_Chicago to New York in Cents per Bushel._
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 1858- | 1863- | 1868- | 1873- | 1878- | 1883- | 1888- | 1893- | | 1862. | 1867. | 1872. | 1877. | 1882. | 1887. | 1892. | 1897. | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 38.43 | 31.42 | 27.91 | 21.29 | 16.77 | 14.67 | 14.52 | 12.88 | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
Calculating roundly a cent as equal to a halfpenny, and eight bushels to the quarter, the above would appear in English currency as follows:--
_Chicago to New York in Shillings and Pence per Quarter._
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 1858- | 1863- | 1868- | 1873- | 1878- | 1883- | 1888- | 1893- | | 1862. | 1867. | 1872. | 1877. | 1882. | 1887. | 1892. | 1897. | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | | 12 8 | 10 6 | 9 3 | 7 1 | 5 7 | 4 10½ | 4 10 | 4 3 | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
Another table (No. 38) shows the average rates from Chicago to New York by lakes, canal and river. These in their quinquennial periods are given for the season as follows:--
+----------+----------+----------+ |1857-1861.|1876-1880.|1893-1897.| +----------+----------+----------+ | 22.15 | 10.47 | 4.92 | +----------+----------+----------+
_In Shillings and Pence per Quarter of_ 480 lb.
+----------+----------+----------+ |1857-1861.|1876-1880.|1893-1897.| +----------+----------+----------+ | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | | 7 4 | 3 6 | 1 7 | +----------+----------+----------+
_In Shillings and Pence per Ton of_ 2240 lb.
+----------+----------+----------+ |1857-1861.|1876-1880.|1893-1897.| +----------+----------+----------+ | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | | 34 6 | 16 6 | 7 6 | +----------+----------+----------+
This latter mode is the cheapest by which grain can be carried to the eastern seaboard from the American prairies, and it can now be done at a cost of 7s. 6d. per ton. The ocean freight has to be added before the grain can be delivered free on the quay at Liverpool. A rate from New York to Liverpool of 2½d. per bushel, or 7s. 10d. per ton, a low rate, reached in Dec. 1900, is yet sufficiently high, it is claimed, to leave a profit; indeed, there have frequently been times when the rate was as low as 1d. per bushel, or 3s. 1d. per ton; and in periods of great trade depression wheat is carried from New York to Liverpool as ballast, being paid for by the ship-owner. Another route worked more cheaply than formerly is that by river, from the centre of the winter wheat belt, say at St Louis, to New Orleans, and thence by steamer to Liverpool. The river rate has fallen below five cents per bushel, or 7s. per ton, 2240 lb. In Table No. 71 the cost of transportation is compared year by year with the export price of the two leading cereals in the States as follows:--