, 1873-11-05
ST. LOUIS.
The Window Committee and the
"Greut Water-Route."
Steamboat Opposition to tho
Bridge Over tho Nltssis-
sippi.

Effects Of tho Financial Troubles on
Manufacturing and Mining
Interests.
Correspondents of The Chicago Trionne
sr. Lou1H, No., Nov. 2, 1873.
The Window Comnittoe has been hero, listorl-
cd to largo nmo,lnt Of ba1dordash testimony
regarding the oft~quotod
"uaEAr wArEn-nouTE," !"
swallowed Hs shnro of Cooks Imperial, aud
gono md YOU have doubtless GRO this road tito
fearful nrray Of figures and arguments in favor
of clearing tho snaga wrcoks, and bars from tho
Mississippi. Among othor things, tho Chamber
Of Commerce, George Balm, L. U. noavis, or
some othor nlan furnished tho Transporta-
tion Committee statoment giving the cost Of
freEhting grain from 81. Louis to New Orleans.
These figures show well on papor to those who
nrc disposed to talso thom as faets but, 30 far
as giving the roal cost Of shipping
grain IL concerned, thoy aro not worth
tho pnpor upon which they are printed.
Every ono convorsant with tho cost Of sending
grain to market in bngs knows full vol TINT tho
cost Of bagging tho grain, tho charges Tor dray~
nge, as well Us damage to the bags provided they
aro returned, or tho discount between first cost
and tho prico tho bugs bring when sold with tho
grain are all items which should 10 charged to
transportation. Below give what is a low csti-
mate on the real coat of sending q huahol Of
grain from this place to New Orlcanp IN
bags, Tiz.s -,
freight On ono bushel, say.
Drnyngo ~ w. Lons. ~
Drnyage iii New oroans.. .........."...'s..~.... 9A
Extra cost ot wcighng. -. OK
Depreciation In value Of sacks
Dunnago aud tarpaunhtro o.............-...-.-. W
Total. ...............l4
In this hayo assumed thnt tho 1nariue riHls
is the samo as between Chicago and Buffalo,
but it is ofton double. nm unable to give tho
real cost botweon Chicago and Buffalo for tho
past fifteen years, but know that 1t has not ex-
coodea So al told. The fact is, riyor-transporta-
ton Of grain to tho Gulf is d Aulnbng, aud
ovory practical shipper knows such Ii tho
case. At tho Boason If tho year when
transportation is most needed, tie river iB eithor
too low or frozon up. Tho evidence. givcn by
tho Hon. Henry =. Blow to the Window Gem
nished them while here. It will DO remembered
that Mr. Blow stated that the channel Of tho
river was gradually growing bhaliower. This is
correct and, had MI. B. given the true cause for
ohannel,-wlich is owing to Tho clearing up Of
tho country and cultivation Of tho soil, which
increases tho evaporation, rs well ns allows q
large amount ct water to cutter tho oarth which
formerly pasHel of Oh the surfnce aid finally
found it's way to the riyer.--ho would hnyo COW
cred tile whole ground, MIR. Blows stntomont
in regard to tho stoan,boate, US at present con-
structcd, for freighting purposes, is correct in
every particular.
1ust nnw there js n io1cDtlesa WQr Naripr be-
twoen tho owners Of IL few old ll,lll;s OF steam-
crs aud the Bridge ConlDuny,-tle former con
toudng that the bridge, a. Ut present
tSeet'o'S t9oen St. VI" Louis ,'fup and peints On
tho Upper Mississippi; while tho latter. as well
as large class Of diBntorcsted Outsiders, insist
TINT the interruption will bo too triiling to de-
servo tic least attention as compared Wit. the
advantages to DO derived from the completion OF
tho bridge. It really secma strange That Capt:
McCuno and Ills follow-steanboatmon allowed
work 10 progress on tho bridge for over Blk
years, and waited until the structure was SO
objection to thc plun. II thoy knew, as they
now usist, TINT The bridge as located and built
would seriously ohatrlct Observation-Disclosures,
why not muke their objections known ut once,
and have the plans OF tho bridge changed before
was impossible? st. Louis las suffered tho
loss of millions of dollars from the luck Of
bridge-communic with civilization at the
East, nnG it would be botter FOR her citizens to
lose tle few advantages Of uI'-rirer navigation
delayed even another ycar. This il M
age when lesser advantages must give
way to the greater, and the first act
OF Congress- when it convenos should be to COLI
firm the bridge In it's present location and fran
cbises.
THE EFFECT OF TUE rAN1o on 11ANuFAToR1Es.
Tho elIect Of tla money-panic Oh the 1nan,l-
fact,,ring interest Of ST. Louis is vory seyoro.
A.F rt,.l. f4.%,. 81
Carondolot, only one liz running. Tho Vulcan Roll
ing Mill is working reduced nunibor OF hands,
aud, hear, will suspend work ore long. Othot
iron establishments mre WORKING very close, mud,
unless matters improve shortly, they 1t1lst sug'
pend entirely. Notwithstanding tho advantages
which st. Louis possesues jn tic way of obtain
ing tho best and cheapest iron oroa in tho c0u.,.
try, lis disadvantages in tho way OF obtaining
fuel, tho expenses Of handling the mauufGc:
tured pig together with tho cost of advantage
pensve places in tho country to nuke pig~irou
A prominent irols-,ne,lufacturey III this city re-
married to me. q few days since, That Chicago
was fur better plaee thau St. Louis To makt
iron.
MINING 1NrEREs1s.
Tho panic has seriously alrcctcd tllis depart
ncnt Of trnde. Many mines have suspended
work, and others have materially rntiilcod thoi1
forcoA. Ilo Salem Iron Mluing Company la,
suspended work. Benton Creek. Pilot Knob
Iron Mountain, and a number of oGlDr cstah
lishnlents hayu roducotl their number of hand
over one-half. leur,. that many Eastern fur
uaces which made contracts for ore ut lg
prices carly in tho year, have failed to recoiv
it now looks aa though tho owners Of mime
have injured their business by putting up tls
price of orc to figure wl,icl. IL WIS impossible
Tor turnaco-nlon to paJ without hankrlptin
the bulk OF tho epring aud summon pro!luctlo
having boon forced oil ear]y in tho fail at ri
inovsly low prices. Tho partial susponsion q
tho iron manufactories IL seriously affecting Il,
coal minoa in 1llnoia which seek i. market hert
TIC Lewis Coal Company, at Jonoaloro, La
closed ta minos and hear that the Grand Iowc
Company contomplatea either olosing or greatl
reducing itB mining foroo. r. i.
EiNANCIAL.