History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 53

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358


USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 53


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tivation of hemp sprang up largely in Kentucky on account of the blockade of the Baltic, and these Ken- tuckians and their children emigrating later to Mis- souri, carricd the cultivation of hemp with them. But as in 1820 the total manufactures of Missouri only yielded one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, and all the capital invested was only forty-six thou- sand dollars, it is not to be supposed that the hemp crop had led to the establishment of a co-ordinated industry. Still there was the crop, and the manufac- ture would follow.


In 1842 the tariff laid a duty of 25 per cent. on bagging, 5 cents per square yard on gunny-cloth, 25 per cent. on flax and liemp bags, 25 per cent. on linen tick, and the same on burlaps, canvas of linen, 30 per cent. on hemp and jute carpet, 4} and 5 cents per pound on cordage of hemp and manilla, 25 per cent. on drillings and manufactures of flax, $20 per ton on raw flax, 5 per cent. on flaxseed, $40 per ton on raw hemp, with 20 per cent. on manufactures of hemp, 20 per cent. on hemp-seed, and the same on manilla, $25 per ton on jute, 25 per cent. on jute butts, and 25 per cent. on linen fabrics. With this the cultivation of hemp and the manufacture of the raw hemp and flax may be said to have begun in Missouri. In the course of about ten years rapid progress was made. The commercial statistics of St. Louis for 1853 show a receipt of 63,450 bales of hemp, against 49,124 the previous year, valued at $300,000, the price having risen to $130 per ton in consequence of the Crimean war.


The cordage business was also prosperous, as the reports show. Receipts this year (1853) foot up 58,437 coils, against 41,674 in 1852, showing a differ- ence of 16,763 coils. This difference, at the ruling market rates, gives the sum of $17,000, and when to this is added the advance on the whole receipts over the prices of the preceding year, the cash increase on operations, sums up $60,000. Salcs during the year were unusually large. Many Southern orders previ- ously sent to the Ohio River were filled at this point, the St. Louis market offering equal inducement as far as quality was concerned and superior claim to tlie con- sideration of buyers as regards cheaper transportation. Sales ranged from 6 to 6ª, the larger portion at 6} to 6}; in 1852, 44 to 5} were the ruling rates. The heavy advance in hemp, of course, led to this result. As far as can be ascertained, the quantity manufactured in St. Louis amounted to from 14,000 to 15,000 coils ; of this the Lowell Factory, in the north- crn part of the city, turned out 11,000, the greater part of which found sale in the St. Louis market. Missouri rope regained its standard during the season


1223


TRADE, COMMERCE, AND MANUFACTURES.


for excellence of quality, and was eagerly sought by Southern buyers.


R. W. S. Allen, of Kentucky, and J. H. Alexan- der & Co., MeClelland, Scruggs & Co., and Douglass & Bier, of St. Louis, purchased about this time of W. A. Richardson, of Louisville, the Perry & Slaugh- ter patent for making bale-rope and hackling hemp. The right included the whole of Missouri and the western half of Illinois. Operations were commenced about the 1st of April, with machinery sufficient to turn out one hundred coils of rope and three tons haekled hemp per day. The annual consumption of hemp was from two to three thousand tons.


Hon. John Hogan, speaking of the hemp industry of this period, remarks,-


" It would almost be unpardonable if, in such notices of manu- factures as I take, I were to omit all notice of the productions of one of our own great staples, hemp. There are in St. Louis many rope-works, carried forward on the old principle of opera- tion ; these aggregately do a pretty extensive business, and al- though they are important, yet they do not exactly come within iny plan. There are here in successful opcration two extensive steam-propelled hemp-works, and two more nearly ready for operation. The works of Mr. John L. Blaine are located above the shot-tower. They contain some twenty-five machines, which are soon to be increased. The building is a large stone and brick edifice, and the business is understood to be quite remunerative, although during the past year the price of the raw material has been relatively higher than the manufactured commodity. The Missouri Hemp Company, of which John T. Douglass is presi- dent, have their establishment located on Stoddard, just south of Chouteau Avenue. The buildings, all of brick, were erected purposely for this business, and are said to be fire-proof, cer- tainly they are secure- from any external hazard. The chief building is ninety by forty feet, three stories high, and contains thirty-two spinning-machines and four hackles, all made by Todd, Mckay & Co., of Paterson, N. J. The machines are of the Perry & Slaughter patent, and the hackles are of the Arnold patent, besides cards, breaks, and picks, as usual. The engine- house, also of brick, is supplied with an engine of fifty horse- power, built by Gaty, McCune & Co., which propels all the machinery. The average consumption of hemp is seventy tons per week, and the product averages one hundred coils of rope and fifteen bales of hackled hemp per day.


