Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-07
BREAD ON THE WATER
Colonel Thomas P. Roberts Shows
How Ship Canal Would Carry
FOOD FOR WORKING MILLIONS,
Possibility of Pittsburg Becoming a Great
Grain Market.
BUILDING UP A BIG NEW BUSINESS

The export of grain from the port ot
Philadelphia has greatly declined in i'm.
portance in recent years, the result chiefly
of the lower rates and better facilities fol
doing the business presented by the Erie
Canal and the railroads of New York
radlating from Buffalo. In its most palmy
days it was all, or nearly all, Through
grain" that is, shipped by all rail route
from Chicago which passed through Pitts
burg destined for the elevators on the Della
ware river. AS little or none of it could
claim the benefit of lake transport for any
part of the distance, the opportunities for
| profit in handling it were afforded only
during the five months period of each year
when the lakes and the Erie Canal were
closed, when the rates were advanced on all
the railroads so per cent.
The Pennsylvania route suffered also in
comparison with the New York rail lines
by reason of the heavy grades encountered
in crossing the Allegheny Mountains The
coup de grace was finally given the fhila-
delphia grain trade when the competition Of
the trunk lines for the oil and live stock
traffic resulted in compromise, in which
the northern lines took the oil and grain,
leaving the cattle trade largely to the Penn
sylvania Company's roads.
Drove Away Oil Refineries.
The fact OF traffic in coke which returned
empty cars suitable for cattle, at least as far
as Pittsburg and Connellsville. was the
factor, doubtless, in bringing about an ad-
justment which saved the Pennsylvania
Railroad, though the arrangement was in
furious to the great oil interests of Western
Pennsylvania-an incident of which was
the removal OF the oil refneries from Pitts
burg, within the oil-producing regions, to
Cleveland, outside of them.
The same conditions are not now existing
which entered into the traffic arrangements
of the great trunk lines ten or more years
ago, and this glance at the past is only per-
tinent in weighing considerations looking to
the future of the grain trade should ship
canal be constructed from the lakes to Pitts
burg. While, as has been remarked, the grain
trade of Philadelphia has about become
extinct, such has not yet become the case
with that of Baltimore, though in that city
there has been no growth proportionate with
that of New York and Boston. Philadel-
phia is so distinctively manufacturing
city, and of such large and rapidly growing
proportions that the loss of such an item in
its foreign commerce as that of the grain
trade was onl y temporarily felt.
No Time to Haul Grain.
IT is questionable, considering the sharp
rlvalries which have reduced the cost of
grain carriage from the lakes to tdewater to
such low figures, whether the Pennsylvania
Railroad will ever feel disposed TO re-engage
in it-even were the grain delivered to it
at Pittsburg at Buffalo prices. Its main line
east from Plttsburg is engaged now most of
the time with more profitable through
freight, and with such an enormous local
business that facilities for doing such busi-
ness with Pittsburg as the loading point,
could only be provided for at a vast outlay.
The case appears to be more favorable
when we come to consider the inducements
which the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
offers from Pittsburg to tdewater. This road
has little local business, and has but a linn
tied population along its route, while its
facilities for doing a much larger business
than it now does eastwardly from Pittsburg
to both Baltimore and Washington are very
considerable, and admit of further improve
ment at comparatively small cost The
road is nearly all double tracked, so that
the main requirements would be additionst to
its rolling stock.
Maintaining Their Own Fleet.
It would seem reasonable to believe that
if for the carriage of grain from Buffalo to
New York the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern and other railroads can find it ad-
visable, as they do, to operate lines of
steamers in order to meet the competition of
independent lake vessels on their own ele-
ment, a company like the Baltimore
and Ohio could see bright prospect before
aix,in
from lake vessels. At all events, it is GER
tain that vessels would offer grain in Pitts
burg to any railroad company prepared to
transport it to the seaboard.
1t may be worth while to mention at least |
two special inducements for encouraging |
such business, which Pittsburg' could offer |
the railroads in the event OF the construc- |
tion OF the Lake Erie Ship Canal.
First-The delivery of grain from eleva-
tors east of the city proper. By this it is |
meant that If grain reaches Pittsburg via |
the canal, great point would be gained in
locating the receiving elevators east of the |
city, as at Braddock or McKeesport. This |
would avoid all the annoyance and cost of |
transfer over the crowded streets and bridges
of the city.
Streets Crowded With Through Freight.
There is scarcely another city in the coun-
freights as the streets and railroad Yards of
The day has long since passed
when this species of business was regarded
as benefit and an index of the prosperity
of way cities; in short, it is now generally
looked upon as nuisance and an injury 10
such places Herein, then, the canal offers
to Plttsburg great advantage, which no new
railroad through its limits could possibly
present.
Second-Grain received at Braddock or
where ample area can be found
for sidetracks and elevators, is exactly. in
the situation where fuel In the form of
natural gas, coal and coke, all of the best
quality and lowest price abound. At such
a receiving point on the skirts Of great
city which, with its immeii-
ate environs, has Al, 900 population, and
within the borders OF Il county with 550, 900
inhabitants, there should be erected Touring
mills of the largest capacity. No Eastern
city could hope to successfully compete with
Pittsburg, under such conditions, as flour
city, nor would there be any
popular desire for such q competition, pro-
Tided it was demonstrated to customers that
hey could obtain their -four cheaper from
Pittsburg than they could manufacture it
themselves.
Bringing Food to Workers.
With these resources once developed, as
hey should be IN the grain and -four trade,
very railroad radiating from Pittsburg
would receive a benefit, and throughout
Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, West
Virginia and Maryland the people would
eceive an important necessary OF life at u
less price than they are now
compelled TO pay TOR it. The large area
lere defined, with a population of at least
1000, 900, is mostly a manufacturing and