Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-12-07

w oiA AhsSsAoAoi INJURY w dHy ViiO.f
"a AMOS HARRIS.
-
Yrsights On the Southern Kansas Ksilroad.
from the Topeka Commonwealth
Some days ago the Winfield Telegram
published an article in which it said
that the Southern Kansas Railroad Co.
had posted up new tariff schedule in
the railroad 5fsce of that city, which
was to 60 into effect on the lst of Jan
uary, and which increased the rates on
cattle, &c, from that city to the Mis-
souri, line about lOOper cent. We saw
the article, and thinking 1t could not be
true, called on Tariff Manager Goddard
of the Santa Fe road, for his views on.
the subject. He at once pr0nouced the
statement untrue, and on the strength
of that we published the article and
said it was not true. The Telegram
came back the next week and reiterated
its statement and said the Common.
wealth was misinformed. We sent the
article to the General Freight and Pas
senger Agent of the road and asked him
to state The facts. The letter brought
back the following answer:
F, p. Baker, Esq, Editor Commonwealth, To-
pska, Kansas.
DEAR SIR: Referring to your favor
of November 18th, regarding the arli7
Gle in the Winfield Telegram, about
freight rates on this line, desire to
say:
We have, in accordance with the new
taflfsad law, posted in the Winfield de-
pot notice that we should, on January
lst, put into effect new distance tariff
that will apply to shipments between
local stations upon the road. Tho rates
therein named do not affect our through
rates to terminal points, such as Kan
sas City, st. Louis or Chicago or other
market centers of the country, and we
have no intention at the present time of
advancing our throGgh rates, which are
the only rates that would effect the pro-
ducer or local dealer, and you are there
fore correct nyour statement that there
was no truth in the statement as pub
lished in the Telegram, to the effect
that our rate from Winfield to Kansas
City would be raised to the figures indi-
Gated in his article.
To me it seems very fortunate under
the Circumstances that the market CEN
ters which purchase the produce of Kan
sas arc outside the limits of the state,
and therefore without the jurisdiction
of the railroad law of the state; other
wise we should be compelled to base our
rates upon distance, and in that
way work hardship TO the more
distant and westerly points from
Kansas City and the Missouri river. A
a railroad in making rates bases them
upon the commercial necessities of the
country. From the reading of the pres
ent law Of this state, II Is based upon
mathematical calculation, and is made
inhexible and contrary to all well estab-,
lished rules Of commerce, and IL carried
out to the strict letter would work a
great hardship to the people of the
state. think these facts have beer
pretty fully demonstrated TO the Rail.
road Commissioners within the past few
weeks.
Our rates on grain and stock from
Winfield and the Territory tributary
thereto, to the Missouri river, are less
than made by many different roads in
the states Of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
to Chicago, st. Louis and Cincinnati,
their commercial centers, and do not
believe that the business men and deal
ers of Winfield and vicinity, who under
stand the transportation question, have
any disposition TO complain as long as
the rates remain as they are now.
The distance tariff referred 70 above
is the same as is now in effect and has
been for some time upon the A. 7. & s.
+. railway, and becomes necessary to be
adopted upon this line in consequence
of desire on the part of the Railroad
Commissioners that therat should be
, rs far as possible Uniform throughout
the state. It was also necessary from
the fact that since 1879 there had been
no distance tariff published for this line
AMI consequently there is lack of uni
, formity of rates for the same distance
on different portions of the road.
, Our own success and prosperity is de-
: pendent upon the success of the people
, located upon our line. AS you are un
3 kdoubtediy aware, we are not through
= line between large commercial centers
: but are entirely dependent upon oul
local traffic for otr revenue, and il
would be dalupon part to adopt
high rates that would retard the growth
9 and prosperity of the country through
4 which we ran, but rather to our inter
3 Lest to protect the producer, the manu-
factureY and all other business interest.
f tributary to us.
/. I de not think the editor Of the Tele
/ gram intended to do us an injustice il
the publication of his article; but die
! not have an understanding Of the objec
e and intention OF the rates that hay,
e been posted. Yours truly,
8. B. HYNEs, G.. f. A.
D It is reported officially that 1900 cat