"Johnsons, Bartley & Lytle are erecting on the corner of Decatur and Barry Streets, opposite the church of St. Vincent, another extensive rope manufactory. The principal building is to be one hundred and twenty by forty-four feet and four sto- ries high, the engine and boiler house is to be ninety-six by twenty feet, the whole built of brick in the best manner. Mr. L. D. Baker, builder. As the buildings are not yet finished, there is of course no machinery erected, consequently I can give no description of it or its product ; but I may say that the · gentlemen who have it in liand are energetic business men, familiar with all the details of this species of manufacture, having lately been engaged in its prosecution in Louisville, Ky., and the machinery will be all new and of most approved character; and for the present they will confine themselves to making bale-rope and hackled hemp. There is another large establishment nearly ready for the machinery, which is situated on the corner of Austin and Twelfth Streets, got up by Mr. R. B. Bowler, lately a very extensive manufacturer of bagging and


rope in Cincinnati, also a good business man, and every way qualified to push forward the enterprise. Herc the chief com- modity made will be bagging and bale-rope, to the produe- tion of which the machinery is perfectly adapted. I have understood that a company of heavy capitalists are associated with Mr. Bowler, and they have obtained a charter from the Legislature under the name of the 'St. Louis Rope and Bag- ging Company.'"


In 1860 these industries in hemp and flax had at- tained the following respectable proportions :


No. of


Articles.


Estab. Capital. Hands. Materials.


Products.


Bags.


1


$8,000


6 $71,500


$76,000


Tents


1 3,000


8


4,000


6,000


Rope and bagging .. 14


474,130


464


1,029,100


1,189,018


The maximum was reached in 1855, which year also was that in which American ship-building culmi- nated. Since the civil war the culture of hemp and flax in Missouri has not flourished. In 1870 there was manufactured in St. Louis 3,377,845 yards of bagging. In 1880 there were engaged in these manufactures: Bagging (flax, hemp, and jute), 3 establishments; capital, $370,000 ; hands, 551 ; wages, $150,216; ma- terials, $545,900 ; product, $867,395. Awning and tents, 9 establishments ; $127,200 capital ; 259 hands; $54,850 wages; $249,185 materials; $388,940 pro- ducts. Cordage and twine, 14 establishments ; $12,- 875 capital; 89 hands; $16,423 wages; $33,250 materials ; $67,664 products.


RECEIPTS OF HEMP AND TOW FOR THIRTY-ONE YEARS.


Years.


Bales.


Years.


Bales.


1881


3,580


1865


40,846


1880


1,731


1864.


64,078


1879


4,072


1863.


56,337


1878


5,087


1862


78,313


1877


7,930


1861


25,558


1876 ..


3,157


1860


68,673


1875


3,960


1859


68,796


1874.


11,266


1858


81,423


1873


16,860


1857


80,094


1872 ..


20,790


1856 ..


53,737


1871


15,292


1855


91,320


1870


12,716


1854


69,629


1869


24,468


1853


62,692


1868


25,699


1852


48,819


1867


30,750


1851


65,471


1866


18,759


The Grain Trade .- The history of the grain trade of St. Louis embraces a succession of mutations, all tending to the enlargement and expansion of this in- terest, and exhibiting a remarkable extension in re- spect to tributary commercial relations. A few years ago it was insisted, as indeed it had been for forty years, that the local mills made the St. Louis market, but large as the milling interest is, that.demand bears a relation of only about fifty per cent. to the actual grain supply. To illustrate: The receipts of wheat from all sources in 1881 were 15,275,931 bushels, while the milling consumption was 7,407,536, less than one-half. The difference between these amounts represents the shipments. As to corn, the great staple


1224


HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.


of Illinois and Iowa tributaries, the receipts aggre- gated 24,049,983 bushels, while the milling demand was only 4,576,963, a trifle more than one-fourth of the exportation of this cereal. The proportion as to rye is still more marked.


SOURCES OF SUPPLY OF WHEAT FOR TWO YEARS.


From


1882.


1881.


The West, by rail and Missouri River ..


12,229,248


7,819,478


The Sonth, by rail from west of Mississippi River.


1,322,094


422,033


The South, by Mississippi River boats ..


