The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-18
GRAIN by RIVER.

There are reported ton tows coming down
the river bringing b sides package freight,
upwards OF 900 bushels Of grain Ia hulk.
The m ament II therefore opportune for n few
remarks on the advantages euloyed by the
river over rail tr sportatnn.
Rail freights OF grain from the West to the
Atlantic ports are now Mt about II cents per
bushel at which rate Mr.. Blanchard stated to
the New York legislative committee there was
small profit.
Our river freights from st. Louis to New Or
leans are now extraordinarily high. say Il cents
per bushei, Observation-Disclosures which the differ
ence OF cents enables us TO lay down grain IN
Europe at less cost than from the Atlantic ports
Bat the present exnrbitant rate OF ii cents can
only exist during the scarcity OF harges aud
suitable Nowh nats. tho regular rate being 3
cents per bushel.
Under good river navigation. however, one
tow can bring down 1900 tons. say an eauiya-
lent to 500 900 bushels Of grain In ten barges or
less. which will pay fair profit at q rate of 3
cents per bushel freight and upon this basis
we will present our cal ,uations. We estimate
the cost of steamtug and ten harges at 100000
and the time required to come from st. Louis
and return at one month for the round trip.
while we will calculate no freight profit on the
up trio: thus. we have:
500 900 bushels at Ia very low freight &C. s5 900
EXPENSES.
10000 bushels coal. costing IS cents
per bushel. .....s...... ...-..... $500
Grew one month. 3 00O
insurance. etc. ......--...-.. 900
Interest on capital $3.50 0........ $500 10 600
Allowing net per cent per month
for wear and tear. ...-....-...... sb 900
The largest tow on the way is the Iron Noun
tain with Ave barges. con aiming besides pack
age freight $50 900 bushels of grain at a freight
of llc say freight on grain alone gross $50. 500
The barge G cest Republic forms part OF this
tow with &c 600 bushels on board. earring alone
50 900 freight This barge. we learn. Is to be
converted here into Il oating elevator and
storage ship for grain This we consider to be
an excellent plan, and will no doubt be adopted
BIZ those who may put on new floating elsva-
tors. 1t will induce the prompt dispatch Of
barges. which. to be made profitable. must suf-
fer little or no detention.
As soon as ever the West may fully utilize its
great water ways, our Queen City of the South
will become the centre OF national commerce.
the port of greatest exports and imports. while,
with the development of the whole country.
railroads will have their full share Of traffic
OF this some idea may be formed By look
ing Into the work ing OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, where We find reported that the move
ment OF cars over the Philadelphia division
alone Is monthly about 10000 cars. divided
almost equally. going to the East and West
Their former freight cars were designed to
carry what Is termed ear load" or 20 COO
pounds: now they are being built to carry
10000 pounds. and 1t Is said that the present
general use of the steel rails will permit still
heavier ear loads.
The West appears only now to awaken to the
fact that 1t can only be independent when the
great body OF water which flows Ia the bed OF
the Father of Waters may be laid hold of as
the great ally of Western commerce. We re-
auire, and hope soon to see, in the carrying
trade between st. Louis and New Orleans some
wenty or thirty powerful towboats and 200 or |
500 large barges.
Ocean tonnage can be found here at all times