The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-02-14
For the Eagle.
The Transportation Question.


The question of transportation is, l
think, the question that more nearly
concerns the pecuniary interests of
the people of Kansas than any and all
others, and yet it has received from
the public prints but little discussion.
An article in the columns of the EA-
GLE, from your correspondent Sails
bury, alludes to the subject, suggest
ing the occupancy of two or more
trans-continental railroad lines by the
Government; to be operated at mini
mum rates of freight passage. Would
that contamination secure the solution
of the question? Would it not rath-
er add complications, political and
otherwise? The right to operate two
CT three lines would suggest the right
to build, furnish and control others,
requiring an army of officials, all SUBJ
ject to appointment and removal Oh
the pleasure of successful political
party, and distinguished for their en-
iuent fitness to manipulate conven-
lions and other self-perpetuating par
ty machinery, rather than their capac-
ity to accomplish the work to which
they might be assigned.
Northrup suggests the building and
control of a railroad, from here TO st.
Louis, by the people; but he has given
US no details for the procurement of
the ready means necessary for its COM
pletion, or the mode of control or OPP
Grafton.
The one nearest natural line of
transportation has been persisiently
overlooked.
The products of this great valley
can never enter the markets of the
world with a fair competition when
carried on wheels. Railroads as fac
tor in our civilization have produced
results marked and incomprehensible;
but the transportation necessary to
feed the world must be more econom-
ical.
A canal from The mountains down
this valley to navigation satisfies all
the conditions necessary to the COM
plete solution of the question. That
water is the natural conduit for CON-
merce has been sn axiom since man
exchanged with his fellows the pro-
ceeds of his labor or chase, and canals
are older than our civilization, and
have proven their usefulness for I'M
told centuries.
A canal of sufficient capacity, say
forty-eight feet at the bottom, would
probably cost about twelve thousand
dollars per mile. On this a single
horse will draw from sixty to seventy
tons at the rate of three miles per
hour. Six horses, three men and two
boys would carry from seven to eight
thousand bushels of wheat to tug
in about the same time in
would go by rail to Chicago or st.
Louis, and at about one-tenth the pres
ent cost. There, thanks to Captain
Eads' jetties, you enter the markets on
a footing equal to tho most favored To-
calities of the Mississippi valley, and
the question is solved.
We might prolong this article in
drawing corrollaries, discussing de-
tails, feasibility, and other incidentals
arising from the examina-
ton of the subject. But shall only
that the southeastern termi-
nus would rest in one Of the best tim
oered regions in the United States.
For general purposes lumber costs
here from eight to tiiteea dollars per
thousand, the freight rates would be
about two 10 two and half dollars. |
Colorado coal would be sold in Wichi- |
IA for two and half or three dollars |
DER ton. Manufactures would spring
up all along the entire line. The |
of the climate and fer
ility of the soil would induce immi
.ration, and sustain dense popula-
ion,
Without such system OF canals, the
gricultural condition Of our State is
xed at the rear of the great train of
We can't produce the sta
lies and pay transportation at the
market rates, and the longer we try
o do it the poorer we will be. The
oss sustained on the sales of wheat
nd corn in Wichita for the last three
ears would probably have construct
d such a canal through Sedgwick
ounty. Real estate would be en-
anced from one hundred to two hum
red per cent, with all the attending
lements of essential progress.
We may examine this subject farther
4 q future article. 4,
w. p. HoBSoN.
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