1,149,529


330,900


The South, by rail from east of Mississippi River ..


1,629,318


115,667


The East, by rail and by Illinois River.


2,196,684


2,028,053


The North, by rail and river.


756,239


903,609


Wagons from near the city


1,491,875


1,623,831


Total receipts, bushels.


20,774,987


13,243,571


COMPARATIVE RECEIPTS BY RAIL, RIVER, AND WAGONS FOR TWO YEARS.


By


1882.


1881.


Railroads ..


16,379,690


9,715,568


Rivers.


2,903,422


1,904,172


Wagons.


1,491,875


1,623,831


Total bushels


20,774,987


13,243,571


DIRECTION OF SHIPMENTS FOR TWO YEARS. Shipped to 1882.


1881.


Europe direct via Atlantic seaboard ..


125,467


134,610


Europe via New Orleans.


5,637.391


4,197,981


The East, by rail and Illinois and Ohio Rivers


6,015,427


1,640,318


The West, by rall and Missouri River ..


4.018


3,676


The South, by rail and river.


368,574


893,254


The North, by rail and river.


295,183


51,791


Total shipments, bushels.


12,446,060 6,921,630


COMPARATIVE SHIPMENTS BY RAIL AND RIVER FOR TWO


YEARS.


1882.


1881.


Railroads.


6,691,926


2,758,962


Rivers.


5,754,134


4,162,668


Total shipments, bushels ..


It was when St. Louis ceased to be a market of mere consumption demand and attracted to this centre the crops of Central and Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa, and the great Northwest, the West,


South, and Southwest, and when she began to supply other cities and other countries,-it was when, in short, she became one of the distributing points for the world's breadstuffs that she came into prominence as a leading market. The growth of the speculative tendency doubtless aided St. Louis, and her call- boards, like those of Chicago, were a great advertise- ment, but the transactions in actual grain also grew with the increase of rail- and water-route facilities for the movement of crops. Chicago had the lakes and more trunk lines, but the genius of Capt. James B. Eads opened a highway to the sea, and St. Louis began shipping grain via the jetties direct to Liver- pool. River transportation companies were formed, and many bottoms built to carry the outward-bound grain from St. Louis to deep water. Meantime more railroads extended their lines to St. Louis, and in shipping facilities were greatly increased in the inter- est of new tributary points. Thus St. Louis ac- quired the key to the situation, and invited the invest- ment of large foreign capital in the grain-trade of the Mississippi valley. Moneyed men were swift to ap- preciate the advantages St. Louis offered in this regard, and Jay Gould, among others, hastened to devote several million dollars to the extension of rail- roads centering here, and to the advancement also of the water-route transportation companies.


SOURCES OF SUPPLY .- The following table exhibits the receipts in 1882 and the sources of the same. The shipments via New York, it will be observed, are trifling as compared with those by the St. Louis and Liverpool route via the jetties.


FROM


Wheat.


Corn.


Oats.


Rye.


Barley.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


The West, by rail and Missouri River.


12,229,248


5,256,665


3,751,934


320,406


126,070


The South, by rail from west of Mississippi River ......


1,322,094


402,805


485,243


800


7,516


The South, by Mississippi River boats ..


1,149,529


87,770


8,038


59


49,541


The South, by rail from east of Mississippi River.


1,629,318


50,970


40,983


.. .


....


400


The East, by rail and by Illinois River


2,196,684


4,400,215


1,118,296


13,372


352,369


The North, by rail and river ..


756,239


3,593,130


2,353,622


44,070


1,258,072


Wagons from near the city.


1,491,875


750,000


350,400


25,000


25,000


Total receipts


20,774,987


14,541,555


8,138,516


403,707


1,818,968


DIRECTION OF SHIPMENTS OF GRAIN.


To


Wheat.


Corn.


Oats.


Rye.


Barley.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Europe direct, by rail via New York


125,467


...


...


Europe direct vin New Orleans.


5,637,391


250,485


....


15,994


The East, by rail and Illinois and Ohio Rivers.


6,015.427


2,523,947


1,647,341


307,433


32,754


The West, by rail and Missouri River.


4,018


327,572


126,586


2,066


8,021


The South, by rail and river.


368,574


6,251,618 23,353


2,617,023


17,907


40,947


The North, by rail and river.


295,183


19,061


1,470


4,523


Total shipments.


12,446,060


9,376,975


4,410,011


344,870


86,245


By


12,446,060


6,921,630


1225


TRADE, COMMERCE, AND MANUFACTURES.


