The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-05-30

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMT, STATE OF GE0EdIA.J
ATLANTA, May l, 1s13i
To the Farmers of the West and Northwest:
recently addressed an invitation
to the Governors and other pI omi-
nent citizens of many of the States,
to meet in convention at Atlanta, on
the Goth inst, for considering the
means of securing cheap transpor-
tation between the Atlantic sea-
board and the great basin of the
Mississippi.
The vast interests, common to all
sections of the country, to be secur-
ed by wise solution of this great
question, will, | trust, be deemed
sufficient apology for my addressing
you this communication. Onr in
terests in the matter are, in a large
measure, identical, and this identity
should insure a hearty cooperation
between us. In the four States of
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida
deficiency of fifty millions bushels
of grain. This deficiency is increas-
ing, owing in part to the gradual in
vi OuE dfdliIibIc
and the rapid increase of our nom
producing population. To supply
this deficiency we are now and here
after shall be, in great degree de-
pendent upon the farmers of the
West and Northwest. Hence it will
be seen that the South is vitality in
terested in the success of any
scheme which will diminish the
cost of transportation upon West
ern products. Deeply impressed
with the importance to them of the
great interest involved in this ques-
ton, the people of Georgia are ready
TO give their influence and aid in
behalf of any practicable measure
which will insure the accomplish
ment Of so desirable an end.
The present high rates of freight
compel us to employ large portion
of our limited labor in the produc-
tion of food crops. This diminish
es the production of cotton-our
only reliable article of export and,
at the same time deprives the West
and Northwest, to that extent, of a
market, To illustrate: the average
production of corn in the four States
mentioned is ten bushels per acre.
To make UP the deficiency in the
quantity now produced, it would
be be necessary to cultivate at least
100000 acres. This acreage de-
voted to cotton would yield at l.
250, 900 bales, worth, at ID cents per
pound, Sl25, 100000. Deduct from
this the value of the corn which the
same acreaged would produce, at 81
per bushel, and we have $4,000, 900
to represent the amount of the loss
suffered by the Southern and West
ern farmers, from the lack of facili-
ties for cheap interchange of pro-
ducts. This direct loss is greatly
increased by the reflex operation of
the causes under discussion. The
high price of food increases the cost
of manufacture as well as the pro-
duction of cotton and so of every
other article we need.
While the Western farmer realizes
but pittance upon his teeming
crops, every manufactured article
which he usesscomes to him burden
ed by enormous and oppressive tar
ifs. Cheap transportation from the
West would not only cheaper food,
bnt would, as a consequence, also
cheaper labor. This result would
enable the manufacturer TO supply
our wants at greatly reduced prices,
and would enable him to compete
successfully abroad, as well as at
home. Our manufactures would
increase; our exports would be
donbied: our shipping interests re-
vived, and the balance of trade
would be once more in our favor,
But without speedy relief existing
evils must increase and spread I'M
til poverty and bankruptcy over
shadow the whole land.
The feverish aniety which per-
vades the public mind is abundantly
shown in the fact that Congress is
graVeIy asked to take control of the
entire railroad system of the conn
try, and by legislative action to reg
ulate their charges. Whether this
would mitigate or aggravate the
eVil-whether by Congressional
management the cost of operating
the roadc would be so diminished
as to afford the desired relief-are
questions which will not here dis
crss. only mention them to show
that great, pressing necessity uu-
derlies this whole matter, which
cannot remain longer UNDECIDED.
The entire value of q bushel of
corn transported q thousand miles
by rail is consumed by the cost of
transportation. This leaves no
profit to the carrier, none 70 the
shipper and not one cent to the pro-
dncer. So that il the railroad should
carry corn for lite actual cost and
Nothing mira from st T,auia fn
Savannah, or from Chicago to New
York, the producer would still re-
iceive no adequate remuneration for
his labor. Neither shall the indeG-
mite multiplication of railroads, nor
any Legislative restriction as TO
freight charges cure the evil sc long
las the actual cost of operating rail-
roads remains undiminished. Until
the cost shall be reduced by means
not yet known resort TO either Of