, 1874-01-20

make 80 AZ on wheat aud eG.17 on corn per ton,
against tho e3.b0 per ton from Chicago to Nor
trcal. 1llo Immediate enlargement Of the Eric
Canal H. IN viow of this competition, a matter
Of urgent nocoasity stoan, as motor, is alau
Indispensable to retain tho trade. Tho Comp
trollor estimates that, with certain onlargemonts
and tic tlso Of steam, reducing tho time to II
or IL days from, Chicago to Now York, the canal
may retan tho trado.
Tho people of New York may an we'll untlor-
staud at once TINT trado will follow tho cheapest
route. Grain for export will be as ncar Livor-
pool when at Montreal rs It is whom at Now
York. At Montreal 1t ia put on board tho
steamer at little cost. In Now York, grain
shipped by canal is kopt in the harbor
In. tho boatB at hoayy coat. and subjected
to taxation md oxlortion by tho We1ghors' and
MeasurorB' Association TINT aro voxatious and
oppressive. II grain can be delivered from Chi
cago at Montreal ut $500 per ton, then al1 TINT
is intondod for export will 60 thoro IN preference
to paying s642 per ton to New York, and 90
moro for harbor charges in TINT city. In the
moantimc, Philadelphia is receiving grain from
1ako ports by rail from Eric; Portland mud
Boston aro receiving grain for local consu1np-
tfon by rail from Buffalo whilo Baltimore Ia re-
coiving 1t by all-rail from Chicago. Unless the
freights aud tolls on the Eric Canal eau DO re-
duccd 80 as to compete with the 81. Lawrence
route. Tho trade by that canal in Western grain
must dwindlo to tho amount needed to meet tho
domestic consumption. Tho advnntagcH Of the
Canadian roule aro very obvious. There IL no
breaking Of cargo; tho grain il taken from tho
lalso roasol into either atoro or into foreign
steamer; thoro Is always return cargo,
because ocean froights to Montreal Of
Chicago imports aro much loss than to New
York, and tho ravages and extortions aud the
cartage aud tho storage OF tho Now York Gus
tom-uouao aro al avoided. In every viow,-
economy in freight, economy in time. facility in
doing business, ample capital, aud absence Of
tolls, all show it to bo to tie interest Of the West
to trade by Tny Of tho st. Lawrence.
In tho meantime, tho revolution in luke and
canal freights produced by tho opening OF tho
enlarged Canadian canals muBt have an etfcct
on railroad frcighta. At present, immense
bodies Of grain are sent by lake to Buffalo, which
aro tlero put in cars and sent forward in every
summer season can compete with tho Eric
Canal. Can they reduce their ratcs to compete
with tho Canadian canals? It is significant
TINT ono.half tho grain rcceiyod in Now York City
t. I'll o5o
still further roluco thoir froights7 Upon the
completion Of tho Baltimore i Ohio Railroad to
Chicago, tint city will bo about 800 miles distant
from here. This road will probably be able to
take grain from Chicago to Baltimore at 50 por
| ton, which is about tho same as the average OF
tho paBt aoven years from Chicago to Now York
by lake, Eric Canal, and Hudson River, mud in
Guiding tho New York harbor oxtortonB. II It
can do this at this time, is it possible for that OF
any other railroad to further reduce Its rates tc
compete with tho st. Lawrence route nj
$3.50 per ton? Tho capacity Of the Eric Cnnal
may bo 30 enlarged TINT, by the use
Of steam, that route may compete With the route
to Montreal, but 1t is very doubtful; 80 that al
preBent it looks very much as II tho whole OK
| mort trade in grain from the Lake ports must &C
to Montreal, and, notwithstanding this poasibili
| ty has been notorious for many years. tho Legis
lature Of New York still insists that products ship
ped by tho Eric Canal shall DO taxed to pay tht
cost Of tho construction Of the worthless lasora
canals Of that State, and the enlargement Of the
Eric Canal muat bo postponed until that debt il
paid.