I 
30 Wisconsin state agricultural society. 
As it costs substantially the same to move corn that it does 
wheat per bushel, and as all our facilities combined, cannot 
transport half the crop raised, it must inevitably follow that prof¬ 
its on corn growing, under our present facilities for transporta¬ 
tion, are more theoretical than actual. 
Let the sum be stated thus: 
Value of corn in New York. 80 cts- 
Cost of raising corn per bushel. 30 cts- 
Hauling to nearest depot (average distance 15 miles). 2 cts- 
Purchasing commission. 1 ct. 
Elevators and storage.,. 4 cts. 
Average rate to Chicago (60 miles). 2|cts 
Freightage from Chicago to New York.40| cts. 
Total cost.... 80 cts. 
Thus it will be seen that the farmer has nothing left. It should 
be borne in mind that I have reckoned the cost at the lowest rates for 
through freights, yet practically, according to the actual charges, 
the farmer would be out of pocket some 15 or 20 cents on each 
bushel, unless the necessities of the consumer should compel him 
to pay a large portion of the charges at the other end of the line. 
The same author I have quoted says that the total number of 
tons moved by the New York and Erie and New York Central, in 
10 years, from 1851 to 1861, was 2,507,274,914, and by the New 
York canals, same period, 8,175,803,065 tons. The average 
charges by the Central were 26 mills, and by the Erie 22 2-10 mills 
per ton per mile ; by the canals 9 1-L0 mills, or nearly 3 to 1 in 
favor of the canals, and that had all this freight been moved at canal 
charges, the net saving would have been $122,637,045.97, and 
this, be it remembered, in a state where railway tariffs are regu¬ 
lated by law to the lowest possible rates. 
In 1851, as per Mr. Andrew’s report, the Erie canal moved the 
following amount of freight: 
Classification. Value. 
Products of the Forest. $10,166, 656 
Agriculture. 36, 394,913 
Manufactures. 4,335,783 
Merchandize, etc. 2,706,733 
Total. $53,602,085 
Same time by rail to Albany. 8,332,441 
All roads landing at tide water, $44,556,000. 
