36 Wisconsin State agricultural society. 
Having seen that all the roads combined, including a dozen or 
more double-tracks, cannot move all our surplus products at any 
price, let us see if they can move wheat at such rates as the pro¬ 
ducer can afford to pay (I have already shown that the cost of 
transportation and charges, at the lowest railway rates, exactly 
eat up the value of corn in New York). 
Cents. 
It is safe to say that, in average years, wheat cannot he raised and 
prepared for market at a sum less per bushel than. GO 
Cost of hauling (as before stated)... 2 
Two storages and handling. 6 
Published rates for buying. 1 
Average rail cost of reaching lake and river ports. 15 
By rail to New York (lowest average rates). 40£ 
124fc 
Price in New York, say $1.50—net to farmer 27 l-2c. It is 
'evident that no farmer can live at such rates, and then the charges 
are often more than enough to eat up this small balance by the 
long storage on the way for want of facilities for transportation. 
As I have already shown, the net to the farmer by water, without 
breaking bulk, and with nothing sticking to the fingers of mid¬ 
dle-men or among the chinks of elevators, etc., would be $1.40 
per bushel. 
Thus, after making all proper allowances for exceptional cases, 
I think I have shown by facts, within the reach of all, that unless 
some new scientific discovery shall make a cheaper exhibit in the 
cost of operating railways, we cannot ship our cereals by rail, un¬ 
less the consumer shall consent to pay the charges, and even if he 
does that, the dilemma has another horn to goad us, and that is 
the fact that our carrying facilities—all combined—are not equal 
to the actual wants. 
As to government assistance it is difficult to see how there can 
be two opinions as to what direction that assistance should take. 
As an economic question, both to the public till and individual 
purses, sound policy dictates the improvement of a water course 
between the Mississippi and the Hudson on a scale to admit boats 
and barges of 300 tons burden, capable of steam towage. 
To enlarge, improve and double-lock the Erie canal up to the 
required standard, would call for an expenditure of about $75, 
000,000, which I am informed New York would undertake, if the 
