The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-17


| eminent On some rovers of much less i'm
portance. Captain Joseph Ev;ns, so wen
| known TO our citizens, who has probably
more actual knowledge of the Arkansas
river than any other person residing
lear X, is one OF the most enthusiastic
I supporters of the movement. Captain
William L. Siebert, United States eng1-
neer in charge Of the Arkansas river.
| who was here few days ago, states the
undertaking is timely, practical and feas-
{: ibie. He states further that for eight
months during last year QS95) the river
was navigable for good sized boats eve.,
in its present condition. Considering this
with the fact that very few of our rivers
are navigable during the entire year and
| that it is not at all necessary, we can
very northumberland that the desired
navigable condition can be realized with
| out the expenditure of a very large sum
Of money.
1t is now proper to give a few OF the
| expected results of the convention, or
rather its aims and objects.
River transportation of products by
barges is now generally accepted as the
safest, cheapest and most practical IN
| every respect. The barge is cheapiy
constructed vessel, holding about eigh,
railroad car loads Of freight. Being NOV
ed by another vessel it is not subject to
| the danger of explosion or fire, hence the
| risk Of insurance is reduced to the one
| risk OF snagS. Its cargo to the seaboard
| Is taken direct to the ocean steamer and
its load transferred by floating eleva-
tor, thus saving at least one handling.
which any other mode Of carrying to sea-
board is subjected TO. Even at the very
lowest stage of water barges can be loac-
| ed and lowed.
/ no ,~osT l. -,
Atlantic coast and the west have finally
recognized the trend of western grain to-
ward the Gulf, as has been demonstrated
by their efforts to force an equalization
OF rates between the short haul to Gal
weston and New Orleans and the long
haul from New York and Newport News.
The movement of grain 10 the Gulf ports
for European shipment was long fore
seen by western shippers who have been
making every effort to turn the stream
o: shipping in that direction. At first,
owing to practically discriminating rates,
and the lack of terminal facilities at gulf
ports, the flow OF grain southwark was
hardly appreciate. Its permanent char
acter and constantly increasing bulk,
however, finally led to the building of
elevators, to storage warehouses and 20
new lines of ocean steamers seeking that
business. The result has been the one
milllon-buShel elevator at Galveston. in
addition to the smaller elevators already
prepares TO pour grain over the decks into
the hold Of vessels, the deepening of the
channel to admit the heaviest draft YES
sells over the bar and the tablishing of
brokers' offices for handling this new
line of business.
AT New Orleans, in addition to the eia-
VatorS erected for storage, We're added
elevators az
ment.
But nature interfered with difficulty
that was unforeseen and which has large
ly prevented the producer from receiving
the enhanced values, which he had a
right TO expect from the saving in rail-
way transportation II was found that
to escape the ravages of insect life wheat
could not beld in those cities, but had TO
be shipped as speedily as possible, re-
CARELESS of the state OF the foreign mar
ket. Even though European ports might !
be practically blocked with grain yet, the
product seeking that market from the
gulf ports could not be withheld In con-
sequence the producer had to stand a
share OF this risk by taking less price |
for his grain, and the northern buyers |
could not hold when they were unable 10 |
check the weavel
This naturally led the investors and !
dealers in grain TO seek a. remedy and |
the only one that can be found is tn. |
establishment OF a wheat market and de- |
pot at a point where nature favors stor- |
age for an indefinite period while at the |
same time Offering facilities for quickly |
and cheaply reaching salt water where |
pTives invite shipments.
Those interested in grain in Kansas.
Nebraska. Oklahoma and all the western |
wheat-growing states have lately been !
looking TO FortSmith or some other poinc |
on the river as location which pOSti We |
ly affords the relief desired. Compare |
lively small amounts of money will i'm |
prove the Arkansas river. and thus place |
wheat stored in such locality within easy |
reach OF the sea coast and permit cheap |
as well as quick transportation to New |
Orleans for shipment. A system of ele- |
waters which by reason of their location |
passes all the requirements as to climate. |
altitude and freedom from insects, can |
provide ample storage facilities for an |
Indefinitely period with the assurance |
that the grain will be as perfect at the |
end OF two or three years as when re-
ceived.
With the establishment of barge line |
or several lines following the improve
ment OF our river. the grain can be ship
ped whenever a favorable market offer,
regardless of the season of the year.
As soon as this has become an accom-
plished fact and the grain buyers of the
western states and territories fully rea-
lie that they are not compelled TO I'M
load upon a weak market, the price viii !
be 50 far advanced as TO be worth mil
lions of dollars TO the farmers Of eacn
of the western states. In the state OF
Kansas alone this opportunity would add
at least one million dollars year 10 the
producers receipts on an advance OF but
> cents a bushel.