Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-29
INDIAN TERRITORY WHEAT.
IT ~ ALL BEING SHIPPED NORTH
THIS SEASON
Instead of Being Marketed In Fort
worth and shipped to Galveston
For Expectation, ms IL
Should lie.

| prediction that the ports or IeNas
would in time become the shipping
points OF the crops in the Southwest
| ern states.
This prediction has been verified to
some extent since the establishment OF
Il deep water harbor at Galveston, but
much more remains to be done to Sc
cure the fulfiilment OF the prophecy.
While considerable wheat has been
shipped from Galveston in addition TO
considerable quantities from Texas,
which found an outlet at New Orleans,
! IL Is still a lamentable fact that con-
siderable portion of the grain OF Texas
and nearly all OF that raised In the
Indian Territory finds It's way to for
eign markets by circultous route
through st. Louis, Kansas city and
| Chicago.
1t is not worth while to speak Of
other states further north 80 long as
this state of things exists at our doors,
1t is interesting to note the difference
between the wheat and the cotton ex-
port murkcts. The cotton trade of the
United Stateg centers at New Orleans
and Galveston. New York is important
chiefly because 1t is the emporium OF
the Eastern manufacturing states.
The grain trade of the country CEN
tiers Mt Chicago and the other cities on
Unrivalled facilities have for years
past been furnished for the transport
tation OF grain from the Northwest TO
the Northeast over the great natural
water way formed by the lakes and
the Erie canal Natural opportunities
have been taken advantage of and i'm
proved upon, until with gigantic
system of railr0ad and water commu-
nication the grain trs de of the country
Inns hpnn all htlf nQnnnDliZpd in the
interest OF Chicago and the Eastern
seaports, whose interests are allied
with her own In this matter Chicago,
Minneapolis. Duluth. Milwaukee and
score of other places within radi-
Gus of few hundred miles became the
base of supplies for the millers and the
spectators of the country. In time,
as the railroads were extended from
these cities, they drew the trade from
nearly all the West and the Southwest.
The first determined rivalry was when
st. Louis and Kansas City, few years
ago Instituted a movement Cor the
shipment OF grain South by rail and
river.
A considerable portion of the trade
of the West has been diverted from
the Northeast in this manner
But see the curious result on the
movement Of grain he new country
OF Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
Wheat is eagerly Sought there by buy
ers from Chicago, as well as Kansas
City and st. Louis 1t is either shipped
to Chicago and thence East by a long
circuitOus route. or II goes north to
Kansas City or st. Louis. and Is there
shipped south or southeast to New Or
leans of other Southern seaports. 1t is
reported that there are at present as
many as 200 agents of the leading
grain firms of those cities in the ter
ritory trying TO buy up the crop of
that country.
Meantime. what is Fort Worth do
ing?
Galveston is reaching out for the
grain crop In this part of the country,
and promises in time to become a rival
of New York as an export market for
grain, just as She has become rival
OF New orleans in the cotton trade
There are no waterways to tap the
rich section Of grain growing country
which has Just been developed in this
section within the past few years. All
Of tho crop must be moved hundreds OF
miles by rail That portion which
goes north must travel several times
farther than that which goes south
before 1t can reach an export market
Fort Worth is the principal tlstrbu-
ting point for Western Texas and a
considerable portion OF the Indian Ter
ritory.
The grain trade of Texas and the
Indian Territory must eventually cen
ter here for primary market Just as
that the Northwest conferred at
Chicago years ago and Minneapolis la
ter. ON account of transportation ia
cilities.
1t must do this unless some COM
binatlon be made by which superior
railroad facilities will be secured for
some other point, or by which Fort
Worth may be dlscrminated against
In the matter of rates. Either of these
contingencies may result from neglect
Of present opportunities.
The grain trade OF Texas and the
territory has become a matter Of gem
| eral interest on account OF this years
magnificent crop. 1t viii either come
to Fort Worth and establish here one
Of the most important primary grain
| markets in the country or II viii be
| diverted to the North, and once
turned In that direction the difficulties
OF changing the course OF an cstab-
lished trade are proverbial.
Galveston has better shipping faclli-
ties today than We're enjoyed by CHI
cng0 IN former years.
Fort Worth Is four times nearer TO
| the seaport Of Galveston than Chicago
| Is 10 New York or st. Louis to Now
| Orleans. And Fort Worth is on the
very border of the grain fields from
which the trade is being diverted TO
the North and Northeast
AS New orleans and Galveston have
become the leading cotton export mar
l<ets on account OF being situated near
| the richest cotton growing country, 50
Fort Worth may become the chief
grain market of Texas.
But Fort Worth is m inland town
SO was Denver, which became n civ
through the enterprise OF her early ~
hnbitants. And Denver had no sea
port to reach out helping hand nc
Galveston has dre 10 Fort Worth
The future of the grain trade Of the
Southwest is 10 be determined by The
course established for It during tie
Of this most important trade must hsls
a great effect upon the destiny OF the
city. '''e