The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-01
WATER ROUTES FOR THE WESTERN
GRAIN TRADE.

Milwaukee and Chicago are by no means
satisfied with the present mixed system of
transportation of grain from these cities to
the Atlantic seaboard project is now
agitated for iberating shippers of grain from
dependence on this system by establishing
unbroken navigation for propellers of $50
tons, from Lake Michigan to Montreal, and
from Montreal to New York through Lake
Champlain and the Hudson river, 1t is esti-
mated that the work of canal and river i'm
provements and engagements necessary to
this end, would cost about seventeen millions
of dollars in gold. A writer in the Chicago
Tribune is confident that this outlay would
be abundantly justified by the saving in
prce of transporting raw commodities, ship
ped in the class of vessels indicated, without
breaking bulk between Milwaukee or Chi
cago and New York. 1t is worth noting by
those who are interested in the navigation of
the Mississippi as a route for the Western
grain trade, that this writer, in concurrence
with the Milwaukee and Chicago press, admits
the advantages which water conveyance for
bulky freight must always have over railway
transportation. Raw commodities, he
says, "and those of considerable bulk or
weight must necessarily be transported by the
cheapest conveyance. and while railways will
enjoy the monopoly of carrying valuable
goods in proportion to their bulk and those of
perishable character, the propeller and sail
ing vessel will carry the wheat and other
grains, the provisions, ore, etc." He thus
estimates the saving that would be effected
by the proposed through shipment in large
propellers
Now, supposing the reduction in cost of trans
port, by enlsrging the various canals and adapt.
ing Improvements for the vessel of $50 tons, as
proposed, TO be only one dollar and fifty cents per
ton less than the present rates land eminent eEgi-
neers have estimated il to be much hgher) th
would be a reduction OF five cents per bushel.
Now, let me point out what the saving would be
in one year on the grain shipped from Lake Mchi-
gan alone. The exports Of grain and flour from
this lake have already amounted in one year
equal to ninety millions of bushels, and within
two years will, no doubt, exceed one hundred
million bushels. / have stated that the average
freight OF this grain from Lake Michigan to New
York IL about thirty cents per bushel, including
q cents for transferring cargo and other charges
al Buffalo. deduction Of five cents per busnel,
on the hundred millions of bushels, would be FIVE
millions Of dollars in one year, which would re-
present a capital OF about ninety millions of dol
lars, at six per cent interest," while the to tai cost
OF improvements have suggested, would not ex.
coed seventeen millions in gold. But this is not
the full extent of the saving. | have shown that
by these improvements, the vessel could sail
direct to Montreal, Lake Champlain or New York,
without breaking bulk, and the q cents now paid
at Buffalo for transhipment charges there, would
also be saved, making seven aud half millions,
instead of I've millions, on the grain from Lake
Michigan alone.
But the Mississippi river, at this moment,
offers to the largest and best portion of the
West all the elements of cheapness referred
to in the above estimate and in more assured
forms than they can be had by the Northern