The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-05
The Benefit OF the Jetties to the West

New orleans Democrat.
The jettes were conceived and built by a
western man, and encouraged and supported
by the western representatives in congress, as
a measure intended for the special advantage
and benefit to the great west. Twice previ
olsly had that section eqrnestly and emrhati-
cAly Insisted on just sucn policy as the
jetties crowned: first in 1894, when the
western people induced the federal govern
ment to insist on the neutrality of the lower
Mississippi, then in the bands of
the Spanish; again during tho late
war, when the western states demanded that
the first operations of the federal feet should
be 10 open the Mississippi 10 them. The war,
however, temporarily closed this outlet, an d
the railroads. taking advantage of the oppor-
tunity offered, gave the western farmers a
new road to market over the mountains. But
the railroads soon aroused prejudice against
them By their extortion, and the demand was
again made on the government to assist the
farmers of Iowa, Missouri and Illinois
ia rough the Mississippi river. The result
was the jelties.
a great deal has been said of the advsn-
tsges that these works have brought to this
Guy, and they have materially help d New
Orleans; but not enough has been said of
the benefit they hsya baen TO the western
farmers, in keeping down the price of rail-
road freighls and thus increasing tho value
OF their grain at home. People read that
100000 bushels of grain were received
hera last year, three tunes as much az in
1879, snd they talk of the promised pros.
pery of Now Orlean-; but they seldom stop
to ihink that the ietties have made this grain
worth from eight TO ten cents more bushel
to farmers snd thus actually proited
them 81 700 600 in ono year II would be
unfair, however, TO view this matter--ths
benefit the West receives from the deepsn.
ing of the mouth of the Mississippi-by
what has been done SO far. Let US rather
look al what is going TO be done. Take
the Gould barge line, for insance, and what
it promises From the agents Of the line we
learn that there are now built for this line,
or in the process Of construction and almost
ready for operations, fifty five bargas. each
OF capacity OF from 10000 to 10000 bush
els. Mr.. Gould, however, will not rest
satisfied with this number, having informed
the agents here, Messrs Hellman and Selig-
man, that the company would continue
building barges until the limo had capacity
of daily tow-thst is, until il was able 20
bring tow of from four to six barges, con.
tanning say 200 bushels into hi, port
each day. This will require between so and
100 barges, which Can bring here half the
grain exported from this country. The com
pany has already gone energetically to work.
and tows will arrive this week When every
thing is in thorough working order thaso
towns will be, as we have already stated,
daily arrivals.
The railroad papers are not pleased, as
might w5ll be expected, at the situation, and
late number of the railroad Gazette con.
talns long article which endesvprs to show
that grain csnno. be shipped as cheaply
from the west via the Mississippi rs is prom
is d. The fsct that such thoroughly rail-
ioad man Ms Jay Could, who fully under
stands the whole alrosd management of
the country, goes, in such whole.soulsd
and thorough manner, into tho barge bust
ness, Is sufficient answer TO this.
When Gouii's barge line is in thorough
working order, which will be this summer,
VIC will DO fully able to show tho west how
many millions of dollars tho jettios save it
annually.