Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-21


the river Icy allowing water to run out oil
and away from the main stream at intervals
by means of outlets. As the trouble at
Plum Point is want Of depth, heW reducing
the quantity of water in the channel by
drawing off portions Of the stream sideways
will increase the depth of the channel
is problem beyond our power to soive'
When these Improvements bring the small
est depth OF the river up TO not iess man zen
feet from the jetties to ST. Louis, 1t is
clear that commerce upon the Mississippi
will increase indefinitely. The history
OF the large trade upon the river proves thA'
an immense business will be done when the
improvements are completed. The barge
line business began actively soon after the
termination OF the war. In 1870 1t began TO
be prosperous. In 1881 Jay Gould took part
in it and the system was greatly extended.
AZ 10 the case with the present river I'M
provements, strong opposition was got up,
for some OF the railways perceived that the
barges were taking away portion oil their
trade. Some of the Eastern seaports had the
same experience. Twas confidently asserted
that the barge lines did not pay, and that
grain carried through the warm districts OF
the South became heated and was spoiled.
As wheat is carried to Europe in good con-
dition from the burning cline Of India, OF
course all such assertions were as faise as
those made to-day about the river improve
ment. Spite of all the opposition, at this
present time the shipments by barge line Tor
export from st. Louis alone amount to enc
third the sast-bound tonnage which passes
through Chicago from the north and west.
81. Paul has also its barge line OF sixty
barges which run constantly during the busi-
ness season from st. Paul and points below
to St. Louis. Kansas City, upon the Mis-
souri,, has also made efforts with six.barge
line in the same direction, and with time
and experience that line will no doubt In
crease and flourish. We see it stated that
arrangements, put in operation this spring,
will enable the barge line to deliver grain
and other cereals and breadstuff5 at New
Orleans at an expense OF thirty-three and
one-third per cent, placed on board ship in
New Orleans, less than by rail to New York;
and twenty per cent. less than by rail and
lake to that city. One difficulty has been
that sometimes when the freight reached
New Orleans there was no vessel there
bound for Europe to receive it. The esta6-
lishmert of the regular American steam
ship line, leaving New Orleans during
the season three times q week, has abolished
that obstruction, and New Orleans is, in
consequences, vastly increasing its export and
import business. So much is the foreign
trade increasing there that recently six yes
sells we're receiving grain from floating ele-
vatorr, while a seventh was taking St. Louis
grain from the main Is~d elevator An in
quiry for chipping room for 200
kegs of lard, was answered by q
telegram stating that tonnage for heavy
freight had been engaged for March and
April, and nothing could be received before
May. During twenty business days IN
March nineteen ships cleared from New Or
leans for European ports, not including de-
partures for the Mediterranean, for South
America and for the West Indies. From
the books of the st. Louis and Mississippi
Valley Transportation Company the follow
ing figures were taken to show the actual ex-
port movement from st. Louis ria the Gulf
between February 21st aud March 25th. Total
tonnage, 81 ,572, consisting Of $3.50 tons of
packages and 72,492 tons Of bulk freight.
The bills comprised the following: 24o bar
rels beer, 9l13 sacks bran, 29, 234 sscks osts,
54o0 Of corn, 2264 Of malt, 5779 barrels Of
meal, 3O,501 of -four, 1745 OF pork, 735 tors
of hay, 77s,l6 pounds lard, 1000 ponds of
hama, 175,600 of meats, 170,s0O of white
lead, ZIG packages merchsndise, 1,sO6s590
bushels Of corn, and 6Ss,5s2 bushels Of
wheat, With aaah fAats az tksss -hsiore ne.
We see how imperative it il that the i'm
provemeut of the Mississippi river Should
proosed promptly and vigorously.