SHIPMENTS IN 1881 .- The following table exhibits the movement in grain at this market during 1881, and while compiled as of shipments, necessarily comprehends also the receipts during the same period :


BY


Wheat.


Corn.


Oats.


Rye.


Barley.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Chicago and Alton Railroad (Missouri Division)


103


127,372


50,736


1,888


5,378


St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad


92


114,283


6,529


844


1,780


St. Louis, Wabash and Pacific Railroad (Western Division) ..


49,217


1,938


1,352


6,497


St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad ..


389,540


1,033,026


414,477


19,880


3,514


Missouri Pacific Railroad (Kansas and Texas Division).


170


8,213


11,291


1,661


614


Cairo Short Line Railroad.


442,802


617,512


205,699


9,136


12,112


Louisville and Nashville Railroad


242,881


424,562


77,949


23,325


54,668


Cairo and St. Louis Railroad.


23,730


95,702


38,077


10


105


Ohio and Mississippi Railroad


566,686


1,677,707


59,353


138,840


13,390


Chicago and Alton Railroad (Main Line)


201,197


106,845


101,156


1,361


4,394


Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad.


367,120


819,673


68,734


26,588


830


St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroad.


205,916


461,796


10,919


18,238


50,033


St. Louis, Wabash and Pacific Railroad ( Eastern Division).


245,807


222,673


5,265


2,660


32


Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (Eastern Div.) ..


3,208


23,215


8,051


1,364


18,013


Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (Northern Div.) ..


41,468


59,187


3,800


52


963


Keokuk and St. Louis Railroad


368


6,359


335


690


438


New Orleans boats and barges ..


3,983,228


8,817,980


1,760,771


23,845


3,015


Vicksburg boats


1,244


472,305


270,666


2,797


372


Memphis 66


7,618


172,233


99,851


7,010


332


Upper Mississippi River boats


9,955


8,158


7,114


574


5,710


Illinois


66


12


18,201


2,678


94


16


Ohio


160,637


27,428.


10,278


22,237


4,858


Cumberland and Tennessee River boats


22


11,106


2,322


Arkansas, Red, and Ouachita boats


Total exports.


6,921,630 69,563


15,390,180


3,222,858


304,761


187,064


Shipped direct from country points.


1,173,830


26,500


60,000


City consumption.


3,131,166


76,281


2,137,981


Stock on hand Dec. 31, 1881


877,202


958,076


162,466


91,941


161,822


Total movement.


15,275,931


24,049,983


6,542,990


532,983


2,486,867


COMPARATIVE STATEMENT .- The following table exhibits the growth of the grain trade of St. Louis from 1851 to 1882, inclusive :


RECEIPTS AND SHIPMENTS OF GRAIN FOR A SERIES OF YEARS.


Wheat, Bushels.


Corn, Bushels.


Oats, Bushels.


Rye, Bushels.


Barley, Bushels.


YEAR.


Receipts.


Shipments.


Receipts.


Shipments.


Receipts.


Shipments.


Receipts.


Shipments.


Receipts.


Shipments.


1851


1,712,776


1852.


1,645,387


1853


2,075,872


1854.


2,126,272


3,312,854


3,747,224


938.546 2,485,786 892,104 1,639,579


1,267,624


123,056


1860


3,555,871


4,249,782


1,832,634


159,974


1861.


2,654,787


4,515,040 1.739,219 1,361,310 2,369,500


3,135,040 3,845,877


4,105,040 4,173.227 3,568,253 3,415,388 3,259,132


3,083,864


217,568


32,445 225,460


548,797


89,751


1867.


321,888


5,155,480


2,244,756


56,076


705,215


55,720


1868


542,231


2,800,277


1,298,803 3.637,060


4,469,849


2,484,582


374,336


138,756


876,217


62,843


1873


6,185,038 8,255,221


1,938,841


8,079,739 5,260,916 4,148,556


3,467,594


3,215,206


3,027,663


2-8,743


166,133


1,421,406


227,418


1877


1878


1.792,801


713,728


423,720


1,831,507


260,422


1880


276,041


2,561,992


155,113


1881


304,761


2,411,723


187,064


1882


14,325,431 17,093,362 21,022,275 13,243,571 20,774,987


2,630,007 2,410,190 6,900,802 7,302,076 11,313,879 6,921,630 12,446,060


6,991,677 6,710,263 15,249,909 11,847,771 9,009,723 13,360,636 22,298,077 21,259,310 14,541,555


3,523,974 12,728.849 9,309,014 6,382,712 8,311,005 17,571,322 15,390,180 9,376,975


3,461,814 4,519,510 4,358,099 5,467.800 5,359,853 5.296,967 5,006.850 3,660,912 3,124,7:21 3,882,276 5,002,165 5,607,078 6.295,050 8,138,516


2,x77.035


275,200


134,960


1,171,337


146,330


1876.


