The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-11-06
Atchison and Kansas City.

The following extract touching the
cattle interests we clip from letter
dated San Antonio, Texas, and writ
ten by James Dryden, the heavy and
successful cot;le dealer, TO James Ne
Culloch, esq, of this place. There are
sound suggestions in it for all con-
cerned:
Il read with some interest your re-
marks in reference TO the mass meet
ing of live stock men, 10 take place in
Kansas City, Mo-, on the 18th ult.
cannot see how the citizens of Wichita
can consistently interest themselves
either in the success or otherwise of
this gathering, called together, as we
believe it was, in order to defeat the
proposed through line, by way of Atch-
ison, from Wichita, which, with the
establishment of stock and sale yards
at that point, was SO Intimately con-
nected with the immediate and even
permanent prosperity OF their own
city. That mass meeting, 80 called,
was suggested Immediately after the
Wichita excursion meeting at Atchl-
son. and with view to defeat an ell
tcrprise calculated to be more beneti-
ciai TO Wichita than any other project
set on foot since the cattle trade opened
al that place. In that mock sensational
Shakesperian address of invitation
issued by the committee Oh invitation.
Kansas City is spoken of as the Chi
cagO of the Southwest. the imperial
commercial metropolis of the Missouri
valley" and the live stock commerce
&c, al =, f.I fhnnnE in
its infancy, as aggregating multiplied
millions of dollars. In fact. the whole
thing is so ''stupendous' that the real
interests Of tw o-thirds of all those who
invest. particularly i'll Texas cattle,
should strive to have it divided. Com
petition is always wholesome, and tits
more rational that the live stock bust
ness should be done through Atchison
in the future.
Let us take a business view OF this
matter. Last summer almost every
commission firm in Kansas City oper-
ated in opposition to Wichita, giving
their preference at all times i'll favor
OF Ellsworth. Recently matters have
changed. and Texans, on account OF
bad treatment. are not likely TO pat
ronizc Ellsworth in 1874. Then the
prospect of railroad bridge at Atchi-
son, making direct connection north
and east, those who have all along OPP
posed your every enterprise, became
| alarmed and called a convention. Tex
ans, as class, have had too much Of
| this already. and did better when COM
mission men were almost unknown i'll
connection with their part of the live
| stock commerce. We rejoice in the
prosperity Of Kansas City. either COM
mcrcial or otherwise. Still any and
everything tendingt to monopoly should
be opposed. and fair, consistent COM
petition favored And here we are
assured that large number of Texas
cattle dealers will encourage the hold
ing OF cattle market at Atchison as
soon as they can boast of Il bridge at
that point Nay many of them will
then almost consider that they have 4
road of their own.
We have no objections at all that
Kansas City should be considered the
| Athens of the west. but we do object
to her welding the sceptre of monop-
DIV. and it should be the duty of every
Texas cattle dealer TO encourage and
favor by his patronage: this straight
route to northern and eastern markets,
and also, in 1874, encourage the cstab-
lishment Of stock yards at Atchison.
1t is TO them that the greatest advan-
tagcs are to be derived. Still, looking
to the permanent interests of Wichita,
she should Join hands in this great en-
terprise with Atchison. Wichita owes
nothing to those who publicly and pri-
vately opposed her efforts during the
last two ycars-eyen from its com
mencement and as Ellsworth is now
likely to cease being a shipping point
of any importance. their efforts on that
account should be increased, knowing
that she possesses the best grazing adj
tages of any shipping point. either in
the west or southwest. \ hearty CO.
operation between these two cities, so
favorably and so naturally located for
successfully conducting that trade i'll
the future, and too essential to be
overlooked either by the citizens them
selves or by Texans engaged i'll the
trade.
If the business stock men of. Kansas
City say Organize" that their power
may be felt in the land. then our fears
of monopoly are confirmed. and we
would urge cooperation and free COM
petition. in order to counteract, if pos
sible. tie evils arising from concen-
trated monopoly. If these are Texas
views. am almost convinced that they
must also be the views of your citizens
! on thi, subject.