New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-23
Elevator.
DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED.

Dows and the Columbia stores to-day are said
to have only 700 900 bushels storage and all the
othHrs are In the same or worse condition. For
s3fTe unexplained reason .he grain trade has
gradually deserted this port and gone to Boston.
Baltimore Philadelphia. Newport News and
New-Orleans At this port there is no dangerous
navigation or long distance for q steamer to
traverse from the open sea. and yet ii is left
far behind in this rivalry for the gran-oarrying
trade Of the United States Grain. it is stated by
competent authorities. can be loaded half a cent
cheaper in Boston than In Brooklyn. This Diff
ference in q cargo Of 100 900 bushels means $500.
4 large sum in these days Of low steamship
freights.
The reporter asked a grain superintendent OF
long experience yesterday why the railroads
should discriminate against this port in favor OF
the others named. He replied: Il don't know
why they DO It. but they do. Perhaps they are
interested in the terminal facilities at those
points and wish to develop them. but the fact re-
mains that they are doing So"
A canaler who was walking off his boat at
BOWS Stores said: What has become Of the
grain trade? It's gone from here because in
New-York they want three pecks out Of every
bushel OF wheat that comes into the harbor
The port charges are too high"
There Is a bitter war at all times between the
over the charges made for transferring boat
load Of grain into the stores. The canallers hate
the elevator owners and the railroads with an
equality OF intensity and allege that the port
charges have ruined the grain trade. The rail-
roads beat them down In rates when the canals
are open; when the Icy fingers OF winter ciose
the waterways the railroads advance the freight
rates on grain to suit themselves The canals
In summer keep up a competition In rates tnat
successfully prevents the raiiroads Iroin hav,ns
oil
full and experienced men declare that the only
salvation for the grain trade OF New YORK 10
either a ship canal to the Great LAKES or al
with a opacity of 5000 or 10000 bushels or grain:
The boats now in use carry 5000 bushels. ana not
infrequently find 1t difficult to pass through the
canal with this cargo. Men who have grown
gray In the grain business assert that II every
possible facility is not offered for the cheap trans
portation Of grain. the United States VIII not
long be the foremost purveyor OF food products
In the world. They point TO the vast regions
lying along the shores OF the La rata IN the
Argentine Republic, some OF the nnest wheat
producing lands in the world; the opening up OF
The Russian wheat fields, besides those Of India
and Egypt.
cANAL-BOATs AS sToREHoUsEs
A feature of the grain trade Of Brooklyn 10
the system Of storing 1t in canal-boats all WIN
ter, which has been always regarded with much
dislike by the storage and elevator magha'es.
Boat-owners are glad TO carry grain over all
winter for from 81 TO 81 80 day. the o"ne's pay
Ing wharfage which is much less than the ware
house rates The grain keeps cool ana IN oe''er
condition than in the warehouses
Mr.. Mcintyre. president of the warehouse uus'.
stated over a year ago that the capture Oh I'M"
grain. which he estimated to be worth sl,ooo'VVo'
was one Of the plans OF the company. IL Ola not
succeed as there IL as large a Meet OF gram
poAts IN the Erie Basin this winter as ever pe
iore. when the grain Is sold 1t Is transfer! .
either TO the warehouse or by floating eieVa.cl
hold.
apart IRON the general questions inVoIVeu, ..e
present condition OF the grain business IN bIoo o,
yn ~ serious one. The trimming or the ia'' an,
IN the stores boats and steamships empioyvsr
en- army OF workmen. Their source OF IVei.
hood Is largely taken away Few men are now
employed about the warehouses. and these few
are absolutely necessary With the best OF care
grain In store is exposed to weevll and to heat.
When the tiny beetles appear the grain must be
put through blower without any loss OF tine'
winch involves waste and incidentally, the en-
pioyment OF labor. Formerly the grain trim
mers could be seen In hundreds around the ele-
vators; now few only can be found lettering
ueuesely, waiting for an hour or two Of work
trimming grain boat. When the great strike
took place eight years ago. the grain men were
paio 20 cents an hour. with so cents and even
~ for night work or Sundays. To-day the wages
rate 'e w" eve"
The falling OF in the grain trade Is being bit
ETy felt by the men and business people along
We water 'front.': Just how the men feel whose