1,932,983


1,550,665


399,826 472,907 845.932


304,192 397.183 757,621


1,517,292


244,799


1879


7,604,265 8,037,574 8,274,151


1,562,453


1,735.157


117,080


253,552


182,270


326,060


846,230


50,000


1866.


635,818


7.233,671


2,624,044


375,417


250,704 367,961


192,553


634,591


64,426


1869


4,410,305 3,571,593 4,353,591 6,736,454 6,638,253 7,311,910 6,007,987


1,715,005 636,562 1,048,532 918,477


2.395,713 4,708,838 6,030,734 9,479,387 7,701,187


2,591,155 6,757,199 4,318,937 1,611,618


1,925,579 2,903,002


266,056


110,947


757,600


57,134


1870.


3,144,744


210,542


100,254


778,518


70,451


1872.


377,587 356,580


150,208


1,263,486


87,566


206,652


1,158,615


125,604


1857


3,218,410


1,624,158


30.442


1858


3,835.759


1.690,010


45,900


1859


3,568,732


201,434


1862


3,559,336


1863.


205,918


140,533


1865


2,621,020 3,315,828 3,452,722


67,710


3,162,310


1,029,908


12


122


315


Missouri


Ground in city mills ..


7,407,536


4,576,963


1,950,934


14,241


4,747


468,755 · 469,769 403,707


344,870


1,818,968


86,245


...


1874.


1875


1,492,985


223,680


1,326,490


188,251


1855


1856.


290,925


1864.


1871.


1,210,286


52


1,174


Illinois and St. Louis Railroad.


24,405


Missouri Pacific Railroad (Main Line)


3,469


2,154,026


2,541,613 3,222,858 4,410,011


1226


HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.


STOCKS IN STORE AT THE CLOSE OF EACH YEAR, IN PUBLIC ELEVATORS AND PRIVATE IIANDS.


YEAR.


Wheat.


Corn.


Oats.


Rye.


Barley.


1867


174,874


35,060


42,822


2,250


1868.


76,849


31,153


81,729


20.234


1869


4337,115


21,878


69.677


16,331


1870


320.746


19.763


89,702


3.243


101,557 62,916 66.262


1871


525.977


124,9/1


238,087


48,601 134,645


130,625


1873.


219,108


159,463


111,016


19.006


1874.


516,154


188,284


104,824


2,442


1875.


772,866


412,598


89,078


26,589


1876


510,956


553.072


154,202


50,954


1877


413,495


290,845


31,470


35,027


93,309


1878


437,149


492,594


37,213


42,720


219,433 165,689


1880


1,962,797


1,616,843


221,440


63.214


75,144


1881


877,202


958.076


162,466


91,941


161,822


1882


836,562


905,316


72,563


43,570


101,373


The season of 1880 was an exceptional one in re- spect to an immense crop, the largest by nearly thirty per cent. in the yield for many years.


EXPORTS BY TONS .- A comparative compilation by tons of direct shipments from St. Louis to foreign countries for 1875 and 1878-81 makes this exhibit :


1881.


1880.


1879.


1878.


1875.


By river and jetties.


389,587


453,681


176,531


154.060


6,857


By rail eastward.


91,7%7


146,087


135,381


72,091


16,825


Total tons ....


481,314 599,768 312,412


226,151 23,682


The foreign shipments by river and the jetties on through bills of lading in 1881 aggregated 564,839 bushels, and to this must be added 12,861,12+ bushels of grain via New Orleans, but not on through bills, making the grand aggregate of 13,- 425,963 bushels. The bulk grain exports from New Orleans and the foreign destination of the same are thus compiled :


To


Corn. Bushels. 2,042,613


Wheat. Bushels. 417,893


Rye. Bushels.


England.


Germany.


776.916


........


Belgium


1.256,364


... 558,210 ...


.......


France


1,970,472


2,608,644


...


Holland


216,447


215,517


22,423


Ireland


195,916


125,099


........


Denmark.


835,991


29,932


........


Cape Breton


261,110


578,494


.......


Total


7,555,829


4,533,789


22,423


Total bushels, 1880 ..


