The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-02-09
ARM0R PLANT DATA
sent TO CAPITAL
Commercial Club Gives Location
Board List ofFreighf
Rates Here.

The Frisco Railroad has promised
to make the same rates on raw ma
terlal necessary for the manufactur,
Of armor plate as were promised By
the river shipping concerns, it is stated
in the additional brief forwarded yes
terday morning by the Commercial
Club TO the Special Naval Board, which
is authorized to select 4 site for the
Government armor plate plant.
The Barrett Tow Boat Company has
assured the Commercial Club that It
can ship coal at the rate of 40 cents
per ton from any point in Kentucky
along the Mississippi River to Cape
Girardeau, while other shipping con-
| Germs have quoted a rate of so GEMS
per ton from the coal fields in ILL.,
nols. According to the brief sent yes
terday to the Naval Board the Illinois
coal IS Of the very best kind and is
free from impurities. 1t is said to be
the best kind suitable for the uses in
tended by the Government.
Several steamboat companies have
agreed to deliver coal from the mines
70 any point near Cape Girardeau from
the Illinois Coal fields for so cents
ton and pay the freight rate charged
by the railroads that would have to
haul the coal to the Mississippi River
from the mines. The so-called Gov
eminent land grant would reduce the
freight rate now charged for hauling
coal to Cape Girardeau from the Hi
nols fields TO at least one-half Of the
rate now in force for Cape Girardeau.
The present published rate is rs cents
per ton, and on account of the Illinois
Central being 4 land grant road, en-
gagged principally in the hauling Of the
coal TO Cape Girardeau, a consider
able reduction of the general rate
could be obtained for the Government
shipments.
Pig iron, another material to be used
for the manufacture of armor plate,
can be shipped from the blast furnaces
in St. Louis at the rate of 80 cents
per ton. This is the quotation of 4
reliable steamboat concern in opera
ton between the metropolis and points
in Southeast Missouri.
Bessemer pig iron can be secured in
Chicago in any quantities necessary
for the manufacture of armOr plate.
The rate charged by the Illinois Cen
trail IS $3.50 per ton, but it is believed
that a cheaper rate could be had owing
to the fact that this road is Gov
eminent land grant road. Taking into
consideration the possibility of COM
petition, even 4 larger reduction can
De expected, says the brief.
FcIromangaHese can be obtained
from St. Louis in any quantity de-
sired By the Government, the brief
states. The rate would be the same
as for the shipments of pig iron. The
rate from the eastern market is said
10 me more than IS per ton by rail.
but it is believed that it could be ship
ped at lower price by ocean steam
ers to New Orleans and to Cape Cir
ardeau by river boats.
Limestone. dolomite and fourspar.
which would also be needed for the
manufacture OF armor plate, can be
had at very low rate, as all this
material is found in the immediate
vicinity of the Cape and can be
brought to the Cape in any amour: and
without even 2 switching charge.
Armor plate can be shipped to near
~ every city with shipyards at very
low rate, it is stated in The brief. Tie
rate to Bremerton and Seattle, Wash,
would be 1888 cents per hundred
pounds. while the rate to other points
along the coast runs between 60 and
"a GEMS per Ton. These rates would
apply to shipments to Norfolk, Va,
Boston, Mass, New York City, Quin-
cy, Mass. and other points in the
East.
These shipments could be sent over
land grant reads, and for that reason
a reduction IS possible on the present
published rates on general freight.