The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1878-01-31
Proposed Barge Line from Kansas
CITY.


1t has been long time since the people
Of Kansas City were so united in a move
ment as they are now in the attempt to Sc
cure barge transportation. II is because il
has been a long time since there was asImi
lar occasion for united action.
1t is useless here to discuss the various
causes that have combined of late years to
advance railroad rates and, corresponding
ly, TO depress business in the West and
retard western development. 1t is fact
we all understand that for fifteen months a
combination has existed that has held
rates up and cut Kansas City off from the
advantages she enjoyed in former years in
low through rates TO the Atlantic scabOard.
For eleven months of this time rail rates
have been so high that shipment of grain
by that method TO Atlantic ports was i'm.
possible.
The West, finding itself thus cut off
from the markets of the world, at time
when its surpluses were most wanted
abroad, sought an outlet through the Mis-
sissippi, and within few months has de
veloped an export market at New Orleans,
and opened that route. This has wrought
great and permanent revolution in the
course Of Western commerce, for the rail
roads connecting the Atlantic with the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers can never
regain the trade they have lost, because
they cannot compete with water route
that is shorter than their own lines.
This change breaks up former CONNER
cial channels, or at least so alters the situa-
IL 10 90, ii
vantagcs she has already acquired, and to
continue as heretofore the metropolis of
the New West, must adapt herself to the
change. We have assumed to be the com.
mercial center of large district of coun.
try, because by providing the necessary
facilities we received the trade. We have
asked the people to deal with us, and they
have done it in no illiberal way. Now
that the change has come, ii is incumbent
upon us to so change as TO still merit the
trade of the country, and thus escape the
contempt of the people who have trusted
us by meriting their continued regard and
patronage
The people in their wisdom have hit
upon the thing which above all others is
needed by the city and the country-barge
transportation on the Missouri. This will
secure forever such cheap transportation
for grain and all other bulky cheap west
ern products as will add many hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually TO the profit
of western industry. 1t will above all
things else simulate the development of
the country and increase trade, and it will
effectually concentrate il at Kansas City
and develop her as the great commercial
emporium we have been struggling for
There can be no doubt about it. and this
barge transportation will be the last thing
in the way of transportation facilities that
Kansas City need ever trouble herself
about.
To secure it, money is needed, and il
must be drawn from our own pockets. III
il be raised in anything like equitable pro.
portions from the different interests bene.
fitted thereby, it will not be the banks and
merchants alone who will contribute.
Those in all lines Of trade will be benefit
ted, but while it adds to the business, say
double the amount of grain and produce
sent them to handle, it will add to the val
ue Of real estate much larger per
cent of profit, Double the grain
trade of Kansas City pext year, and
il will add little, perhaps, 10 the profits of
already in the business, but il
will bring many more men into the city,
advance rents and real estate values. Many
Of those who owned the land in and about
Kansas City were made rich before they
knew it by the development of 1865 to
1871. Another similar era is before real
estate owners If the present enterprise sue
ceeds, and they can, therefore, afford TO
discount their profits to such extent as
will, in conjunction with the contributions
of merchants, make il success.