Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-29
THEY FIND IT CHEAP
To Ship Freight BY Way Of Nus
kseoa to Chicago.
MANY CARLOADS GO THAT WAY
yhe saving UOsld H nDubssa Y
Gsasd lttscs aad Ten Fsce -
Wsscr--SAgisaw's Exaapla.

Sance tho opening OF navagatton nun
dreds at cars 81 manufactured gpcds
have been shipped from this city BY way
d Maskegon 10 Chicago. Shippersfnd
u considerably cheaper to ship by the
Grand Rapids & Indiana road to Mnske-
gon and transfer 10 the Goodrich line Il
steamers than TO ship by any all rail
road route FROM this city. During the
past two weeks the Sigh Furniture
company has shipped two cars q furni-
ture by this route. and Mr.. Sigh was
seen last night In bis home on Prospect
street and asked about the saving to
shippers by taking this Muskegon route.
I'VE are able TO save % or 80 on each
carload by shipping to Muskegon and
then by boat 10 Chicago" said Mr..
Sigh. land when you consider the i'm
mensc volume Of trade between Grand
Rapids and Chicago and Milwaakee il
means . great deal 10 Grand Rapids.
The rate by way Of Muskegon
10 10 cents per hundred pounds. while
the old rail rate IL ~ centa II We had
the river improved to foot channel
we could easily have q rate Of II cents.
Many other companies are shipping over
the same route. Leonard is sending
refrigerators that way and ] think
Berkey 4 Gay are shipping that way.
Some one has asked il the bulk Of bust
mess westward from Grand Rapids was
not done with points west OF Chicago.
In answer to that ] will cay that in
ordinary years the trade with Chicago
and Milwaukee amounts 10 tl.00O.000
and 1888 will SEQ 100000 worth Of
goods go to Chicago alone. II all Of il
were shipped by way Of Muskegon il
would save TO Grand Rapids at least
5000, and il We had deep water it
would double that amount IL il saves
on out bound goods it would save on in
coming goods ard the saving would cut
two ways.
They shipped BY Boat.
Last summer We shipped many car
loads Of furniture by the steamers Bar
rett and Valley City. Berkcy & Gay,
the Grand Rapids Furniture company.
Leonard 4 Go. and other companies
shipped goods all during the summer
think that h sufficient answer to tho
fellow who Wishes to know II the mer-
chants and manufacturers would
navigation were obtained. Some one
has objected to having TO ship to
Chicago and tho transferring to cars to
send to western points. Perhaps II 10
not generally known that the great bulk
OF shipments TO western points arc in
lees than car l0ts. and that they are
transferred 10 Chicago. and frequently
are transferred two or three times.
Answer "a Bar. white.
T. Stewart White says it would be
Improbable TO bring coal by boat to
Grand Rapids unless there were moro
than ten feet Of water. / would call his
attention to two letters received by Sec
rotary Kinsey II the board OF trade.
Here 10 one from . coal and ice company
In Saginaw:
The BEEsE- LITTLE Coal 4 Ice Co.,
SAGINAW. +. g.. April 26. 1891
T. ID. Mower. Secretary. Saginaw. Mich:
DEAR 6IR-ln replying to your re-
quest, in answering the questions re-
garding freights on coal, ETC., asked by
the secretary OF the Grand Rapids board
OF trade, would state a. follows: The
water freights from Buffalo To Saginaw
have ranged from about 40 10 ~ cents
per net ton for tho past few years. In
few instances late in the fall they have
gone up to 30 and 60 cents per ton. Ii
10 always the calculation Of the dealers
here to stock up Ia that extent during
the summer 80 there will be no need ~
railing in any hard coal at all. but FIRE.
quently in tho events of unusually Sc
we're winters we are compelled to rail
some In. but the amount is too small TO
admit ~ comparison with that re-
ceived by water. The rates by rail.
Buffalo to Saginaw. are Sl.70 per gross
ton. The average depth Of water in
Saginaw river, between Saginaw and the
bay, Ia about ten and one-half feet, hut
there IL seldom moro than nine and one.
half feet on what IL known a. the Car.
rolton bar. Yours truly,
The BEHsE- LITTLE IcE 4 Coal Co.
Per &. II. LITTLE
This shows that with nine aud one.
half feet II 10 profitable b. ship coal by
boat. Here il another letter showing
that Saginaw took the initial step 20 SO.
cure deep winter By bonding herself:
SAGINAW Board or TRADE
SseISsw, Mich.
w II. Kinney. Eco. Grand Rapids. Mich:
DEAR Sis-Yours 81 the 9th and oath
inst. at hand. have asked the Becae.
Little Coal & Ice company to furnish
me the Information you desire and they
very kindly responded. Herewith 1
hand you their reply.
Saginaw county appropriated 100000
10 improve the Saginaw river between
this point and Bay City. which was
prior Ia the government making any ap-
preparation Tor such purpose. think
II was in l~Go. IL il IL material. you can
ascertain full PARTICULARS corresponding
with the county clerk. Very respect
fully. +. DaiLEy Mowss. Sec'y.
The distance improved was twenty
three miles. believe. and We have but
thirty eight miles. | think these facts