Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-11-14
MONTREAL LEADS IN GRAIN
EXPORTS: N. Y. SECOND
daily Letter by Frederic }. Haskin

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11-New
York city has lost the supremacy as
the greatest grain exporting center
OF North America and the word
and must now take secULt place.
The city of Montreal has stepped
into the first place and the present
trend in the exporting business i'll
dicates that she will hold it.
This ma be a matter OF surprise
to most OF the people of this coun-
try who nave grown accustomed TO
the idea that the United States has
the biggest and the most and the
best of everything but it is meme the
less true: New York interests real
ize it and are beginning to study
WAYS and means of recovering the
lost honor.
Ten a ago New York export
ed SO, 0G0. 900 bushels of grain to
Montrealis $4,000. 600. In i914 the
Canadian city passed New York tor
the first time with 74,0c0, 600 to
81, 900, 900 but New York took a
great jump % the front the rollow-
ing year with 126,000,OG0. HE
Montreal dropped off to 100000.
In 1916 New York attailed her
maximum in grain exports with a
total of 1s4,000, 900 bushels; Mon
| Lredl QlC ~ IllllllOLl Illdt N"dl.
rivals maintained the same relative
position he next year, hut hen
Montreal began to forge ahead until
last year she handled a total of $50,
900, 900 bushels. while New York
exported crly $4,000, 600.
l. The figures for 1922 are expected
TO show an even greater predoml-
nance in c.Nor Of Montreal.
Experts say that this seizure of
supremacy in grain was not the ie-
suit of accident or of causes that
could not have been corrected.
Congestion on the railroads leading
to New York, or within the limits
of the port, together with the eX-
cellent facilities offered at Montreal
resulted in the phenomena! growth
of the Car adian city. Soma OF these
factors ace temporary, y2t 1t is
feared that others OF them may be
permanent
In any event 1t is cer-dln that
conditions with respect to railroad
transportation have been verse this
year than they were last, which will
place New York at a further disad-
vantage. Railway cars and loco
motives have been in unusually bad
condition as a result of the shop
| Iltl > SII4hCsN NNN 1891
roads nave not been able to cope
with the demands incident to a nor
mai revival in business. the usual
fall increase in traffic and the
movement OF one of the biggest
grain crops on record. When the
mining of coal was res lined that
product was given priority over
grains N shipping and undoubtedly
millions of bushels have h5en di-
verified 70 Montreal that ordinarily
would have gone through the port
of New York.
May Use Barge Canal
If New York is to regain first
place. it is said, her only Gope les
in greater use of the State Barge
Canal. This waterway should be
used to an extent that would go far
toward relieving the rail conges-
ton and stimulating the grain traf-
fc through the port of New York,
but as yet expectations of its adj
COATES have not been realized,
With a capacity of 100000 10 to 20
O00,00 g II yearly the trade on the
canal is but a fraction of that vol
ume. Also as a result of diff
culties il rail transportation rates
on canal barges have been edvanc-
eQ uulH t.ey u dNIuoitJ A'6bN
than rail rates. whereas they should
be considerably lower.
The commercial victory which
Montreal las won in grain export
ing is all the more significant by
reason of the fact that her port /:
closed ty Ice for at least foul
months of every year.. New Yorl
on the o:ker hand has all the ad
vantages of a full twelve-month:
season. AS a still further handi
cap, insurance rates up the ST
Lawrence are higher but Montreal
is winning in the ace nevertheless
AS a ratter OF fact, the Canadian
city is making such strides that she
now ranks next to New York in vol
ume and value OF general exports
and leads Boston, Philadelphia
Norfolk, New Orleans. SIN Fran
/ cisco and Seattle. Thus it is ap'
parent that New York has a rea
task to accomplish If she Is not Il
lose supremacy in other phases o
. trade as well as in grain. As We
' Montreal does not rival New Yorl
in size. financial power. or Ind, $
$ trial activity, but commercial lead
ers Of Manhattan plan nos to b,
caught nepping. They seo yariou