The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-01-19
WILT PAY.

As we have said before, this is
really the only question to be con-
sidered in connection with the new
railroad proposition now before the
county.
A committee Of citizens was ap-
pointed some days ago, to report
facts in regard to freights to and
from Emporis, from points at the
east outside of the State, and to
gather such ether facts, a. would
have bearing on this question.
The figures which are herewith
presented may be relied on as abso-
lutely correct, except when there
was any doubt, it has been counted
against the proposition. The ques-
ton of cheap transportation is the
all-absorbing one, in g community
as far from market as ours.
There were exported from this
county in 1876, 10000 tons of pro-
ducts, consisting of grain, liYe stock,
hides, wool and furs. the cost of
transportation Of these products of
the county TO Kansas City, was
$4,000. There has been received
from abroad, and consumed or US
ed, 10000 tons of merchandise of
all kinds. (Fractions have been dis
carded for convenience of reckon
ipg.) The freight on these imports
has been $104, 900 from Kansas City
to this place.
These calculations are made on
the superstition that all this freight
was carried in carload lots, at the
lowest rate. Those who handle the
bulk of these imports, state that not
more than one half are received in
such lots, and that the amount paid
for freight given above, IL therefore
much too small.
But according to this calculation
1t amounts to $I46,O 900.
The experience Of narrow gauge
roads, proves that freight can be
carried for three-fourths the price on
standard gauge, and still make the
same profit.
Twenty-Five per cent. ofthe above
would be saving of $36, 800, in one
years business.
Now into whose pockets would
this saving GO? Every dollar saved
on products exported. will go to the
producer farmers and stockgrow-
ers. Raise the price of freight four
dollars 9 car from here to the sea-
board, and the price of corn goes
down one cent bushel in Emporia.
The shipper of these products
does not care what the rate of freight
Is, he deducts 1t from the price of
the article at the point of sale, and
pays the balance, less a fair charge
for handling, to the producer. The
only advantage low freight is TO
him, it stimulates production, and
gives him q larger business to do.
Every dollar saved on the cost of
goods imported, goes directly to the
pocket of the consumer, who in this
couatrY is the producer Of the ex-
ports.
The merchant, as such, cares moth
ing for the cost of freights he adds
1t to the price of his goods, and the
purchaser pays it.
The resident of our towns and
villages has but q slight interest in
cheap frelghts. In fact cheap rates
on our exports, are opposed to his
interests, as they increase the cost
to him of his bread and meat, while
he consumes but a small fraction of
the imports.
Most of the heavy articles of i'm
port, such as agricultural imple-
ments, iron, nails, hardware, salt,
lumber, sc. go to, and are used by
the farmer and stock raiser.
Thus it is plain to be seen that the
farmer is principally benefited by
cheap freights both ways. We heard
a stock raiser say, that If he could
save ten cents a barrel on salt, it
would pay his share of the addi-
tional tax this proposition would
impose. Hereafter we shall show
what this tax will amount to, and
who will pay it.