Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-10-06
Where Economy Comes In.

WuSTS CCOIlOH1y SOr1CS lns
In 1908 the average cost of carrying
wheat from Chicago to Buffalo by lake
was one cent a bushel, while the cost
by rail to New York was Ill cents
almost twelve times as much, although
the distance is the same. But grain
which is to go all the way by water
must be transferred to canal boats at
Buffalo. Little canal boats drawn by
mules cannot carry stuff as cheaply
as big ships driven by steam, so the
through rate by water was six cents
bushel, little over half as much
as by rail. For the twenty years end
ing with 1908 the water rate, on the
average, was lower than the rail rate
by 6.2 cents bushel. On the ship
ments from Lake Superior the differ
ence was greater still, since Duluth is
less than 100 miles farther from New
York than Chicago is by water and
nearly 500 miles farther by rail, but
no comparative rates are published.
The beneficial effects of the water
way, through lowered cost of transport
tatiOn, are not confined to the grain
shipped from cities on the lakes, but
extend to practically all the grain
produced. The total production of
the five principal wheat,
corn, oats, barley and rye-during the
past 30 years, was over 100000, 100000
bushels. If the average addition to
the value of this vast volume of grain
was five cents bushel, and that
seems a moderate figure in view of
the facts stated above, the total is
more than $4,000 ,000 000-nearly all Of
which has gone into the pockets of the
farmers.
But while the beneficial effect of the
waterways extends to surprising dis
lance, a waterway close by eNerts a
very much more direct and powerful
influence than one long way off. II
the Great Lakes and the Erie canal
have increased the value of grain all
over the west, what do you suppose
would happen if the Mississippi Mis-
souri,, Arkansas and Red rivers were
SO improved that boats could run ev-
cry day In the year unless hindered
by ice?
Money Needed for Work.
The National Rivers and Harbors
congress is working for the improve
nlent of the rivers, harbors and water
ways In all parts of the United States.
Chairman Alexander of the rivers and
harbors committee, says that $3.50 ,000,-
600 will complete every project which
has been begun or has been recon-
mended by the army engineers. Five
hundred million dollars would prob
ably finish up all of these and all the
new projects which will be surveyed
and adopted within the next few years.
The average annual production of
the five principa! cereals .ch dur
ing the last ten years has Deen 4,151,-
100000 bushels, has been steadily in
creasing and will probably continue
to increase for some time to come.
The complete Improvement of all
our waterways would increase the
value Of every bpshel of grain pro
tducod by AZ Least five cents-my own
opiDSsa is that it would be more than
that
But let us be on the safe side. Sup
pose we spend a billion dollars on
waterways instead OF half-billion;
SUPP oSe that the production of grain
remains as it is instead of increasing:
and suppose that the price of grain is
Increased only 21a cents a bushel In
stead Of five
Even so, with production stationary,
the expense doubled and the benefit
cut in half, the whole $1,00O,000,000
would be returned in less than ten
years in the increased price of grain
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