The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-08-10
TIE RAILROAD QUESTION.
WICHITA. August |, 1ss2.

WICHITA. august /, lco-.
To tie Editor If he Eagle:
have been requested by number of 0uT
citizens to write up the question OF trans.
portation and the great injustice that has
been perperated upon our people in the re-
cent advance in freights on wheat. Ii can
not be expected of me TO fully consider this
almost inexhaustible subject in short arti.
Gle like this. shall start with the declara.
ton that we have been robbed by railroad
corporations who are vested with the power
to make such eXactions AS they may deem
proper and as they may think We are able to
stand.
According to our agricultural report Sedg.
wick county has 100000 bushels of wheat
] find by investigation that the recent ad
vance in rates on wheat takes from the peck
cts of the farmers of this county something
near SIS, 600 on this one article alone. And
/ expect before long an advance on corn rates
which will amount to u greater robbery than
the other. say $4,000. making the snug little
sum of Si4 900, saying nothing of the excess
i've rates upon other articles of transporta.
ton. Thus it is evident that the farmer ID
the first and sole losers. Next the merchant
and the business man of our city just in pro-
portion to the magnitude of their business
and their business relations with the farming
community do they become losers. This lit
tie sum of 1900 would look well in some
manufacturing establishment, say pork
house, or a glucose factory, courthouse, or
something Of the kind that would meet the
wants of our people and add TO the growth
and prosperity of our county. But it's gone
to the vaults of the companies in the East to
help stifien their backs and iron their con-
science to lay heavier their hand at some
other time. We have all reasons for believ-
ing that they have been running at living
rates during the fore part Of the seasOn-it
il not likely they run ut 4 loss. How long
shall we endure these things. ought &c he but
As think have fully sustained my first
declaration and proved without doubt that
the advances in freights work great injus-
tice TO the people and that they have very
great grounds for complaint. Great commit
mites rarely become agitated without sufi-
cient cause. They seldom stop short of ef-
fecting the object TO which that cause has d.
rected their attention. The people feel that
there is something wrong with the admins
tration OF the transportation system OF this
country. They believe that it Is both too
expensive and too unstable. Like the mer-
curry in the vial, it's up and down; no one
can tell where to strike ii or where 10 find 1t.
Of
fairness, reasonableness and stability in its
practical administration which the country
Of right had expected. 1t has done much.
II has worked wonders. 1t may do more and
DO it better. 1t is not to be uDjustly dealt
with, nor do the people desire any such ac-
lion. But it must be brought to a realizing
sense of the necessity Of doing right by those
whom it seeks to serve. Every producer in
this great valley is interested in this great
subject. Every man engaged in that branch
Of business who produces more than he can
Use becomes loser if his surplus does not
ind u reasonable rate for its transportation
% market. His surplus is a wastage Of capt.
.al, labor and results. What be cannot con-
,ume must reach those who do not produce,
Or his abundance is poverty, and their UNI
supplied need is ruin. Transportation is the
that steps in here to defend the
producer and the consumer. 1t gives value
o the surplus of the former by placing it
where it can supply the need OF the latter.
rhis is what has created these superb inland
This Is what has turned the posi- |
Utilities of this marvellous western region in |
o the wondrous facts which confront us on
very hand. 1t gives cheap food TO the peo- |
lie of Europe by placing the products OF our |
heap lands in successful competition with |
hose of the high-priced lands OF the old
World and maintains the balance Of trade in |
ur favor. But transportation is not all Of
hese things. 1t Is the instrument through |