The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-24
CANADRS WHEAT TRANSPORTA.
TION PROBLEM.

OTTAWA, July 23.--All signs across the
border point to an early doubling. II not a
auadrupling. Of Canada's output of cereals
for export. The question Of transportation
to tidewater is even now very widely dis
cIssed Thus far. the existing facilities
have been able to keep fairly IN pace with
the increasing demand upon them. But
new outlets will be required in the imme-
date future, and Canada naturally prefers
and very much wants channels which are
all Canadian Montreal is her western
most point for ocean going steamers. hut
Jack Frost turns his cold key upon that
port for several months every year, and thus
complexities the shipping question. The
alternatives are storage 81 wheat during
the closed season, or shipment in bond
through American ports The possibility
Of shipment by any all-rail route to the
maritime provinces is so little promising
that il is hardly to he considered seriously
from business point OF view, although
the argument plays part in the proposal
for the new transcontinental road But
the force OF the argument is political rather
than commercial.
II you draw straight line eastward
from Duluth and Port Arthur, both OF which
are extensive grain ports. its projection
across the Atlantic will bring it almost into
the mouth Of the English Channel. This
Ia the shortest route from the wheat fields
to the markets OF England and Europe
by nearly thousand miles Of advantage
over any possible route through the United
States With the exception Of about four
hundred miles, from Georgian Bay to
Montreal, it is practically deep-water
route, open all the way except for the cana
at Sault Ste Marie. Three railway lines
now traverse this land stripthe Canada
Atlantic directly, and the Grand Trunk
and the Canadian Pacific by more round
about course. A canal is projected from
Georgian Bay to the Ottawa River, but the
plan is now in allowance This is beyond
question the natural logical and most
economical course from the wheat fields
to Europe
Its manifest objection is its obstruction
for so many months during the year. Stor-
age of such vast quantities of wheat 10
await the opening Of navigation in the 81.
Lawrence is little short of impossible.
Storage charges would be considerable,
and all possible advantage of market prices
during the closed season would be cut OF,
while the throwing into the market, at the
opening of the season, of the stored millions
OF bushels, would inevitably tend to de-
preston Of values. The choice seems to
lie between a rapid rush into the market
during the open season, with q storage OF
surplus, and shipment through American
ports. Neither is quite satisfactory from
the Canadian point OF view.
There remains possibility that the ques-
ton may yet find determination along lines
which seem TO present no very serious
objection and do present certain advan-
tages. The day may well come when COM
petition with other wheat. that Of Russia s
enormous areas and that Of the Argentine,
may make it most desirable for American
and Canadian interests to come together
and treat the crops of both countries as a
common product, to be hauled over the
most economical routes and shipped by
the cheapest lines, without tariffs or bond
ing restrictions. American wheat might
go from Chicago or Duluth TO Montreal,
via Georgian Bay for shipment there, or
Canadian wheat might go from Port Arthur
to New York, va Buffalo. The wheat Of
both countries is going into the market in
any case, and wheat prices are made in n
world market which regulates prices by
the total visible supply. Neither the
American nor the Canadian grower sets
the price He sells at rates fixed by the
market, and would neither gain nor lose by
a community of national interest in his
product. Under such a system, summer
shipments might be made from Montreal
and winter shipments from New York or
other American ports, while larger amount
Of capital would be available for storage,
If that seemed desirable.
As the matter stands, there ia COMPETE
ton by which both are losers. where it would
seem that there might well he cooperation
by which both would he gamers Canada
has a distinct advantage in the matter Of
an economical route if she develops il to its
greatest opportunities, But it ia available
for only portion Of the year. For an
open use Of that route during the summer
we might well give her the open Use of our
winter facilities, giving to shippers from
either country a free and open choice Of
routes at all seasons.
Mississippi ProhiDitioDists Confident.