, 1873-02-24
THE TRANSFORMATION QUESTION.

10 the Editor Of Tic Chicago 1rtbunc:
1t must DO apparent to every ono ut nll con-
versant with tha carrying facilities botwoon tho
East md Woat that O moro economical route
must bo discovered for tho movement Of produce
to tho Atlantic markets in this country aud
Enropo. Will tho proposed wator-routes, under
consideration by this Government and tho people,
fully answer tho purpose de1ired? think not.
for tho reason that MI OF tho routes uamed. as
well us tho ono now in summer uso, will bo
closed by ice 0yo or six months OF tho year,
which will turn the ontiro traneit business Of tho
same months on to the present railroad lines,
greatly ovorta1ing their rQiling-stool at winter
ratoa; tho effect of which will bo to check grain
shipments, thoroby filling tho immense waro-
houses in your city, tloug storage ratoB and, at
tho Bamo tiino. tho garuors and cribs On
the llnea Of railways diycrging from Lake
Michigan will 10 filled to tho brim, at low
prsceR for grain. Tho. farmers who can hold
their corn crop until the noxt spring will storo it
at homo for better rntes at tho opening of navI-
gation. Tho suspension Of navigation during
nearly or quito half tho yoar nntayornbly affects
railroad companies west Of Chicago, as we'll az
the agricultural interest, as very largo propor-
tton Of their rolling cannot be employed
during during TIC wlntor moonths involving the cost Of
Of tho time to carry off the crops Tor full year.
So long as this atato Of things exists, thore viii
be no stability in freight rates, or value OF grain
raised in the Northwestern Suites nor can eco
how tho opening Of tho proposed now water
foutos is to remedy tho OWL, and bring uniforms
" low ratcs to us hore. Tho scarcity OF vessels
N port at any tmc, on q huoyant marlset, or o
V yesaol-eorner," will, or may, carry Up froghts
from to 10 cents ,por buslol, and puah down
the price OF grain corrcspondiugly. All this Inns
happened, and n,ay again lappen, during tho
season i! of navigation.
What We need, and must have, as IL appears
to mo, to afford tho proper ro!of to fartuera
here Is On agricultural loublo.track railroad bn.
tween Chicago aud Now York, to bc worked ox-
cluBively in tho tonnage busincsa, Mt slow apoed
QosB than miles tho Injury, and low ratos. This
road, worked at about miles MI hour, would
easily carry from Chcngo 10 New York, oYery
year, tonnage equAl to four hundred aud jifiy
million bushels Gf zoherl, and return as many
tons to Chicago.
The most direct and economical route for this
road would probably bo through or uoar tho
anthracite coal feltls OF pc,l,isylya11ia, which
will afford roturn freiyhts for cars. This line
should not be moro tlan 700 lniloB long, a,tt It
may be All approximate oatimato to sa7 TINT
&G0, 900 pey milo will construct tho road, and
equip 1t to tho extont required for ti,reo times
the present business. lilo machinery should bo
adauto1 to the Hpood, md to heayy-loadod cars
upon the gradeH OF tho several divisions OF tho
road, to obtain tho lowest cost por milo In tho
movement Of traina.
Tho transportation ollnrgog M a limo of rail-
way constructed aud operated III above proposed
should not e1oooa the following ratos
Thigty-avo mtes or leas, ST. por ton,
Over IS ,utea to 90. $40 ceut1 Per ton cor mile