The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-05
FROM FARM TO DARKROOM.
The Journey and Gradual Increase in
Price of a Bushel of Corn.
From the Peoria Ill1 Herald

From the Peoria Gll) Herald.
Illinois is the great corn state and
Peoria is the center of its most prolific
belt. Peoria is a great grain market and
especially for corn. Vast quantities Of
the golden grain are shipped into that
city for general distribution and loaded
into its mammouth elevators by the hun
dreds of thousands of bushels. A great
deal of corn is shipped from Peoria, but a
vast quantity is used there. There
is more corn used in Peoria than in any
three cities in the union, even though
those cities beNew York, Philadelphia and
Chicago. The reason is obvious Peoria is
not only the center OF the great dis Lilling
interests, but there are located two of the
greatest sugar houses in the country
Down the capacious maws Of the great
distilleries are poured every day 10000
bushels Of corn, The sugar-houses use
from 5000 TO 10000 bushels more each
day in the day To supply the constant
demand the product of ZOO acres of rich
corn lands is daily shipped into Peoria for
home consumption. Aside from these
there are fully 5000 bushels used daily
for other purposes. So that it is safe to
estimate that fully 5000 900 bushels of
corn are used in that city annually for
manufacturing and other purposes The
,
spirits.
1t is wonderful to consider the changes
made by a Dushel of corn in its transition
from the owners crib 10 the glass OF the
consumer. These changes are various
and far-reaching. They are other than
financial. But consider simply the mere
element of value. Corn was sold the other
day in Peoria for 30 cents per bushel 1t
came all the way from Nebraska. perhaps,
II F,r1f tolaf hint In -
two dealers received a commission of
cent each. The railroad company re-
ceived s cents for its freight and other
charges. The distiller paid 80 cents. He
took and concerted it into ~ gallons Of
finished spirits, aud fed one or his steers
on the refuse. The distiller sold the spir-
its TO local dealer for 1912, Of which
Uncle Sam received S4.O5 as tax on the
spirits leaving a balance to the distilier
of ~ cents after he had paid 80 cents
for his corn. The spirits, after being
well watered and compounded, are sold at
a profit by the compoUnder and rectlfier
to the dealer, who sells out at Is cents a
drink. The four and one-half gallons
have swelled to nine, and before il gets
through it swells many head and also
the revenue of the city where its lines
may be cast. So that, in its travels from
the Nebraska crib to the Chicago saloon.
JtttL bioiltA VI WI a Atio Ll'5A Nst5cu III value
from 25 cents to many dollars, and wi h
its constant running mates, has furnished
employment at least to fifty men or more
and has contributed to both the national
and municipal refenues Such magic
there is in the juice Of the golden corn. or
the Juice of that one bushel of corn at
least 100 persons have im1ibed, from the
pious old lady who took it for ia grippe"
to the Jolly old topper who took it for 1.-THE
tight"
To resume. that bushel of corn was
thus scattered on the highways of bust
ness and pleasure: Farmer, 25~ueents;
railroads. IS cents; commission mon, =
cents dstillers, ~ cents; feeder, 10 cents
Uncle Sam, 81 .05; compounder and recti-
fer, % cents; retail dealer $40; city 3d.
The consumer got whatever was left in
the spirits each according to his strength
or weakness.