South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-05
Waterway Development of Great
Mid West Creates Storm in East
Great LakesS Lawrence Project being Opposed Strongly
bv New Workers Who Fear That Gothams Seaport
viii be Handicapped by Traffic Plan.

the present lake-and-ran traffic
rates. or all-rail hauls. sand Sen.
Pomerene.
Refers to Statistics.
The senator called attention %
statement by Charles F. Macdonald.
Of The Duluth CMlch) Board Of
Trade. that the lake rate on grain
from Duluth TO Buffalo is now four
cents a bushel and the transporta-
ton charge from Duluth 10 New
York City about fifteen and a half
cents bushel. delivered a; New
York city, but not aboard ship. The
all-rau rare from Duluth to New
York City is 2O.7 cents
Fully one-half Of the transporta-
ton charges from the grain termi-
nails a. Duluth TO the warehouse at
Liverpool were taken up by an over
land portage that left the bushel OF
wheat when in New York harbor far
Their away from its destination than
when il left the ship at Buffalo. ac
cording 20 the hguring OF Hugh J.
Hughes. market director Of the Min
nesota Department Of Agriculture"
Sen Pomerene continued.
THE cost Of transporting a bushel
Of wheat from Duluth 10 Buffalo was
estimated by him at two and a half
cents At Buffalo the transfer
charges from boat 10 rail were ap-
proximateiy three-quarters Of one
cent. The rail haul from Buffalo to
New York amounted 10 four cents
The transfer cost from car TO ship at
New York was three-tenths OF a
cent. Freight charges under normal
conditions from New York TO Liver
pool are five and a quarter cents.
making a total transportation charge
from Duluth TO Liverpool Of 1885
cents. But deducting the three items
involving rail haul and transfers.
amounting 10 sos cents, there is
left seven and a half cents"
Julius II. Barnes, one OF the coun-
try's recognized grain experts. who
was head OF the United States Grain
corporation during the World War
said that IL the proposed project is
realized 80 that either the lake
carrier would extend its trip down to
Montreal or the ocean carrier would
go up to the heads OF the lakes for
it's cargo. that the transportation
saving would amount TO perhaps ten
cents a bushel."
Says Facilities Inadequate.
Sen. Pomerene also pointed out,
as the center of the greatest trans
portation congestion. New York City
and New England.
I'VE know now, as the result of
very sad experiences during the
war" the senator added, that New
York terminal facilities are wholly
inadequate TO meet the country's in
creasing demand. The cost of
handling traffic at New York is not
going TO be lessened by increasing
traffic Both New York State and
New York city will have their an
nual increases in this respect Their
shipping point will be New York
City, as IL ought to be, and If they
improve their harbor and dock ia
ciliues sufficiently to keep pace with
their own economic development
they will be doing we'll.
But shall the vast agricultural,
manufacturing and commercial in
terests Of the Middle West and Of
Canada, have 10 await the develop
ment Of proper facilities at New
York City?
Must Relieve Congestion.
IF that port is not able 10 ac-
commodate the great outgoing and
incoming commerce OF the great
Central West. as IL has not been for
years who Is IL that says that we
must continue TO be hampered in
definitely in our development and
prosperity by New York's lack OF
capacity2
New York has talked for years
about the expenditure Of from $780,
600. 900 to $500. 900, 900 for harbor
improvements. A prominent railroe d
executive is my authority for the
statement that the country's trans
portation, estimated at ten miles
doubles every ten years II this
statement be true then I am con-
WINGED that before New York City
or the Federal government could
spend S1OO.OO0.OOO or 5000. 900 900
IN improving New York harbor the
annual increase Of traffic at that
city would be so great that even
with such contemplated improve
ments completed the congestion
Z there would he as great as It is now