers.
"The commerce between the Southern
States and ourselves will. when We are en-
ablsd to carry in bulk, be immeasura6ly i'm
creased. Ous tow boats and barges. When
winter closes the upper rivsrs, can assist ia
moving the cotton and Other crop 90 mar
keA Whoeeves leooooo tho o@ouue ef loboe