Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-10
GOLDEN GRAIN.
The Continued Influx Of Cereals From
the Interior,
What Prevents Omaha From Bccom
ing the Northwestern GrSnary-
The Problem of Trans.
%portAtion.

u nAINe1 " ~
and especially the latter, from the inter
Tor Of the ttats still continues with wei
nigh undated measure. For som
weeks past there has been an average re-
CENT at the Union elevators of about
sixty car loads of corn a day, and q
shipment of about seventy car loads.
The bulk of this business goes to the
seaboari, and thence to various points
across the ocean. 50 far as the prices
paid for corn are concerned, fsrmers have
nothing to complain Of. Tney have been
getting en- average during January of %
cents and have been paid as high as 20
cents, aud In some instances 26.
OMAHA AS A GRANARY.
A BEE representative in discussing yes
tsrday the grain sitGation with the mem
hers Of the firm of H~imebsugh, Merriam
IL Co., elic!t1d some interesting facts
with reference to the transportation Phase
of the grain problem.
The one great obstacle which, in the
eBtimatiJn of weli-posted grain men,
prevents Omaha from jumping to the
front as . prominent grain CEN
tire, is the action of the rail-
roads in the matter of trar sporiation. Els
specially is This remark applicable to the
Burlington & Missouri road. That sys-
tenn, if il were not blind to the interests
of this city, In partially subaerving its
own, could contribute a very large
element to the growth of Omaha. At
present, it Is well kno wn, the b. q M. !,
carries little or no grain into this city.
The reason of this, aside from any hostile
feelings which ths road may have for the
city, is found In the explanation preferred
by the company that they cannot attOrd
the extra run from Oreapolis Junction to
Omaha, which would be necessary to
handling the grain in Omaha
Besides this, say they, "we
cannot afford to Pay the toll across
the bridge at this point, as well as the
extra expense which would result fTou,
thro wing the traffic into the trlpartite
pool" BE thai point as 1t may, there is
no doubt but that the policy Of the road
Is greatly damaglng the interests Of
Omaha. ''If The Burlington & Missouri
would throw thai traffic into Omaha as a
grain CENTER" said Mr.. Himebaugh," il
would boom the building of Elevators,
would help the banks, and react,ng upon
the general trade and prosperity of the
city would add immensely to her pros
perity. Omaha could soon hope to com.
pete with Minneapolis, with st.
Paul or with Kansas City and il
would not be long before her growth
would have placed her, in point Of s'zs,
on an equal footing with any of those
clties} Bot the bulk of the corn trade,
onr,t,l ,H l1 .ha II G. Nj frnpa tha fn-
terror of the state is thrown into Chi
cage, aud thence into eastern channels.
For years this state of affairs has existed,
acting to prevent Omaha from asserting
her position as a great grain centre. In,
stead of having a radial system of roads
piercing from this point, the great
northwestern and southwestern sections
of Nebraska, Omaha allows the traffic
to be diverted to either side of her
some passing through Oreapolis, and
some through Blair. So tina
while by rights she ought tc
become the great inland and
distributing centre of the grain of the
state, abe allows the grain trafhc to be
taken from her and thrown into other
points"
1t is believed, however, as stated by
another prominent grain man yesterday,
that there is a coming relief for this ex
isting state of affairs. The projected
"Ashland cutoff" If built as contem
PLACED, will connect the stock yards witt
the b. & M. main line at Ashland, E.
that instead of running to O~reopolls, ant
thence to this city, the freight trains cal
come in direct route. A further extern
sion of the line viii bring the local grair
elevators into direct and easy communi
cation with the main branch. Then, a
Mr.. Himebaugh expressed himself, 81
will not be long before the grain deal
eIs of this city will be handling a larg
and steady volume of business over tn
B. 81 M
The problem..is ons that has been lonl
and earnestly discussed by the loo
''Knights of the Cereal Circle" 1t i
believed that a satisfactory solution O
the question will soon be reached in tn
manner indicated. Or barring that, tina
the projected cut off will be the beginnin
of a series of movements which shsl
place Omaha in n positio ton lay propc
and undisputei claim to the it'll, of tn
grain receiving and distributing centre {
the northwest.