Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-27
THE ROUTE FOR SURPLUS CEREALS.

the surplus wheat of the Pacific slope
will ultimately be shipped to Europe via
New Orleans. There is difference of
from sixty to ninety days against the
ocean route from San Francisco to Llv-
erpool in favor of the transcontinental
route via New Orleans to the same port.
This estimate of the difference in time be-
tween the two routes is one of the re-
suits of Mr.. Hnntington's careful exam
nation of this whole subject, and is no
doubt based on the average time con-
sumed by sail vessels in making the voy-
age between the ports of the Pacific sea-
board and European markets.
In the solution of the problem as to
which is the cheapest and most practicable
export route for the surplus breadstuffs of
the West, Northwest, and the Pacific
slope, this admission in favor of the
New Orleans route, is an important fac
tor. 1t is an element of strength in
favor of the New Orleans route over
which the tentative and traff1cking expe-
dents of corporation managers can exer-
else no control; and, as such, furnishes a
reliable shipping basis for the guidance
Of those interested in the export grain
movements of this country.
There is also the objection to the ocean
route from San Francisco that the grain
is liable to heat or become musty when
kept in bulk for such length of time on
water This is very grave objection,
and was urged with great force and effect
against the Mississippi river route, by
those interested IN the diversion of grain
shipments from the river route to the
Atlantic seaboard ports. But as
this objection has been dissipated
by the shipment of grain in bulk direct
to Liverpool oy the river route with the
most satisfactory results, it can have no
bearing on the subject in the future.
The light which Mr.. Huntington has
thrown on the practicability of trans
continental export movements of grain,
by the way of New Orleans, gives prom
Use of bright future for the Crescent
City, and for the future of st. Paul as the
initial shipping point on the Father of
Waters for the surplus wheat produced
in the great empire west of the Red
River of the North and beyond the
Rocky mountains. We cannot expect
to handle the grain which comes over the
Southern and Union Pacific railroads for
New Orleans. But for the wheat which
will at no distant day come over the
Northern and Canadian Pacific railroads
en-route for Europe, st. Paul is the nat
ural entrepot for their reception and re-
Shipment in bulk to New Orleans. The
magnitude of the grain and lumber in
terests which center at the present time
in St. Paul are not more imperfectly I'M
derstood outside of our immediate vicin-
ity, than are the interests comprehended
in the development of the grain move
ments over these trans continental lines,
moderated by the business interests of
this city. Nature has fixed on our city as
the incipient shipping point on the Mis-
sissippi river. The Falls of St. Anthony
preclude the poss bility of rival spring
ing up to the north of us for the business
and commercial supremacy which nature
and the iron highways that center in our
midst have decreed belong Of right to st.
Paul. The rates on bulk wheat from
St. Paul to New Orleans will exceed but
very little the rates from st. Louis to that
city. The distance from the Pacific coast
to St. Paul, by the way of the Northern
and Canadian Pacific railroads and their
connections, is about five hundred miles
nearer than over the Union Pacific sys-
tenn to Omaha and st. Louis These are
factors which, if properly appreciated at
the present time, and the action they sug-
gest inaugurated with spirit commensu-
rate with the magnitude of the interests
involved, will give our city population
of a quarter of a million of inhabitants
within the lifetime of men now living,
and necessltate changes in our present
business system looking to the accommo-
dation of the shipping and business in
terests of an empire of which st. Paul
will be the center.
The improvement of the Mississippi
river to the head of navigation at St..
Paul is now only question of time, and
when accomplished will mark new era
in the future Of our city. The policy of
the Northern and Canadian Pacific man
ayers with reference to st. Paul cannot
be ascertalned too early by our people.
We can have no interest in any road that
seeks to build up cities yet in embryo at
the expense of our own. We want to
handle the products of the Red, Sas-
katchawan, Missouri and Yellowstone
valleys en- route to Europe via New Or
leans, and the railroad that seeks to di-
vert them from us, will meet with an OPP
position at the hands of cur business
men that will be as aggressive in charac-
ter as the necessities of the case may
require.
RAILROAD NOTES.
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