The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-12
Railroad Legislation.

The railroad commissioners Of this
State have laid two communications
before the Legislature. MeSsrs. GIL
LETT and HUMPHREY say that they
have no power to reduce the rates on
grain unless upon complaint coming
from the mayor and council Of a city or
the trustee of township, and that no
such complaint concerning the grain
rates has been received by the commits
SiOners from any source. These gen.
tlemen further make comparison be-
tween the grain rates of Kansas and
Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. They
say:
We institute a comparison between
the Kansas tariffs and those in force in
the above named states for the reason
that the conditions Of business, the IA
ito of population to railroad mileage,
and the conditions that enter into a test
of a fair comparison are more nearly
equal III those states, to those that exist
in Kansas than obtained between Kan
SaS and any other state.
1t will be seen that the rates ON wheat,
corn and other grains are lower in Kan
SaS than in either OF the other western
states named. The comparison is eX-
tended to 500 miles, reaching to the
western extremity of the wheat region
in Kansas. Comparing the totals of
the four tariffs given in the table, it
will be seen that the rates on wheat in
Kansas are II 30-100 per cent. lower
than in Wisconsin, S9-100 per cent.
lower than in Minnesota, and II 40-100
per cent. lower than in Iowa.
Upon corn and other grains except
wheat, the total Of the Kansas tariff
for three hundred miles west from the
Missouri river is SO 13-100 per cent.
lower than Wisconsin for the same dis
lance: % 44-100 per cent. lower than in
Minnesota, and q 1900 per cent. low
er than in Iowa.
Further on the Board is of the opin-
ion THAT unless the price of wheat
should recover from the present depreS-
sion it will be necessary to still further
reduce the rates OF transportation of
that product. 1t is, perhaps, at the
present time, the most important pro-
duct of the state. From it the rail
roads derive a large volume of traffic.
1t is neither to the interest of railroad
companies nor Of the people to permit
the production of SO valuable a cereal
to languish. 1t is better to sustain the
and maintain the volume it
creates, if by a further reduction that
can be done, than to discourage its cul-
tivation and curtail the traffic.
We think much could be done in the
way of creating greater home demand
and better price for grain in the state
by the multiplication of mills for the
of flour. The growth of
the milling business could be greatly
if greater freedom in the
law were permitted, to make special
rates on fuel and mill supplies. care be- |
ing taken to prevent unjust diScrimina- |
tor among parties similarly situated. |
Uniform and infieXible rates will serve |
to leave the state in the future, as in
the past, dependent state, its whole |
sale traffic carried on beyond its limits. |
enriching strangers at the expense of |
our own prosperity.
Mr.. TURNER, in subsequent report. !
observes that England is the consumer
Of our surplus wheat. The value of it
in that market is determined by the re-
ported surplus, not only in this country |
but in the world, and this surplus is es-
timated from time to time as the crop
is being grown.
The price in New York is determined
by the price in Liverpool, less the cost
Of transportation, insurance, etc., from
New York to Liverpool. In Chicago
by the price in New York, in Kansas
City or other Missouri river points by |