The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-08-03
RIVER TRANSPORTATION.


Of grain from the ports of st. Louis and
| Cairo to the sea is matter that has excited
| some discussion by representative men in
st. Louis Chicago, New York and other
citities. The chief objection to the idea
comes from railroad corporations that have
for these many yyears, had monopo-
ly oil the transportation of grain overland
to New York, from whence it was sent to
its destination by sea. Lately, when it was
discovered that very large per centum of
the grain raised in the west was being sent
TO Europe in barges by way OF st. Louis,
Cairo and New Orleans, because that was by
far the cheapest route the trunk lines run
ming east,made desperate effort, by the re-
duction in freight rates, to regain the trade
they had lost and they have, TO some
extent succeeded. But this gain
was obtained at loss to themselves 1t does
not require much figuring to ascertain that
the railroads cannot permanently compete
with the Mississippi river in the transporta,
ton of freight and it is only question of
a little time when the great bulk of the
western grain intended for foreign markets
will be sent down the Mississippi river in
barges, and Cairo be one of the great grain
centres of the country. Foreseeing this
event the Illinois Central railroad company
Is erecting its two-hundred. thousand dollar
elevator here, one of the largest concerns
Of the kind in the country, with capacity
of hundreds of thousands of bushels of
gram. The company is not composed of
simpetons and this action on their part may
be taken as conclusive evidence Of the
truth OF the statements above made in SO
far as they prophesy good tor Cairo.
It's admitted, Of course, that the question
is one Of great importance to railroad COM
panies, and deserves all the discussion 10
which it's subjected by them and their rep
resentatives; but from all this discussion il
does not appear that, to deprive them, to a
great extent, OF the privilege of transport
ing the western grain to the eastern ports
for reshipment to Europe from there, would
prove so ruinous to the railroads as some
people profess to believe and as the railroad
companies themselves seem 10 fear In an
interesting article on the present and future
grain trade of st. Louis, published in the
Globe Democrat, of that city, few days
ago, Mr.. l.. U. Reavis takes occasion TO
express some views on the question: "Wlll
the development of the barge system for
the transportation Of the grain to the sea.
board by way Of the Mississippi river seri.
ously damage the business of the railways"
On this point Mr.. Reavis says;
"And first, as to the existing railroad
system OF the west and northwest: Will
its material and financial prospects be pre-
jupicially affected by the diversion of the
export trade2 Our belief that they will
not be may be unique, and perhaps may be
deemed eccentric, but practical experience
will in all probability demonstrate its cor.
rectness. There may, and probably will, |
be a marked >decrease in the tonnage
mileage of many western railroads, but no
corresponding decrease in the revenue, be.
cause the companies will be able to charge |
for short haul to the river, or to the near |
est connection, as much if not more than
they previously obtained for long haul,
and on division OF rate which was al.
ways reduced to minimum in conse.
quence of competition aud the imposition
of terminal arbitraries,
Western companies will also be able TO
effect material reduction in their working
expenses by being enabled to keep their
car equipment constantly in service and
practically at home under their own super.
vision, instead Of sending them 1900 or
more miles eastward, where they are too of.
ten impressed into local service, or other
wise blockaded and can not be returned for
many weeks. The so.called trunk lines
may be affected IN so far as through ton.
mage IS concered, but they should be able
to retain their hold on traffic which
has to be distributed at interior points
IN the various states through which
they run. For this they will, in
the majority of instances, obtain remunera-
tive rates, while the westward bound bust.
ness Will be considerably increased by the
cheap transportation rates on export bust
ness prevalent throughout the west. Cheap
transportation stimulates production and
enrlches the producer. The possession OF
these riches creates artificial wants, and in
to these artificial wants by the
transportation Of articles, which may DO ap.
oropriatcly olassed as time.freigbt, the
'ailroads indirectly derive large and cor.
espondingly remunerative revenue. For
he same reasons passenger travel Will DO
increased. Hence II may be safely assum.
d that while the whole country is benc.
tied by the water lines the railroads them