Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-09-15
Where Economy Comes In.

In 1908 the average cost of carrying
wheat from Chicago to Buffalo by lake
was one cent bushel, while the cost
by rail to New York was III 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
a 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 a 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 transpor-
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 cereals-wheat,
corn, oats, barley and rye-during the
past 40 years, was over 10000, zoo, 900
bushels. If the average addition to
the value of this vast volume of grain
was five cents a 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 a surprising dis
lance, a waterway close by exerts g
very much more direct and powerful
influence than one long way of. II
the Great Lakes and the Erie cana
| have increased the value of grain al
over the west, what do you suppose
would happen if the Mississippi, Mis-
i souri,, Arkansas and Red rivers were
so improved that boats could run ev
cry day in the year unless hindere(
by ice? Z
Money Needed for Work.
The National Rivers and Harbor!
congress is working for the improve
ment of the rivers, harbors and water
ways in all parts of the United States
Chairman Alexander of the rivers an,
harbors committee, says that 1899 900
900 will complete every project which
has been begun or has been recon
mended by the army engineers. Fiv'
hundred million dollars would prob
ably finish up all Of these and all tn
new projects which will be surveye'
and adopted within the next few years
! The average annual production Q
the five principal cereals, which dul
ing the last ten years has been 4,151
100000 bushels, has been steadily II
creasing and will probably continu
to increase for some time to come.
The complete Improvement of al
our waterways would increase tn
value Of every bushel Of grain pr
duced by at least five cents-my owl
opinion is that. It would be more tina
that |s..z 6
But let US be on the safe side. sur
pose we spend q billion dollars o
waterways instead Of q half billion
supIos that the production Of graf
remains as It Is instead OF increasing
and suppose that the price Of grain
Increased only 211 cents bushel Il
stead Of i've. s.
Even 50, with production stationar!
the expense doubled and the benef
cut II hall, the whole 81 ,000. 00o, 90
would be returned 81 less than e
years 81 the increased price q grai
llnns. 8