The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-11

York city has lost supremacy rs
the greatest grain exporting CEN
ter OF North America and the
world and must now take second
place. The city Of Montreal has
stepped into the hrst place and the
present trend in the exporting bus
mess indicates that she will hold it.
This may be . matter of surprise
to most Of the people of this coun-
try. who have grown accustomed
to the idea that the United States
has the biggest and the most and
the best Of everything. but it is
none the less true. New York in
terests realize it and are beginning
to study ways and means Of fecov-
ering the lost honor.
Ten years ago New York ex-
ported So, 900, 600 bushels OF grain
to MontreaFs 3S,00G.000. In 1914
the Canadian city passed New York
for the first time with 1900. 900 to
81 ,000, 900, but New York took a
great jump to the 'front.' the follow
ing year with 126,000,000, while
Montreal dropped on to $4,000. 600.
In 1916 New York attained her
maximum in grain exports with a
total Of 154, 000, 600 bushels; Mon
treal did rocco, 900 that year. The
rivals maintained the same rela-
tive position the next year. but
then Montreal began to forge ahead
until last year she handled q total
of 13O,000,000 bushels, while New
York exported only 6S,000,000.
The figures for 1922 are expect
ed to show an even greater pre-
dominance in favor OF Montreal.
Experts say that this seizure OF
supremacy in grain was not the re-
suit of accident or of causes that
could not be corrected. Conges-
ton on the railroads leading to
New York, or within the limits oil
the port. together with the excel
lent facilities offered at Montreal
resulted in the phenomenal growth
of the Canadian city. Some OF
these factors are temporary. bu'
it is feared that others of them may
UC pei EldACuis
| In an event it is certain that con-
ditions with respect to railroad
transportation have been worse
this year than they were last
which will place New York at {
further disadvantage. Railway car:
and locomotives have been in unus
ually bad condition as a result o
Tho choproon,c ctriIo Accordip o. I,
the railroads have not been able t.
cope with the demands incident t
a normal revival in business. tn,
usual fall increase in traffic ant
the movement Of one Of the bigges
grain crops on record. When thu
mining of coal was resumed tina
product was given priority owe
grains in shipping and undoubtedl!
millions of bushels have ben di
verted to Montreal that ordinaril!
would have gone through the por
of New York.
May Use Barge Canal.
If New York is to regain frs
place, it is said, her only hope lie
in greater use of the state barg'
canal. This waterway should b.
used to an extent that would g
far toward relieving the rail con
lgestion and stimulating the grain
traffic through the port of New
York, but as yet the expectation
of its advocates have not beel
realized. With a capacity of 10,
0O0, 900 to 100000 tons yearly tn
trade on the canal is but frac
ton of that volume. Also, as a re
suit OF difficulties in rail trans
portation rates on canal barge
have been advanced until they ar
iactualy higher than rail rates
whereas they should be conside,
ably lower.
The commercial victory whic
Montreal has won in grain export
} ing is all the more significant b
reason OF the fact that her port
closed by ice for at least fou
. months Of every year. New Yor
,.on the other hand has all the ad
} vantages of a full 12-month season
AS a further handicap, insuranc
! rates up the st. Lawrence ar
higher, but Montreal is winning i
! he race nevertheless.
AS matter of fact. the Canada
, city is making such strides that sh
now ranks next to New York j
: volume and value of general e,
; ports and leads Boston. Philade
phia, Norfolk, New Orleans, Sa