The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-26
THE GROWTH OF THE GRAIN
TRADE

Among the recent congressional publi-
cations is a report on the grain trade of
the United States, which contains much
interesting matter relating to the produc-
tion and shipment Of grain and -four in
Minnesota and the Northwestern states.
This report deals at considerable length
with the growth Of transportation facii-
ties, the decline and revival Of water
transportation, the movement of the
milling and grain centers and kindred
subjects. One Of the most interesting
chapters deals with the diversion of grain
and flour traffic to Lake Superior. 1t is
stated that during the last twelve years
the flour trade has been rapidly diverted
from Chicago. In 1887 there were shipped
from the port Of Chicago 6,2z6,7i2 barrels
of -four, and in 1897 the flour shipments
from Chicago by lake and rail had fallen
to 2,GlS076 barrels. The cause of this re-
markable decline was the fact that Chi
cago IS out of the direct line between the
Minnesota and Dakota wheat fields and
the markets on the Atlantic coast and in
Europe, the port of Chicago being the
most southeriy of all the accessible ports
on Lake Michigan Milwaukee, being
further north, has not suffered, but its
flour shipments have slightly increased.
The route which has most completely
displaced the Chicago route Is that to
Duluth and Superior, which, being at the
head OF Lake Superior, are as near to
Buffalo as Chicago, while the haulage by
rail is less than in the case of Chicago.
The result, says the report. has been the
diversion Of the flour trade from Chicago
to Duluth and Superior and the develop
ment at the head of the lakes Of a large
and growing milling industry, which in
1889 mad an output of Sl,4l6 barrels. to
2,46o0i5 barrels in 1898. while the total
shipments Of -four have increased from
1,322,7l5 barrels in 1887 to 6,259,795 barrels
in 1895, the figures for 1898, however.
showing decrease from those for 1895
and 1887
The chief cause for the diversion of
the -four shipping trade from the foot OF
Lake Michigan to the head of Lake Su.
oerior IS the northward and westward
trend Of the center of wheat production.
As Illinois succeeded New York and Penn
sylvanla as the wheat center, so the
Northwestern states have succeeded Chi
cago, TO the vast advantage OF the lake
carriers and the exclusively Northwestern
railroads with terminals at the head of
the lakes.
the growing Importance Of Duluth and
Superior as wheat shipping ports is due,
therefore, not only to the northwestward
movement Of the wheat fields, but to thu
Increase and Improvement of the faci les
for lake transportation. The decline of
The lake carrying business of ten wears
ago. owing to the failure Of the lake car
riers TO take advantage of modern i'm
provements and to grow with the times,
Is now replaced by tremendous growth
and activity.
The opening of the new Sault canal lock
and the twenty-foot channel, in October.
1896, gave 10 Duluth and Superior the ad-
vantage of Lake Michigan freight rates
to lower lake ports, and the Increase IN
the tonnage of lake vessels and the in
creased carrying capacity reduced frsisht
rates in 1897 TO something less than . cents
bushel from the head Of the lakes 70
Buffalo. In 1870 there passed-through thu
Sault canal SS,54S barrels of -four. 40 7o)
bushels Of wheat and 30tO77 bushels Of
other grain. In 1899 there passed through
the 500 locks 7,114,147 barrels of flour. 81
S97,2s5 bushels Of wheat and 80, ,0oO. .9a5 bush
els OF other grain.
This vast amount OF cereal product owe,
It's origin to the rapid growth of the
wheat growing area in the Northws stern
states The Dakotas produced $500. .Oo9
bushels CT wheat in 1879, and 81, 700, 600 in
1898 of which 55, zoo, coo was in tho STATE OF
North Dakota and 42.eo0c0o in South Da-
kota- Minnesota, the greatest wheat pro
ducias state, raised S4,C9a,o0o bushes IN
lS79 and Is, lG0. COS in 1888: Kansas produc. d
CLsg@o9o and Nebraska 3a,7Co,OO0 or total
in 1875 foy the five states OF 275, ,7ee COS, or
40 per cent Of the total crop of the Unite I
States, as compared with u per cent In
ls79
ay;lne taa ports az the head o. the