Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-11
,leIss ano .llistellanp.
shipment Of Grain to Boston.
From the Boston Advertiser.l


In view of the disposition, still more
| widely prevalent than 1T ought to be, to
look ON the dark side of our business af
fairs, it may be well to mention one or two
facts which throw light on the other side
In the single item of corn, for instance, we
| have lately had announced rates for trans
portation between Boston and the west
which. if true, would render il utterly i'm
possible to compete with New York; while,
| in point of fact, our city,-defective as her
facilities are reported to be-has during
the past two months brought corn from the
Mississippi River for thirty cents per bush
ell. and from Chicago for twenty cents.
To be sure, from Chicago to New York by
canal freight during the same time has been
eighteen cents bushel; but Boston has the
advantage over this ostensibly lower rate
in the fact that the difference in the time
of transit and insurance is in our favor.
Corn can reach us in twelve days from
Chicago, by steamboat and rail; by
canal to New York the time is more than
double. If the Ontario or Erie, or any
other boats, were running between this
CITY and Liverpool, grain from Chicago via
Boston could be landed In Liverpool as
soon as grain starting from Chicago at the
same time could be landed In New York by
canal. Ifthese boats are ultimately TO con-
meet with either or all of our railroad lines
westward and northward, as may be the
case, we shall expect to see this feat regu-
larry accomplished. The truth is, the
lake navigation reaching east to Ogdens-
burg gives us a great advantage over New
York, for by this We gainin time and rates.
Thus the average rate per ton to the lake
ports from Boston is SO Ia: to Ogdensburg
81 OF: sugar SO ton to st. Louis,-thp
same as canal rates from New York; and
this by the Northern Transportation Com
pany.
But is Boston transacting any business?
That's the point. During the month of
July over 4, ZOO tons went from this market
to the West over this one route and more
out freight is offered every day than can
be shipped and when the ten new boats
are runIang, making twenty-five in all, no
one doubts that there will be an abundance
for all. For even now, local treights are
sufficient to fill them. Over 300 900 bush
els of grain were taken by those steamers
and by the sailing vessels that have been
chartered in lack of steam facilities to Og-
densburg for the eastern market III the
single month of July. The single port of
Toledo furnished in one week (the first of
this month"; Boston freight for five pTopel-
leTs and four sailing vessels. We cite Il. csc
instances as evidences that we are not yet
at ''stand STILL, and there are additional
statistics that we shall bring out in due
time. Over-caution is just now one great
difficulty. An instance occurred few
days ago. A western trader proposed to
some OF our capitalists to join him in a
large purchase of grain to the east. He
knew his business: he knew the markets
and the rates as compared with New York,
and gave his preference to this city. Over
caution, distrust of our own affairs, led
to refusal of the offer Three hundred
thousand bushels were bought, brought
East, sold at eight cents bushel profit,
and Boston lost what it might have had.
1t is time we put off our sackcloth and
ashes and woke to new life. There has
been too much mourning over anticipated
death, too much preparation for obse-
qTdes that never will be performed. We
hope by spring, if not before, to see our
two splendid steamships crossing the
ocean, and, with the facilities for land tran
sit now i'll process of realization, there viii
be no lack of cargoes to and fro