The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-15
WILL REDUCE RATES.
EFFECT OF BARGE LINES ON THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
commissioners NanlandinHham La
boring in the Interest of 81.
Louis Commerce.

With the establishment Of the new barge
line between St Louis and the gulf practi-
caly assured, freight men and experts are
beginning to figure what effect the low
tariffs that can be made via the river are
going TO have on rates 10 the seaOoard. and,
IN fact the country over Rates OF cents
a bua he on wheat from there TO tidewater.
$50 cents for corn and cents per lOU ON
merchandise have been assured by the Rc-
tive interests behind the barge line.
The pushing of this scheme may be
rightfully accredited To Commissioner van
landngham of the ST. Louis bureau, who is
max slg great strides to better the CONNER
clal interests of that city. While com
missioner OF the Kansas City bureau he
succeeded in getting established u barge
line down the Missouri river that prOusn@
about reduction of the rail rates. There
is considerable speculation in this terri
tory as to the probable effect OF barge
line as suggested, and touching on mat
point the Republic of Sunday says;
The effect of such rates on river trans
portaton companies with which the new
line will come into direct competition may
be inferred when 1t is known that the aver
age rate on wheat TO the gulf by barges
from st. Louis during last year was cents
bushel, the lowest average since 1851
while during one year since that time II
ran as high AS OBS cents.
But il is the manner in which the pro,
posed reduction in rates 10 the gull WI!
affect all-rail and rail- and water rates be
tween this city aud every port on the en-
tire guilt and Atlantic coast that the COM
mercial interests OF 81. Louis are most
deeply concerned.
The moment a lower rate than the exist
ing tariffs S put into effect between an
inland city ana the seacoast, so that busl-
Z IN., nl1
panies have the right under the fourth
rIause OF the interstate commerce law TO
meet that rate.
The first thing that will he done by the
railroads after the establishment OF the
barge line will be to make through rate
from East st. Louis TO New YORK as near
the water rate from here to the seaboaru
by way of New Orleans AZ possible IL VIII
of necessity be little higher on account
OF much shorter time being consumed In
transit by ral than by water. What ap-
plies TO New York also applies TO all other
ports. as New orleans viii come into COM
petition on export business with all OF
them The opening Of the barge line theh;
wa.l mean NJ, cniy lower rates by water anu
rail on grain shipments TO New orleans
hut lower rail rates TO New York ana al
Atlantic and gulf ports as well.
In addition 10 that II Will practically
solve the Texas rate situation. which has
so long been a bar 10 st. Louis manulac-
turers and johhprs An all-water rate by
way OF the Mississippi and Red rivers TO
noints in Texas IN the latter stream can
he made much lower than some OF the
Tnyas iobbing centers can reach Red river
points. and thus St. Louis will again be able
! 10 reach q section Of the country thal II
has long been barred out or
The Texas commission put in effect n
schedule of rates TO protect jobbing CEN
tiers in that State against any Interstate
business that might seek TO come IN anu
since the establishment Of those rates 81
Louis manufacturers and lobbers. and par
! fioularly ST. Louis millens. have been UNI
( able 10 compete with the jOhoing centers In
the Lone star State The low rates prom
sed down the Mississippi river from lhls
city and up the Red river via the new barge
/ line will enable 81. Louis shippers TO get
into Red river territory as cheap as leAas
manufacturers and ioboeIs' ana VIII result
! ia raj lines meeting, as far as pos sible, the
water rates with which they are hound 10
( come INTO competition
1 Tho new barge company expects 10 pulld
I an a trade in merchandise as well as gram.
and TO be able TO carr an Immense
amount of heavy freight. New orleans Is
I now Ire second pNrt in The country. and tue
facilities for handling freight both ways are
: larialy increasing The number or oetsn
ls1els inaklrg that port. II the outsolns
7 bos:s can secure cargoes Of imports coming
1 in via New Orleans, as they can the mo-
/ ment the rate By tire water route Is mace
! cheaper than by rail from New York, vas
/ quantities Of naval stores. queensware. ore;
| and manufactured goods wiz come iha'
way as the Mississippi river Is nearer u,
| re-,a, n, Trade than View York or any OF
the Atlantic ports. The rail haul beinl
| shorter from the river Will necessaril,
make the cost OF transportation mucf
cheaper than by all-rsii routes from New
! York.
| Met by other Roads.
| ,r,. -Ial4n.- nf CT niiia and other hnte-