9,596,956


5,901,137


23,000


A comparison of the shipments of grain in bulk by river and for export during the twelve years of 1870- 81 makes this interesting exhibit :


Year.


Wheat.


Totals.


1881


4,197,981 ..


1880


.. 5,913,272


1879


2,390,897 1,876,639


3,585,589


Rye. Bushels. 22,423 45,000 157,424 609,041


171,843


....


......


...


1874


365,252


1,047,794


10,000


...


1872


1871


1870


66,000


1,711,039 309,077


3,000


1,711,039 312,077 66,000


.....


Thus has the grain trade of St. Louis grown from the proportions of a purely local market to those per- taining to one of the chief commercial centres of the world, situated in the heart of the greatest grain-pro- ducing section of the American continent.


All indications point to an immense increase in the grain trade of St. Louis. The superior facilities for transportation offered by the jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi, and by the improvements which the large appropriation made in the River and Harbor Act of 1882 will secure in the navigation of the river, must insure not only greater safety but a considerable reduction in the cost of shipment.


The position of St. Louis as a grain mart is indi- cated in the following table of shipments of grain and flour during 1880 :


Bushels.


Chicago


154,377,115


Toledo ..


53,372,739


St. Louis


46,675,581


Milwaukee.


29,691,524


Peoria


20,544,508


Detroit ...


10,366,491


Duluth ...


6,511,100


Total


321,539,058


From the paper, by Charles W. Knapp, on "St. Louis : Past, Present, and Future," read before the " Round Table," Oct. 14, 1882, it appears that St. Louis, in 1881,


" led Chicago as a wheat market last ycar, receiving one and one-fourth million bushels more than Chicago handled. Nor can the fact be altered by counting the gross receipts of Chicago, which show it a million and a half bushels ahead in 1881, for, after all, the truc basis of comparison is by crop and not calendar years,-that is, from August 1st to July 31st. They know this · at Chicago, the Board of Trade reports giving the receipts by crops for a number of years, and the gross receipts at Chicago from Aug. 1, 1881, to July 31, 1882, were only 13,116,580 hushels, or 3.45 per cent. of the whole crop, while St. Louis re- ceived 14,085,964 bushels, or 4.71 per cent. Is there any chance now to cavil at my statement that St. Louis was the greatest wheat market of the world last year ? It got nearly a million bushels more than the gross receipts of Chicago, and at least 4,000,000 more than Chicago's net receipts, for in the first six months of the year in question a through movement of 2,000,000 bushels was included in Chicago's gross receipts, so it is no injustice to assume a total through movement of 3,000,000 bushels in the whole year. Chicago, therefore, got only about 71} per cent. as much wheat as St. Louis, and, unless Minneap- olis, which received 3,500,000 bushels more than St. Louis in 1881, is called a market, in despite of the fact that it receives for home consumption only, and shipped out but 500,000 hushels, the pre-eminence of St. Louis must rest undisputed.


" This enormous consumption at Minneapolis suggests, what more direct statistics confirm, that that city is the greatest flour manufacturing city of the country, yet St. Louis is a greater flour market. Counting in all the Minneapolis flour passing through Chicago, that city figures itself a greater market, but it has no just claim to the through movement, which it does not handle. Let it stand by its net receipts and manufacture, ag- gregating only 1,194,657 barrels, while the 1,718,429 harrels


1878


1877


351,453


1876


37,142


1875


135,961


1873


1,373,969


30,928


108,867


........


Scotland


...


..


Oats. Bushels. 132,823


Bushels.


Corn. Bushels. 8,640,720 9,804.392


Bushelx.


Bushels.


Bushels.


Bushels. 24,149 68,537


1872.


637,388


181,115


178,537


45,836 100,320 117,815 199,686


1879


1,232.258


1,370,826


187,122


55,804


........


12,993,947 15,762,664 6,164,838 5,451,603 4,101,353 1,774,379 308,578 1,423,046 1,373,969


2,857,056 3,578,057 1,737,238 172,617


...


Bushels.


LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.


John Gacion


TRADE, COMMERCE, AND MANUFACTURES.


1227


manufactured in St. Louis and 261,264 barrels sold on its Ex- change, but shipped direct from country mills without passing through St. Louis, in addition to 1,620,996 barrels received, make a total of 3,600,689 barrels. Minneapolis ranks second, with a manufacture of 2,890,474 and receipts of 262,500 barrels, yet it is half a million under the St. Louis figures."




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