Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-03-19
THE BENEFIT OF THE JETTIES TO
THE WEST,
From the New Orleans Democrat

From the New Orleans Democrat.
The jettes were conceived and built
by western man. and encouraged and
supported by the western representatives
in congress, rs n measure intended tor
the special advantage and benefit OF the
great west. Twice previously had that
section earnestly and emphatically insis-
crowned first in 1894, when the west .
ern people induced the government to
insist on the neutrality OF the Lower
Mississippi. then in the hands OF the
Spanish again during the late war. whom
the western states demanded that the
first operations of the federal feet should
be to open the Mississippi to them. The
war, however, temporarily closed this
outlet, and the railroads, taking advan. 4.
tage OF the opportunity offered, gave the
western farmers a new road to market
over the mountains. But the railroads
soon aroused a prejudice against them
by their extortion, and the demand Was
again made on the government to assist
the farmers of Iowa, Missouri and llli-
nois through the Mississippi river. The
result was the jetties. Il "a.
A great deal has been said of the ad.
vantnges that these works have brought
to this city. and they have materially
| helped New Orleans; but not enough
has been said of the benefit they have
been to the western farmers, in keeping
down the price of railroad freights, and
thus increasing the value Of their grain
at home. People read that $4,000 900
bushels OF grain were received here last
year, three times as much as in 1879.
and they talk OF the promised prosperity
OF New Orleans; but they seldom stop
TO think that the jetties have made this
grain worth from eight to ten cents
more a bushel to farmers and thus actu.
allv prefited them 81 700 900 in one
year. 1t would be Unfair. however, 10
view this matter-the benefit the west
receives from the deepening of the mouth
OF the Mississippi-by what has besn
done so far. Let US rather look at what
is gong to be done. Take the Gould
barge line, for instance, and what u
promises. From the agents OF this line
we learn that there are now built forthe
line, or in the process OF construction
and almost ready for operation, ,fifty-6ve
harges, each OF capacity Of from 40;-
900 to 60, 900 bushels. Mr.. Gould. how.
ever, will not rest satisfied with this
} number. having informed the agents
here, Messrs. Hellman aud Seliguaan.
that the company would continue build
ing barges until the line had capacity
OF "a daily tow-that is, until it was able
to bring tow of from iOur to Six bargoa
containing 200. bushels. into this
port each day. This will require be-
tween eighty and one hundred barges,
which can bring here hall, the, gram Ok.
ported from this country. The company
has already gone energetically to work
and two tows will arrive this week,
3 When everything is in thorough work
/ ing order these tows will be, as we have
=. already stated, daily arrivals. sc uss'
The railroad papers are not pleased.
v AS might we'll be expected, at the situa,
: lion, and late number Of the Railroad
: Gazette contains long article which
n endeavors to show that grain cannot be
shipped as cheaply from the west va
the Mississippi as is promised Ths
e tact that such thorough railroad
6. Iman as Jay Gould, who fully un
q derstands the whole railroad manage
ment of the country, goes, in such 4
e whole-souled and thorough manner ,intt
!, the barge business, is sufficient answer
d to this.
: When Gould's barge line IS IN thor
: ough working order, which will be thil
IS summer. we will be fully able to show
The west how many millions OF d0llar
y the jetties save 1t annually.