The evening Argus., 1869-05-03
rRANspnRrArIoE OF GRAIN

The grain movement By St. LOUIS sno
New Orleans, has not only occssioned aIa''"
al Chicago, hut has awakened the Miss'''
sippi river towns to realization OF 'Ie'i
interest in the agitation Of the question o'
reduced rates of transportation to the sea
board A late number Of the 81 Paul
Iress contains the following article on tins
subject, to which it adds remarks from the
Buffalo Express
The movement uaugurated this spriHg
for the transportation Of gram to Europe VIA
New Orleans is meeting with sgch genera.
favor throughout the Mississippi Valley that
it is already a substantial success. A prom
inent wheat buyer assured US yesterday that
the low rate for which wheat was nov car.
ried by tow boats aud barges to New Or,
leans had already served to raise the price
Of wheat in this state at least five cents per
bushel. lie also stated that 1t was his be.
lief that experience would demonstrate IL 10
be feasible and profitable to carry it at even
less figures than is charged at present.
When wheat ranged from $3.50 to $2.25
per bnsho as it hos for several years prior
10 last fall, farmers did not realize the i'm.
meuse los5 which was borne, resulting from
excessive charges for transportation. Now,
however, with wheat from 50 to 7j cent.
the burden is felt seriously, aud any project
tor cheapening transportation to market vi.l
be hailed as a great public benefit The |
parties engaged and interested ia uausp0r |
aNou OF grain from the whcatfrId TO the |
sea board on the old routes by rail, lake and |
canal have finally become seriously alarmed |
at the prospect Of q diversion to New Or. !
leans OF the great grain crops Of the West.
Representatives Of boards Of trade and kin.
dred associations Of New York, Buffalo,
Chicago and Milwaukee the great grain
marts Of the natiOn-have been conlprriug
and consulting for month past, aud
convention has been agreed upon which vii
shortly be hela in Chicago, having for i,s
direct object the cheapeuiug Of trauspor,a.
tion TO the sea board. Tia, this action il
not day too soon, # not already too late,
We quote from the Buffalo Ezyrcss Of re.
cent date:
The grain which starts from Western
farmers, 10 bee sold at New York, ia charged
too much for railroad traus sportatiou to Chi
cag0 or Milwaukee; it is charged too much
again for handling by the elevators at those
cities II IS charged too much again for
handling by the elevators at Buffalo; it j.
charged too much for tolls on the New York
canals 1t is charged twice the freight on
those canals that it used TO be, because the
state will not enlarge its locks to permit the
use OF larger boats it il charged TOO much
again for the handling at New York city
and so, ategery step IN its progress from the
producer % the consumer, IL Is over taxed
al the expense Of both No, one Of tie IN
termed'ato parties having TO DO with it,. is
innocent OF the wrong. They have oright
To- hing accusations ~ one auother-tnry
are guilty altogether, and between them
they are killing the goose that Laws the
golden egg into their baskets. New York
hnds her proportOnate receipt and export
OF gram diminishing year by year and 50
does BGtia.O. Chicago watches with alarm
the beginning Of shipments down tha Mis-
s'sspp'. These high charges for transpor
tauon and transfer are taxing Western grain
out Of the European markets in the first
place, aud driving 1t into other channels in
the second, Ioday's rich profits for the
elevators and the shoyeilers, and the rail
roads aud banks which make advances, and
the state which collects tolls. are eating no
the TO morrow's business of the whole of
them. Il is q blind, fatut0us policy, from
the beginning TO the end Of the string, and
the wonder is, not that there are signs now
OF q general waking up 70 its folly, but that
1t should have been persisted in SO long