New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-26
Burning Corn - Transportation wanted.
TErnp, Ia Ct I.nuia

from the 81 LOUIS DeLnOCIdt.l
The first statements which reached the
Eastern papers from the West 10 the effect
that corn was being burned up for fuel be-
cause railroad companies charged so much
for carrying it to market that it became OF
nO practical value to the farmer, were re-
ceived with many doubts; and some jour
mails did not hesitate 10 pronounce the
whole statement a romance OF the pIalrIes.
Some of the more thoughtful ones, how
ever, resolved TO ascertain what sort OF
foundation the story rested upon, and ac-
cordingly dispatched correspondents to
various corn centres Of Iowa, Illinois, Kan
sas and Missouri, and are not only
convinced OF the thorough genu-
ineness of the statement that
corn was being freely used By the farmers
for fuel. but that manufacturers absolutely
buy corn in vast quantities and burn 1t in
their furnaces: One of these papers states
that its correspondent in Central Iowa
writes that corn is a drug there at twelve
and half cents. In some other sections
of that State it Is even cheaper, 50 cheap,
indeed. that it i. used. where timber is
scarce and dear. for fuel. In some instances
it has been economically used for fuel IN
manufactures. Such facts as these are
well calculated to arouse the Impotence OF
the people at the failure to realize cheap
transportation. While such use of an i'm
pOrtant article of food may, perhaps be
justitab BILE. under certain emergencies, as,
for instance, where the supply IS SO superb
bundaut that there is, practically, no other
use for il, and where fuel is scarce and bears
an exorbitant price; yet in world where
there are hungry people ami all the food
produced is needed for human sustenance
and comfort, the habitual burning of corn
as fuel can not be heard with Indifference
In a country like ours we may know that it
implies something wrong III management,
and the first impulse toward investigation
will naturally be in the direction OF our
transportation. Corn that can be bought
in Iowa at ten to twenty cents per bushel,
costs sixty five to eighty cents by the time
it reaches the seaboard markets, the differ
ence of fifty to sixty cents representing Che
transportation and incidental charges.
Thus, if an Iowa farmer has 800 bushels of
corn which he desires 10 send to the sea
board, it viii cost him about the home
value of 400 of them to get the other 100 TO
the purchaser.
Unless this evil can be speedily re medied,
by means of more ample transportation
facilities, there is danger of a serious check
to agricultural development. During years
of prolific crops, like the past year, millions
Of bushels of grain are destroyed and
wasted at the West, because it can not he
got to market for q reasonable sum. This
condition of things has at length arrested
the atteatiOD Of die representative men of
the country, and the inquiry has already
been instituted as 20 what means ought TO
De adopted 20 cheaper transportation.
TIE railroads have grown to be stupen.
dou. monopOlls- and tax the people Of the
whole country and OF all classes mere heaV.
sly than the federal government can ven
ture 20 tax them. 4 railroad that costs
twenty millions initiates its stock to forty,
fifty Or sixty millions, and then demands
fare from ti. travelling public and rates of
:reigh. from our farmers and merchants 10
pay interest ON the inflated OK watered
stock. This Is q more GuGdcnsone and
sDi. OitoUs Sax than the government i'm
poses. and goes far 20 retaii the Develop
lnent and business OF the country.
The Democrat recommended one remedy.
{. wear ago, which. ii extensively applied.
would help 20 tighten the now .po.cus load
which is imposed upon both producer and
consumer through excessive transportation
charges levied Dy the railway companies of
The country. That remedy Is tc construct
- narrow gauge double track tine OF rail.
way extending from this city to a con
ven ent point east of the Ohio river, and
there branching out into fingers like the hu-
man hand, each finger representing a double
track line TO some prominent .eab,ard
city. such as Portland. Boston. New York.
Baltimore. Norfolk, etc. ihls line should
be equipped with fully 3O.G0J ears for
!reighting business. l. should run no eX.
press trains or special passenger trains. but
should draw enc or more passenger coaches
on each freight train. and. Il the business
required ii. - train should leave each way
every hour. No ged lines, blue lines, white
lines green lines. or other outside corpora.
lions should ever have a sighi of way over
its track. All freight should be shipped on