The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-23
RIVER FREIGHT AS
A CURB ON ROADS
Former Governor Van SAINT Sees
Way Leading to Lower
Rates.
ENDORSES PLAN FOR
USING MISSISSIPPI
His Idea Is that Millers Should
Establish a Line Of Flour
Barges.

Establish a Line Of Flour
Barges.
Former Governor Samuel r. Van
SAINT is heartily in favor Of the agita-
ion for river freight transportation
from Minneapolis to the gulf. The SUBJ
ject appeals to him both as rivermal
of experience and as champion OF
railway rate regulation. Speaking OF
the Mississippi as a freight
outlet For Minneapolis, he said today:
Minneapolis will soon be the head
Of navigation. If you will look at the
great cities are situated on Important
waterways. There is no reason why
should not be immeasuTa-
bly, benefited by river transportation.
A large portion Of its freight could not
only be sent to the markets Of the
world much cheaper, but, the moment
this was done, all her freight rates by
rail would be reduced. It Is we'll
established fact that whenever and
wherever railroad rates come into COM
petition with water routes, while the
water routes do not always carry the
freight, they make the rate.
Proof of Rate Bases.
"To prove this, not long ago tho
traffic manager Of the Illinois Central
stated in his testimony before the in
dustrial commission that this was true,
and that Chicago practically had to
give shippers the same rate to Mem:
phis, New Orleans and other rive&
points as st. Louis.
At meeting in this city OF mer-
chants and shippers some time ago, one
of our well-informed prominent citizens
made the statement that rates to the
coast were the same to San francisco
from Minneapolis and st. Paul as from
New York. When asked for the rea-
son, the railroad traffic manager said
it was because New York was on the
seaboard; SO was San Francisco, and
to meet water competition they had to
make the same rate.
1t can be readily seen what advan.
tages will come to us if we are alive to
the situation. The river is being vast
~ improved. Every bit of work done
Is with a view to secure permanent
channel. It is only a question of few
years when we will have a six-foot
stage to st. Louis during the entire
season of navigation. All that will be
i fS1 ths 5 ba 10 ap
pup law PAosooosoOo. ~ Will 0C AAoASy
well SPENT.
What Other Nations Do.
colder nations have not been slow TO
derive all possible benefits from their
T spa ana gaa yhe H st
ter country. fully awake to the situa-
ton since the Franco Prussian war, has
expended $8O0,O00,0O0 to construct
canals, deepen her rivers and improve
her 'harbors. The state of New York
has appropriated more than 100000.
600 to widen and deepen the Erie canal.
The people Of that state know that this
sss sts b Of ez naiys Staad i fright ss
ing and entering New York, another
evidence that waterways, il they do
not carry the freight, make the rate.
sfThe shipping Of -four, say from
Minneapolis to New Orleans. can be
made paying investment. ALL that
will be necessary is to secure powerful
towboats and sufficient barges. There
will be no great outlay az in a GGmParisSn son
instance, there is no right Of way to
secure, no grading, tunneling, bSidRing,
no ties, rails or expensive roadbed to
keep in repair. The. heavy load win
be down stream, 30 there will be no
steep grades to overcome. Practically
all that will have to be done is TO
take the current when 1t serves.
Millers Should Own Barges.
"To make the scheme success from
the start, the milling companies should
own the barge line. They would thus
have an ample supply Of freight to
enable their boats and barges to do q
paying business, and would profit i'm.
mense1y by large reduction in the
rate for their shipments that would 60
by rail. In fact, the latter profit would
soon pay for their entire feet.
eff private company engaged In
the enterprise, the railroads might cut
prices until the boats were forced out
of business. Then they could return
to former rates. So, in my Judgment,
1t would be better for the milling COM
panies to own and operate the fleets.
This would be following the policy
pursued by the great coal companies
on the Ohio, the ore companies on the
great lakes and the lumbermen on In.
land waters.
''Then, see the advantages. The
boats would load here, 60 directly to
New Orleans without breaking bulk,
land alongside Of ships and transfer
their cargo into them for all parts OF
the world. Now, -four, if going abroad
and desiring water routes, must go by
rail to Duluth, then to, say Buffalo, or
some other point, and be ,re-shippedi
apain. Also once more at the port OF
New York. This handling is very ex-
pensive. and can be avoided as above
stated.
ttI am confident that in time there
will he such q barge line. This is 3
growing, widenwake city, and WILL
desire to take advantage Of her new
position.
Increase Of Consumers.
stOur country doubles in population
practically during every period OF
twenty-five years. In a quarter of 2
century we will have 15O,OOO,Ooo Of
people. Our city has gained in popu..
lation 1000 month during the past
five years, so we are more than keep
ing pace with our country. At that
time, we will have a half million en-
ergetic, progressive people, at least.
What seems q possibility now will be
an absolute necessity then. This year
the Upper Mississippi River Improve.
ment association meets here. 1t should
be the most important ever assembled.
"Of late years, this association has
gained in influence, and it's power is felt
In Washington. The demands made
by it can no longer be ignored. TIL g
Journ cannot help this city and
the people more than by doing all in its
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