Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-06-27

the statistics of his own experience
in the grain business, upon the
second point of inquiry.
! remain, Dear Sir, your friend
and obedient servant,
JOnE A. KAssoN, M. G.
NEW ORLEANS. June 18th, 1873,
Hon. J. A. KAssoN, Des Moines,
Iowa,-Dear Sir:-Your favor OF
the Sd came duly to hand. A press
of engagements prevented earlier
reply. That you may have tho
figures before you for reference,
now state: Corn can be freighted
here from St. Louis at 8 cents, and
with water TO the ocean, (25 feet)
can be take from here to Liverpool
at 10 pence or 20 cts, making %
cts. freight from St. Louis to Liver
pool; 2 cents expenses here gives
80 cents all told, against 80 cents
from st. Louis to New York, which
l understand is railroad rate, and
from thence to Liverpool the freight
is Z pence or IA cents, and transfer
u cents, giving Az cents, as against
80 cents this way. Argument be-
yond this is unnecessary. Give
us the cana. and new life will be
infused into the trade of this city,
which, OF course, would at once
advance all western interests, es.
pecially grain, and western farmers
would obtain ten cents per bushel
more for corn than they now do:
the quantity ordered from Liver.
pool, 1.-THE great European distribut-
ing market would be almost with
out limit, with the facilities the
canal would give us. 1 myself
could control orders from Liverpool
for millions of bushels; for depth
of water and celebrity of movement
would quadruple our steamer tom
mage, and that is what grain wants,
sail is too uncertain.
1t is untrue that this climate is
unfavorable, my own experience re-
flutes the charge. When we built
the elevator here, Chicago and
Buffalo, raised that cry. To test the
question and put it to rest, l bought
corn in the West, had it brought
here placed in elevator; kept it here
six weeks through the wet months
Of April and May; l sent it to
Liverpool by sail. One cargo was
out Al days, and reached Liverpool
sound as any from New York; and
these experiments l have repeatedly
tried, and with ono exception,
always with success. l now have
it in my power to give you conclu-
sivo proof in the case of S. S. Mem
phis, as per the enclosed printed
slip. The Memphis loaded 10000
bushels bulk corn, lay on bar SO
days, and got over the very day
you went to the passes with US;
after crossing the bar discovered
that her screw was broken; had to
return to the city for repairs and
discharge cargo; corn was found TO
be dry and sound; the repairs were
done, corn and cotton re.shipped in
good condition, and she went to sea
Saturday last. Now this corn has
been here about 20 days, SO of which
was spent on the bar, surrounded by
water and ocean damps, and full
two-thirds Of the time we have had
rains and muggy weather, SO trying
to grain. And here let me say, the
Memphis drawing 10 feet 6 inches
of water, went out through the Pass
a L'outre, which is quite a triumph
to Major Howell. Please see what
he says as per slip enclosed-on the
reverse side Of which find Memphis
card. l have now here in elevator
some $4,000 bushels corn. 1t has
been here two months, and is sound
and dry to-day, although the season
has been unusually wet. What
more proof can be wanted? l will
give your request to Mr.. Highly,
and he will send you reply. And if
any further information is needed
send me word. \
Yours, &C., J. II. OGLEsBY.
Below is the item referred to by
Mr.. Oglesby:
SAILING OF TIE STEAMSHIP MEMPHIS.
The business public, at least, have
not forgotten the mishap which de-
tanned this vessel on the bar ut the
mouth of the river for thirty.six
days, being loaded with a cargo of
corn in bulk and cotton, and her
return to the city for the repair of
damages incurred while on the bar.
OF course her cargo for this pur.
pose, had to be discharged.
On Saturday morning the Mem
phis sailed again for Liverpool,
having taken on her same cargo of
corn and cotton. The corn consist
ing of 1858 bushels, was found to
be in as good order and dryer than
when first put Oh the vessel on the
% of April last. Mr.. Highly, from
whose elevator the corn was shipped
expresses his full belief that the
corn will reach Liverpool in fine
ordor, but of this the consignecs are
to advise him when the corn is re.
c,sived and sold. This will be the
severest possible test of the practi.
cability Of shipping grain by New
Orleans to Europe.
The cotton, 1900 bales, on the
Memphis, was put on board from
the elevator wharf at the same time
with the corn, tho loading being
accomplished in three days. This
demonstrates that ifproper facilities
were furnished to ships here,
they would not be detained in this
port to unload and load over six
DAYS