Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-09

An important bearing upon the matteJ
1t is unquestionable that the price Of
wheat at the Missouri river is the Chi
caeo price less the cost of handling and
| transportation from the river to that
Joint. The whelt region of Kansas is
more remote from the common market
than the wheat raised in the states
named, and the cost of reaching it is cor.
respondtDgly greater; but the surplus
produced In the country must find q
1oreign market for consumption, and the
price upon the whole product is sub
s.antislly fixed there. Toe recent open.
ing up OF extensive new wheat areas in
other countries, selling the worlds sur.
plus, and the reduction of the cost Of
ocean freights from remote regions to
the common points ofconsumptiOn, have
together brought about decline in the
price of this cereal from which it will
perhaps never wholly recover. That
the present low prices will rule steadily
is not to be expected; since these will op
crate directly ard powerfully to lessen
production and increase consumption.
But We are.f reed to the conviction tina.
lower prices have come to stay consid.
cradle length of time.
Wheat is one of the principal produc.
tions of Kansas The lands in the mid
die and more western portions Of the
state are perhaps better adapted to the
growth Cf wheat than the other Cereals
1t is product which, so long az it con.
tinues to be produced in large quantities
must, or the larger portion of it, be
carried long distances over railroads.
1t is product of great value to the
people, and II furnishes large volume
Of traffic to the railroads. Under favor
able conditions it is quite certain that the
wheat producing area in Kansas will be
extended with the settlement of new
lands now going on so rapidly. Lands
too, even less adapted to corn than those
within the present wheat belt II il, on
the other hand, in the highJ.,v degree
probable that under conditions similar
to those that now exist, the production
of wheat will rapidly decline in the
state, with conse quent detriment to its
prosperity and loss to railroads.
We have already noticed the fact that
the larger the volume of traffic over a
railroad the less the rate of Transports
ton charge may be. This results from
the fact that the expenses incident to
handling an increasing volume of traffic
do not increase in the same ratio as the
traffic. We believe it is regarded as good
policy to supply, so far as railroads may
be able and can safely do SO, those con
ditions which will stimulate production.
The board are Of the opinion that the
tine has arrived when something in this
direction should be attempted. We be.
lieve that a revision of the wheat tariff
in the directions indicated in the argu
ment OF Mr.. Collins would materially aid
in restoring dropping industry.
With corn the conditions are materially
different. The tariff is already low,
one. The price of it is not so dependent
upon foreign demand as wheat, nor yet
Is it so universal product. Its price
can be better regulated for that reason,
since supply can more readily adapt
itself to the demands of consumption.
We are aware of the fact that there is
little or no wheat to be moved at the
present time, and for this reason, and
others which we will presently mention
the board refrain from indicating the
precise extent to which revision should
be made. Revision upon one road
penetrating the western wheat belt will
affect others operating to the western
part Of the state. 1t is but just that they
should be heard and their interests be
considered, before the final ruling upon
the matter, fixing rates by the board,
Besides, TO afford to the people the full
of benefit arising from such re-
vision, it must extend to point which
the powers of the board do not reach.
We further think it of the first
that care should be taken
to protect and foster home indus
tries. The more of our own wheat we
are able to convert into higher product
by mile within our own borders, the less
will our farmers become the sport of bulls
and bears upon change.
In accordance with these views the
board will take such appropriate and
timely measures as may be necessary to
each such revision as may be most
desirable end useful.
By order of the board.
L, J. TURNER, Secretary.
TOPEKA Dec RI 1881