The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-16
OUR GRAIN TRADE.
WHAT A PRACTICAL THINKER SAYS
OF ITS PROSPECTS.
Comparative Statement of ExpOrts-WOre
Elevators and Dryers Wanted.

Elevators ann Wryers WAHLeu.
For the purpose of obtaining the views of some
of those posted in matters pertaining to the ex-
portation Of grain from this port, DEMOCRAT
reporter called yesterday upon Mr.. Mason, an
old resident OF The city and one well known in
grain and sugar circles.
Mr.. Mason, have called on you to ascertain
II possible some facts concerning the transpor-
tation OF grain by the river route. would like
to know your opinion of its ultimate success
the condition OF grain arriving here: II In bad
condition the chances OF its safe delivery;
whether there is any difficulty to be appre-
hended In the
DELIVERY OF DRY GRAIN.
and what you cons der' the causes that have
prompted such articles as those Of the tenor Oh
the Kansas Times"
Il am glad to see you. sir, and L
will readily give to you such information
AS POSSESS on the subject. There is not the
least doubt to be enter tanned OF the success OF
the route If good conditioned grain is put
aboard vessels either propelled by steam or
sailing. But that we can carry on grain trade
of any extent without having some mode by
which we may be able to restore ILL conditioned
grain TO shape fit for shipment. Is ridiculous.
Although IL has been favorite theme with some
gentlemen that we will bring nothing here but
grain that will stand shipment to any port. yet
in spite Of this boast a great deal of grain has
been brought to this port this season in miser-
able order. and how parties shipping 1t could
expect 1t to be delivered in good order is some
thing mysterious.
1.-The sententious remark Of. Well. does not
grain shipped from Northern ports get dam
aged is rather witty but hardly covers the ar
gument. 70 inaugurats the trade successfully.
bunders OF this kind should be- avoided. 1t
may be winked at North. but that does not ben
eft us here"
Queetion-You say We have no way to restore
ill-conditioned grain. Is there not a dryer here
now?
Answer Yes: there is one with a vertical cyl
Under.
AND TUBES IN IT.
through which grain is poured down. Steam
being let into the cylinder. heats the tubes
which sweats the grain In Its passage; whatever
evaporations might escape are condensed by the
incoming cold grain and when the grain escapes
from this dryer 1t has a smirchy appearance
and is gummy sticking to the hand the mois-
ture from contact with the cold air being reab
sorbed by the Disguised kernel. 1 was much
Interested the other day as two gentlemen were
discussing the loss In values that a dealer ex-
perienoed by having somegrain passed through
this machine. To dry grain properly and ef
fectively the appliance must not only possess
heating properties, but o concentration Of the
natural causes that tend to- ripen the grain
exit for the evaporations-so that not only the
gases. but also the mould or other impurities
that may be detached from It's surface by the
friction. will readily escape from the machine
There are, also. two other dryers here, one of
which is used to dry corn meal. the small par
hieles Of which
READILY YIELD THEIR MOISTURE
when in contact with any hot surface, but to
hha bnln witt {p1p rit m ffa
1t is not adequate nor perfect.
Then you are as not an stvocate OF hot steam
"A hot steam surface. alone. is but farcical
idea for drying grain In its various bearings
and requires but minimum Of intelligence to
mere Is series OF cylinders, horizontally built on
arickwork. the outer surfaces of which are ex-
posed to fire. The grain IS propelled through
endless screw. " This his mode Of propulsion On
merely presses forward or slides the grain
along on the lower part OF the cylinder, which.
IRON the heat OF the fire, generally scorches the
graTIn hara s r,r, II th,s o,tr .h,+ -, Font,
they practice a system of cooling the damp
passed their hands, Its destruction by heated
gasses or mould. This Is certainly mode of
putting of the evil for tomorrow. but as the
old ArGb proverb goes.
CHICKENS COME HOME TO RoosT.'
THE brilliancy of the idea is almost equal to
the transient benefit derived from such a
course II the grain is damp the only way to
cure that grain is to expose It to, artificial dry
Ing, 80 that the dampness may be evaporated,
small quantities may be- cured by spreading it
out on platform or surface exposed to the
suns rays with the natural breeze. whilst the
grain Is being constantly turned over by men
moving backward and forward with spades.
TIE handle 10000 bushels six inches deep in this
manner would require an area of 1000 square
feet, but how Is 80 vast an expanse to be pro-
teeted from occasional showers 1t cannot be
rooted oyer. for then the suns rays would be
from night dews without taking into consider
alton the length Of time that might be required
from the suns sometimes ftful cleaning.
From these few remarks it must be evident to
the most simple mind that this favorite theme
OF drying
IS INPRACTICABLE AND ABSURD.
TO say the least Of 1t maniac would hardly at
TEMPT to cure $4,000 bushels by such a method,
which would require space of e. 500 su perficial
feet. The eradication of the causes of decay is
the only way to insure the safety of the article
from this maxim maxi been
It merely repetition Of the old, old story,
a furthel ,snarmation OF that which has S gone ne
route arrived re in such bad condition that
II these singing remarks. plainly Indicating
the csreessnees with which grain Is shipped
At this port are, correct. is It any wonder
have anything more to do with grain from the
Southern ports Of the United statesr Has not
this ot-repeated declaration yet had any
eff0a? For the last ten years our grain trade
has fearfully fuctuated. some years few hum
bred thousand bushels, others scarce a hun
dred bushels. varying with the seasons of
ripening. The great West was in measul
paciied, smothered their chagrin by being led
to believe that, when deep passage to the gulf
was obtained SO that steamships Of large draft
could enter for cargoes of grain. that there
would be no difficulty In delivering grain to
European ports. in splendid condition. The
energies of their statesmen were directed to
this end: They triumphed. Mr.. IEads was
eepticn. ' executed wi with more than ordinary
nerve and energy,
He too triumphed, and the jetties now afford
the deep passage to the Gulf; but the refrain is
still the same: steamships of si2e have loaded
without number. Has the result gratified
either shippers or receivers ? That was a
singular remark of the Attic cynic. That few
FIRsT-CLAss BANIsHMENTs
materially contributed to the prosperity and
health of some of the Grecian CITES Can any
one divine how he would have expressed him
self If he had been acquainted with our posi-
ton. History repeats ITSELF sharp remedies