Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-07
New system Of River. Trans
BGr9IIsln.

NEW tfa
pOrt1TS0n.
Il is a little curious that with the
greatest river of the continent flowing at
cur feet AMI furnishing uninterrupted
navigation from the great granerics of
the Northwest 20 tie ocean, our bulky
cereals have been widely diverted Ly
commercia, combinations from their
naturally tendency 70 float down the cur
rent 10 The sea. as through route nf
Commerce TO the ocean the Mississippi
has been Of yciyI.tile value 10 tic North
west, for tie reason that the immense
natural superiority of its water line as q
channel Ct transportation has been almost
wholly nu;ra!.zed hy tho expensive
moles Of trauspoI;at on and 10y the
cbscuce Of any organized system of
through .'ansit 10 the gulf or Of transfer
% cccau bottoms. During tie Jas, two
or three years however move
meut Las hcea iuaugurated 70
le3u'c The cost Uf river transportation
Ey thc substitution Cf barge fleets lowed
Us powerful iugS, ,La, combining tie max
inum Of Tonnage capacity. With the min
imam % running expenses FIR tie cx
peusivo steamboats, Ia use, whose car
T;agc capacity IS very small in proportion
IL lle.r cost aud running cypcnses.--
Ei,Lin n Few years Jargcs Lave greatly
ma.,iP'ic' IS ircigh.els or transport ten
dcrs 10 ~. sCH1er steamboats,. Last year
tie atiemp, WAS made under tic auspices
Of the Atlantic aui Mississippi Steam
boat Company. at s., Louis, TO organize
regular iiEo of bargas and transports
in connection with cccqu bottoms and
floating elevators ~ New Orleans. &
gIcat iiEpTovemS' OF t'sis scheme has
beeu proposed by Mr. Charles Merry, Of
Dubuque. who IS constructing, III that
place, . Gcct Of elevator Oargcs, with
improved apparatus fer tie transfer Of
grain - tuF. Several Ct these bargcs
are already La:ll, ard ia a few DAYS, rs
VIC learn. from Tie Dubuque Times, the
steamer Ocean Wave vi! leave Dubuque
with SIX Of Nr. Merry's barges in
Tow, eRch having capacity Of $4,000
bushels. This grain he proposes to
piaco IN New I0lk IL tota! cost for river
aud Ocean transportation Of 30 cents per
buslel, leaving . margin 10 the Dubuque
shippers os / : NJ 90 cents per bushcl-
The COS, e. New Orleans will be 40 cents.
aud Mr. Merry has received PROPOSALS. to
carry wheat from New Orleans - New
York, aui even To England ut 10 cents
per bus!icI. Tac Tunes saws:
Numerous letters from eastern parties
have been received hy him, urging linn
10 start tue enterprise, aud agreeing 10
carry all the grain he can put into their
hands ut the above rate. Besides these,
propositions have come from New York
from commercial men who wish 10 know
what they can bay Iowa wheat for in
New Orleans IL take To the seabnard
ma,ke,. They say that they will fur
rish vessels at New Orleans in fifteen
days after notice that they are wanted IS
received. They agree Ia unload the
whest 1t New York in less than IhIriv
days from time Of statirG from Du
bIgue. Bat the most important letter
that has come To BIN is from gentle
man 3 lio Is in the cotton business and
dealing in tho Liverpool market. lie
owns the vessel which gathers cotton
from every port which exports it. lie
warts ir. Merry TO furnish him wheat
at New Orleans for shipment direct To
Liverpool, saving lie can carry it as BAL
last, aud be glad 10 90 so, for 10 cents
per Uushe,. Among the parties outside
of Dubuque who are intercstin. them
selves in this matter. are Capt. Dost, Of
In Sege, ChadIurn * Forester, st.
Louis. aud c. T. Budicke. New Orleans.
The two latter firms arc commissioned
men, who, with many others, will er-
courage the enterprise with freight on
the return trips Of the baTges. Mr..
Merry SAYS he can move twenty five hun
dred tons Of freight in one TOW, SIX
miles an hour.
If this project IS Successful TO even the
extent indicated. It will lead to great
revolution in the grain transportation Of
tie West. AMI will compe! a considerable
reduction of the prcssne rates Of through
freighiagc in East and IVcst lines. There
is only one railroad connecting the Mss
iszippi. rs channel for transportation
for produce, aad that Is the Superior
Railroad, whose shorter line striking, rs
It does. right iuto lie heart cf The best
wLy-. j.s;s.c,s of tie Northwest, Will
place il abcvo al. competition as an out
let 10 tic Eastern markets. -St. Paul
Press.