, 1922-11-03
TRANSFORMATION Troubles.

GPEAHING on transportation troubles that be-
y set American railway and boat lines and the
necessity Of the earliest possible opening Of the
st. Lawrence ship route to the sea, J. Il. Howard
of The American Farm Bureau Federation, tells
some startling truths that may well engage the at
tention of everyone concerned in transportation.
Many of the facts are known TO shippers and 9th
crs who have had direct experience, but the gen
eral public does not stop to realize the actual and
deplorable situation that has caused Mr.. Howard
to speak. This is how he views the matter:
Transportation is. today the limiting factor in
the farmers marketing. On the one hand is a
shortage OF transportation facilities; on the other
is an excessive rate of freight. Between the two
the farmer is being crushed as in a wise.
Consider for a moment the lack of transpor-
tation facilities. The railroads are today unable
to furnish S0,0pJ box cars to shippers who need
them at once. Undoubtedly not less than 10000
of these are needed for the grain shipments. Not
less than 1~2.OOO,OOO bushels of grain are held up
from their normal movement toward the consumer.
The result is, of course, that the elevators are chok-
ed, first at s~eaboard, then at the terminal markets,
and finally At the country point Of production
and shipment.
"And because of these railroad troubles our
waterways are jammed. Canadian lines seem to
be in even worse shape than the American, with
the result that millions of bushels of Canadian
wheat have been diverted down the lake TO the
Buffalo elevators for re-shipment to New York.
Since it is impossible to haul this grain away
from Buffalo fast enough, the elevators there are
full TO over1oWing. Lake boats fearing delay there
have raised their charges from . cents per bushel
OF wheat 10 5 cents. The New York barge canal
rates have been raised from S or 0 cents to ii
cents per bushel from Buffalo TO New York. Rates
from Buffalo to Montreal during the summer were
4 TO 6 cents-now they are 10 cents.
Recently there has been an increase of . cents
per bushel in the price of wheat at Liverpool. Not
one cent of this was reflected on the great middle
western markets. Still later there was another
increase of 3 cents which was only partially reflect
ed here. Between the increase in lake carving
charges and the failure to secure the advanced
price, the loss to the farmer has been tremendous.
In the face of these facts why should not the
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence waterway be opened for
ocean going ships promptly? Here is a route to
the sea easily accessible to the heart of the United
States. a single vessel carrying $4,000 bushels
relieves nearly three trains of 100 cars each for
other service. And the open route enables the
producer to secure the benefit of all the increased
demand in the world market and relieves him of
much of his trouble from car shortage.
VERY conservative estimates clearly indicate
that the direct losses borne by the farmers of Can.
ada and the United States from excessive trans
portation costs on this, their 1922 crop, which
would be obviated, were the st. Lawrence opened
for ocean shipping, would pay the cost of the en-.
tire improvement.
And what shall we say of transportation rates?
The farmers goods are selling practically at the
1918 level; what he buys is more than 80 per cent
higher. His dollar is worth 81 cents in our mar.
kets in comparison with nine years ago.
"Such a condition cannot continue. The farm.
ers cannot continue to receive inadequate transpor,
tation and to pay therefor excessive freight
charges. Transportation, adequate and cheap. is
the open Sesame to n return OF prosperity. The
genius of the American people must and will find
u way to accomplish this high ideal.o