The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-19
MILLERS BELIEVE
IN RIVER FREIGHT
Question Of Ali Water Route for
Export Flour Is Earnestly
Considered.
RAILROAD AND STEAMBOAT
MANAGERS SCOUT IDEA
tonnage Is Great but Depth OF
Water and Loading Facilities
i Command Situation.

In the milling offices Of MINNEAPOLIS
che question of shipping flour down the
Mississippi river is up and the matter
is being investigated closely, In few
months steamers will be able to come
up to point below the Washington
avenue bridge.
The millers are behind a movement to
establish the boat line on the river
from the twin cities to the gulf to
afford cheaper and more satisfactory
outlet for export flour. The move is
the result of complaints from European
correspondents of the Minneapolis mills.
Delays at New York. 49,.
These complaints charge that there
are frequent delays in shipments of
flour sent by way of New York, owing
to the congested traffic near the sea
board and in loading the vessels. By
the boat lines -four could be shipped
direct to the gulf and unloaded on the
docks Of the ocean steamers.
1t is estimated that the cost of trans
porting flour by the boat line would be
less than one-fourth the rail haul to
the Atlantic seaboard and less than
one.half the lake and rail rate.
There is division of opinion. Rail
road men say the river can not COM
pete. and former steamboat men who
have seen the decline of river trans
porta ton, declare it futile to attempt
to build up, such a route. But the mill
ers themselves are not so sure of it,
and without letting it be known that
the subject is up they are quietly look
ing into its every feature with view
to determining beyond doubt the prac-
ticability of the river route.
Believe in River Route
The best thinkers of Minneapolis,
who combine practical experience with
knn r1o1r Of froY rtoti ffoSr
abroad, believe in renaissance of
the old Mississippi. The days of pas.
senger travel and the palatial side.
wheeler are gone forever, but as the
western country grows, the cheapest
possible freight transportation for its
marketable surplus and it's manufac
lures will be a necessity. Whenever
the use of the river as an outlet fol
Minneapolis has been suggested, scores
have arisen to scott at the idea. James
J. Hill has declared it visionary, and
every railroad man scouts at it.,asNever.
theless, one Of the greatest economic
changes is now coming over the United
States. In all time past the west has
been tributary to the Atlantic seaboard
This is changing. -s
Position Is Commanding.
Vast territory that once paid tributt
to New York and the Chicago gatewa,
now finds an outlet thru the gulf. Min
neapolis is on the northern edge of thi
territory, too far away ordinarily t.
share in the advantages Of Atlanti
coast and gulf line competition, blu
with opportunity at hand to seize tn
dictatorship, stand independent, pla
the gulf outlet against the Atlanti
seaboard and demand fair treatment a
az times. by opening for itself chea
water route to the southwark. The cit
fr RI CHI
the trade Of vast southern and south
central country that is developing rar
idly.
Freight Tonnage Immense.
Probably no manufacturing city
che world, certainly none in Americ,
presents a situation so unique, in tina
with water facilities at its doors, til
enormous tonnage orr ginating here goo
by rail from the city's gates in it's Ell
tirety. It is the marvel of all Europea
fnanciers and economists, Germans e
pecially, who visit Minneapolis, tn;
- the city does not avail itself Of IL
opportunity to secure an outlet to tt
south by water, and utilize the river 8
such waterways are used on the CO.
tinent. ..-~ r. s~.-g,'.
The problem breaks into three ma
considerations, tonnage available, T
lationship of the -four mills to the RAJ
roads and ability Of the millers to los
out expeditiously and economically;
= ability Of the river lines to handle tt
business.
Some Shipping Figures.
It is estimated that in the season
lake navigation 100000 tons
freight go out Of Minneapolis, in tt
carriage of which the river might sha
in greater or less degree. How mu
business the jobbers, lumbermen, agl
cultural implement dealers and small
manufacturers could give a down-riv
route is uncertain, but the business orr
mating in the milling industry a.
allied lines, for portion Of which
down-river line might compete,
capable of reasonably close approxin
ton. sl1~
There are twenty-five flour mills, wi
years of Is 5000 barrels. The av,
age quantity for export is about 1886
900 barrels annually. Flour shipmer
during active season Of navigation, q
kabulated thus: lass
By Milwaukee,
Omaha,
NJ. & st. L.,
" n