The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-25
LOCAL GRAIN TRADE
SHIPPERS INTERESTED IN THE POOL
BILL BEFORE CONGRESS.
Question as to Whether 1t Would
Benefit Indianapolis-ThisC City
an Export Center.

Local shippers. especially grain men, are
much interested in the bill before Con-
gress permitting the railroads to pool
business, and are looking about to see in
what manner ii will benefit indianapolis.
The grain men are the more interested in
the matter from the fact that with the
passage Of the interstate commerce act
indianapolis lost its prominence as a grain
center. Prior to that from all points in
Illinois and Indiana grain was shipped to
Indianapolis on local rate, taking a
through rate at this point. most of it going
through indianapolis elevators. In the
early SOS as high as 100000 bushels Of
grain were handled by Indianapolis grain
firms representing Indianapolis houses or
houses of Eastern cities. In 1882 there
were fourteen grain dealers who did bust
ness on a large scale in Indianapolis. Now
there are but four. In 1882 there were six
elevators. all doing heavy business; now
there are but two. and they are idle much
of the time. 1t was not an unusual thing
three hundred carloads of grain a day at
Indianapolis Now if fifty are handled in
one day 1t is thought to be good business.
In the year 1882 there were handled at
indianapolis in round numbers 25,OOO.OOO
bushels of grain; in the year 1898 but $780,
inquiring about is whether pooling or any
change Is to be made in the interstate
commerce act which will enable Indianap-
oils to again come into prominence as a
grain center. If the pool is honestly lived
UP to no road will favor the shipper in
crease the tonnage OF his road above the
allotted per cent There is probability
that IL will help the smaller shippers. as
they ship grain the same rate as
the larger shipper If the interstate-com-
merce act is the basis of operations. 1t is
we'll understood that under the interstate-
commerce act rates have been nearer pro-
rated on the mileage that freight is hauled
than before its passage. but it is just as
pers have been given rebates and taking
other methods of shading rates which the
business is pooled it would seem that the
larger shipper could have no advantage in
rates over the smaller one. Where the
amendment to the act is to benefit the
grain shipper is not readily seen. But the
above statistics show plainly that the
passage of the. interstate-commerce act
gave indianapolis as grain center a
severe setback. A grain man, speaking OF
the matter yesterday, said good times
dianapolis. but it will be done more on
what is known Sin transit business
than IN the shipments of grain in here as
formerly on local rates, then taking a
through rate at indianapolis.
Indianapolis as an Export Point.
But few persons are aware of the export
business done by Indianapolis industries.
LII tHiS respect lHufdlldDOlS mas Increased
it's shipments in a manner which speaks
we'll for the city as export point. The
greatest improvement is shown in the
shipment of cerealine products. There are
now two OF the largest cerealine mills in
the country located here. and about two
| thirds of their production is exported. 1t
| is not uncommon for these two Mills to
| convert 5000 bushels of corn into cerealine
products a day. Next in Importance are
| the starch works. This establishment uses
| from 400 to 5000 bushels of corn day,
and about 70 per cent. of this production Is
| sent abroad. Next in Importance are the
Touring mills. There are but four which
| do an export business. These four mills
| have capacity to turn out every twenty
| two largest mills export fully 80 per cent.
| of their production. Indianapolis now has
three packing houses which do a large
export business. one of them, Kingan &
| Co.. ranking as one Of the largest export
packing houses in the country. The
| Moore Packing Company is not as old an
| establishment but is already doing con-
| siderable export business. Coffin, Fletcher
| & Co. have done more export business
| this year than in any former year The
! Evans Linseed Oil Company is another
firm which does large export business;
| then follows the Abattoir Company, Aller-
dice &. Co. and f.. Rauh & Sons, who are
| tallow and like products. Then comes
| Nordyke e. Marmon, who ship their feair-
ing mills to nearly every country in the
world. The Atlas engine works and
| Chandler & Taylor export large numbers
| of their engines.