The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-16

10 nfty elevators.
we are looking for n point from
which we can export grain to greatest
advantage, and l have found 1t here
IL we can make proper transportation
arrangements and can obtain p! !oper ter
minal facilities. We are ready to es-
taplish an export point for ourselves at
4 point which offers the best facilities.
The storage rates at other points are
not what they should be.
Nearly all of the grain West OF the
mississippi goes South. The great bulk
OF the Illinois grain comes East. Nor
folk IL the nearest point TO us and the
Norfolk and Western railroad, with its
accommodations, is just what we want
to haul our grain here, provided 1t Will
give us proper rate, and we could get
the elevators.
WOULD BUILD ELEVATORS.
I'VE are not particularly anxious to
build elevators here, but within five min
utes after we know that a satisfactory
haulage rate has been obtained, 1 can
get the money subscribed for the build
ing OF mammoth elevator here, or two
elevators. with capacity of about
100000 each. There Will be no trouble
about that. We have the money to
build the elevators and will not hesitate
a minute to do 1t. If 1t Is necessary.
"Of course we would rather do the
business entirely through the railroad
if 1t will put up an elevator Of ample ca
pacity, and give us the right storage
rates.
"I have another proposition, too, and
that Is if anybody from anywhere on
earth will form an export company here
with facilities to handle our goods,
will guarantee them all the grain they
can ship.
AND WHY NOT.
This country is undoubtedly to be the
great grain producing country OF the
earth and the great feeder OF nations.
The increasing millions OF bushels Of
grain must be exported, and why should
Norfolk not get her share? There is
no reason under the sun why she should
not be shipping as much grain to-day
as Baltimore. Take Newport News for
an example. Over there in that little
city with its one railroad 1t shipped a
total Of more than million more bush
els of grain than did Norfolk with her
was that? Simply because the grain
could not be handled here. Newport
News with Its one railroad has a two
million bushel elevator. Norfolk, with
its numerous lines, has only q little
200, 900 bushel affairs and Is compelled
to load part OF her corn from coal piers.
Il cannot understand why you have
not had n large elevator here. You can
get enough business to keep two going.
The Norfolk and Western railroad has
q wonderful future before it-one that
is hardly realized as yet. 1t has a'splen-
did road bed, fine rolling stock, just the
right connections, and might just as
easily be bringing a. hundred million
bushels OF grain here as ten million.
The road is now hauling n little coal. a
little lumber, and little of this and
that, when it can, by reaching out for it,
bring over its line the vast products OF
the West and Northwest for export TO
the countries of the earth.
THE BEST POINT OF EXPORT.
"Just to show you how inadequate
terminal facilities work, suppose, for eX-
ample. were to get an order to ship so
many carloads through Norfolk: that
were TO load the grain and send it on:
that the elevator and coal piers could
not handle it and there would be
blockade, l would get telegram noti-
flying me to hold up on shipments-to
load no more cars for Norfolk? What
am to do? 1 can't afford
10 wal; for the blockade to
raise. The result Is that my corn
will go somewhere else for exporting
And yet there Is the finest opportunity
in Norfolk for exporting grain on the
Atlantic coast, and speak advisedly.
am thoroughly familiar with all the ad-
vantages and Disadvantages OF your
other seaboard cities Norfolk Is nearer
to us and nearer to the ocean. New
York has 22ia cent rate on the hun
dred-wcight from Mississippi points, and
the grain has to so TO Chicago and then
through the Erie canal; Boston has q
27Is cent rate; Baltimore now has 10
cent rate, but 1t is further from the
ocean than Norfolk, which has the same
Baltimore gets the bulk Of our grain,
Baltimore has n couple of elevators in
which to handle 1t, that is the reason
Norfolk can have every bushel Of Il !f
we can get the facilities and the right
ra te for haulage. AS have said we are
ready TO build the elevators and furnish
the grain.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
"You have referred several times to
proper rate for haulage, what do you
mean by that?" asked the reporter
'Of course I could not state n rate,
but will tell you this" said Mr.. Tan
er. what we want Is simply this moth
Ing more, nothing less-a rate from cen
trail Illinois points as low as the lowest
rate to any point Of export on the At
lantic coast-a rate that can very read
lily and justly be offered The PROPOSE
tion is an entirely fair one, and one that
ought To be met. We have 4 right TO
expect the loves, possible rate In consltl-
Grafton of the ,immense amount cf grain