The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-05
The "Jetties" and Our Grain
Trade.

by means of his system Of 'Setties,"
whereby the "bar" there accumulated
by sedimentary deposits is to be swept |
out into the deep waters Of the gulf; and
alluded to its probable effect upon the
grain trade OF the West and of the whole |
Mississippi Valley.
We now find that this matter is at
tracing the attention of Europe, in ref
erence to the same specially as to the
grain trade, as we'll as to it's effect upon
cotton shipments. Touching this matter,
the London STANDARD Of June 8, after
mentioning the purpose OF Capt. Eads to
80 increase the depth Of water as to al
low the safe passage Of sea.going ships
Of the deepest draft. says:
"rhere is every reason to expect that
the intention here announced will be car
Tried out, and il go, the result will be that
the cost OF sending wheat from the Vest
ern States TO England will be reduced
one-half, and that the new corn-growing
regions, which now are unable to export
d bushel, will suddenly ind the markets
OF Europe open TO them on most adyan-
| |tageous terms. The construction OF the
Suez Canal furnishes a most impressive
| Illustration OF the far-reachlng influence
which the opening OF new route TO com-
merce exercises. Already it has revo-
llutionized trade, transformed naval con-
Istruction, and altered the relations OF
nations with one another. 1t Is not
probable that the effects OF the opening
of the Mississippi to ships OF the heav-
lest burden will be as immediate or as
L nal nj IL 10 q ru hlA th a T.
they are incalculable, and it is not I'M
possible tnat they may be as great"
The most common Intelligence can not
fail to perceive, as the Lond standard
suggests, the direct tenueucy of this
grand undertaking to work a revolution
in the foreign grain trade OF the West
land the Southwest. MS tendency will
result in building up New Orleans as
the great grain emnorium Of this coun
try, as it now is cotton. The discov
, cry of new carryin- routes, or the new
development OF oder ones, has caused
repeated shiftings of the worlds com
mercial centres. This Improvement o
; the navigation at the Mississippi
mouth is likely to produce another 0
those changes.
ri At present, tie Atlantic ports divid
the business OF grain shipments to Ell
rope. The products of the West mus
v needs be transported thither over
}. land route by rail of more tina
s a thousand miles. During the season {
/. the principal grain movements, tn
a water routes OF the North as well az tn
{Gulf of 81. Lawrence are frozen up, an
navigation consequently suspended
: This gives 10 railroads a monopoly of th
r grain transportation, which they hap
y been swift to secure and tenacious
$ holding. BY reason OF these cIrcun
e stances the expense of shipping grai
If from the West to Europe has been enol
l. nous. 1t costs three bushels OF grain
ship one bushel from Chicago to Live
pool, as transportation is now Co
Is Quoted. Nor can any material alievii
8 tion be expected SO long as this long Ian
r carriage controlled by railroad monop
s. lies remains the only practicable outlt
M for the Western grain trade.
d But, it is estimated that by this "
e provement at the mouth of the Missi
O. sippi, the cost of shipping grain fro
the West to Europe will be lessened on
half. This estimate is predicated upt
F. the basis or transportation as betWe
n; the producers of the Mississippi Vail,
MT and New Orleans remaining as it nc
Mt is, and which involves the expense o
y transhipment from the river barges al
at boats to sea-going vessels at New {
d, leans. This handling of the cargoes al
ny the attendant expense can not
ayoided, unless a new order Of wat
craft be devised to meet the requi
CT ments of this new condition Of things
pe- 1t is seldom that any new deyelt
lrC ment or change of the natural conditI
no of things fails to be utilized from la
oil of spending adaptations in artitic
III structures and devices, especially
re this country of mechanical ingenui
g. Accordingly, New Orleans merehan
foreseeing the prospective advantat
OF this trade, are already proposing
construct a new class of vessels, wh
lh shall be perfectly seaworthy as e.
I" going vessels, and which at the. sa
H- time will be adapted to traversing
ut course of the Mississippi. BY t
IN means the necessity OF trans-shipm'
pe at New Orleans will be avoided; a
ue thereby the cost Of shipping grain fr
pc our interior river ports direct 70 Euro
will be reduced to the mere fraction
what the cost now is.
- Should these improved conditions
uo things be successfully achieved, 6
u everything now gives promise of &C
= ! plete success, they will work wondrC
w. advance in the prosperity of the mid
and lower portions Of the vast valley
~ the Mississippi and contribute inc
70. 70. ceivably tothe development Of resour
%" which are now almost at waste for Ii
e of available markets. On this point, I
1' the London STANDARD, in the course
=" the same article above quoted from, m
Us justly remarks:
"There is no limit TO the quantity