The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-03-28

thirty to forty thousand bales of cotton
we're carried annually on the Yalobusha
river to Vicksburg and New Orleans
markets, and the possibilities and ad-
of navigation on the Yalobusha
river are much greater today than in
the past. Cotton takes its basis rating
from the compress from which it is
shipped. With the Yalobusha river
opened up for navigation, all cotton
shipped through the Grenada Cotton
Compress from Oxford, Miss, to Gre
NADIA from Sardis, Miss, to Grenada,
from Duck Hill Miss, to Grenada,
would get the benefit of the basis rat
ing out from this point. The opening
of the river would give US reduction
in freight rates on cotton of from 10 to
IL points on every 100 pounds, making
difference of from so to 60 cents per
bale on all cotton affected by this rat
ing. AS result of this better rating
practically 100, 900 bales of cotton an
nually would be affected, seeking out
let for the different markets of the
world through this point. This would
mean a saving in freight rates of from
$50, 900 to $50, 600 a year to this COM
munity on cotton alone. We enclose
list of relative freight rates on cotton
and other products of Greenwood and
Grenada, showing the advantages we
would have if we were a river point.
Grenada is in the center of a very
fine hardwood territory, having over
two billion feet OF hardwood within 25
miles from town. With the river OPEN
ed up, Grenada would offer advantages
as place of manufacture of this tim
ber equal to the best river points,
which would be on all export stuff
about sl0.0 0C carload advantage over
the present rate. Our present export
rate on lumber. shipside New Orleans,
is l3 l-3 cents per hundred. with
the river opened up we would have an
export rate of II cents shipside. This
4 difference in our favor would also OBJ
tain on all lumber shipped to all the
great inland markets of our country.
We would also get reduction in freight
rates of from $40 to 500 car on all the
-four and meal which is shipped into
our town on the present basis, as well
as reduction on bagging and ties,
hardware, dry gyods, and and all mer-
camille commodities. AS Greenwood is
one of the finest Delta cotton markets
in the country, our cottons which are
grown on the bottom lands of the y alo-
busha and its tributaries could be
shipped to Greenwood at nominal cost
much better advantage than they are,
realizing to the farmers much larger
returns from their labor. The popula-
ton, benefited and affected directly and
indirectly by the suggested improve
ment, would be about $50, 600 people.
The Mississippi Valley Transportation
Campany of St. Louis. last year. as
sured us that if we would secure the
opening up of the Yalobusha river to
navigation they would give US a reduc.
ton of practically % per cent on al
freights received at this point.
The Yalobusha river is a government,
a stream owned by the government II
y its present condition, instead of being
r blessing to the country through
v which it passes, it is menace owing
: to its engorged condition as a result OF
: accumulations of drift and the growing
S trees stopping up the stream and caus
= ing it to overflow much worse than il
f would do if it were opened up. Onl.
t three years ago, owing to the conditions
e above recited, We had an overflow
n while the crops were on the land, whicl
caused loss to this county in cottol
4, alone of $500 bales; valued, say, at SS
l. per bale for cotton and seed, which fo
t that year would be conservative. this
: was for this county, a tribute of owe
J. $500, 900 paie to the Yalobusha river
y which could have been prevented an
r would not have occurred, had the rive
It been open and unobstructed, allowing
S the Tree passage VI us WdltI
= its channel. With the river opened up
Ia lsrge areas which have been abandone
and uncleared as a result of the over
ie flows incident to the blocked up cond
IN ton of the river, would be brought int
t. productive cultivation.
g We feel that our great government
y materially Interested in the welfar
d. OF her people and her country, and
b. willing to do anything reasonable lool
ly ing to the amelioriation of condition
90 for which the people are not to blame
As the representative of the people an
III commercial bodies of this communit
he NEST serious consideration of the fact
-, presented to you, and hope that you wi
|" be willing to recommend the improv'
ne ment asked for. Very truly yours,
n GRENADA BUSINESS LEAGUE.
in (Sipned) By w, B, Hoffa,