Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-08-28

not decline, We have deemed &c quite inl-
peEGt1V9 upon Us 20 ask some changes IN the
wheat tariff. We are aware that the changes
We indicate are not OF sweeping character
They VIII not compensate for the decline IN
prices. This would be impossible. But We
are convinced that they viii be OF material
assistance and EorE no material detr1menE
70 tbs freight trafEic Of railroaas-
Il has been urged, as an objection 70 this
proposed revision, that a reduction IN the
freight charge would not benefit tbs pro-
Queer. 1t however has never been made
clear to Us Who would II the producer would
Usgts get the benefit OF it. It is evident that
~ the producer could SE the price OF his own
grain, the buyer or Consumer would have 70
consumption. But tbs price is hEsd for him
by the dealer At remote commercial Csntsrss
and the VatGs Of tbs product i8 the price thus
dLsds less the cost OF getting q there. Ana
the current price at any point 1s ruled by the
rZ5ss at the place where tbs worlds surplus
Is bought for consumption less the COST OF
transportation 20 suoh uitimEts point
With respect 20 the product OF manuflSl
ture the rule seems to be different, OF, at any
rate different IN its open alton As TO these
It IS more easy to base price upon cost Of
production including q reasonable 6LpSCtG-
ton OF profit on working capital, aud &C
eoFdIngly the consumer pays the freight
charge from the place OF production 20 EhaE
Of consumption, and reductions in the rate
OF the latter VIII not, as a rule, serve 20 en-
hancs profit, by cheapening the commodity.
LG not DC QaIlEA DE4Ga or wheat
may be snscted IN the same manner. But
Is must be borne in mind that wheat Is
the universal product, and nothing short Of
general reduction In freight rates upon it,
from all sources of supplies would produce
that result. And further, that being a pro
duct OF universal supply and demand snd
much the larger number OF those engaged
10 agriculture ar5 50 employed as means
Of utilizing their own labor, and obtaining
subsistence without direct regard 70 profits
or capital invested, il is quite impractiSabls
10 adjust the price Of such a commodity as
wheat 70 cost Of production and profit 1t
Ban only be regulated by the relative supply
and demand. Hence It's price diminishes
IN proportion to its remOtsness from the
place where the price Is liked upon the sur
plus Of cCnsump tlons and such remOteness
10 more torclbly represented by the aggregate
5Ogt Of getting the wheat there than by the
mere distance from that place TO the fields
where Lt IS harvested. Measured by this
rule, the western Kansas wheat fields are
among the most distant in the world from
The markets that create prices which, with
"a narrow limits rule the wheat product OF
The globe.
Il is urged as further objection 20 the
seduction Of rates, that such reduction would
nave a tendency 90 accelerate the movement
II grain TO commercial centera and lower
price Ordinarily, suchG result might be
anticipated but not when the price was
uready too low to cover cost Of production,
lor unless the reduction was very consider
able.
Under existing circumstance We regard
& as inevitable that the cultivation Of wheat
must decline in this state, Notwithstanding
he land is we'll adapted 70 the growth Of
hat cereal, and it ia equally certain that
there is nothing to take the place Of wheat
lpOn a large area of Kansas, available 70
he farmer Of small means Cultivating
small farms; or that could furnish TO rail-
roads anything near the same bulk OF Valu-
able freight.
To avert such a result, which must be con-
sidsrsd alike disastrous to the farming in
ssre5ts and to railroads, We deem il necsssa-
~ after careful survey of the situation
that some reasonable concession should be
made in the rate on wheat.
We have prepared and submit herewith a
schedule of rates which We deem fair and
reasonable, and which We think should be
adopted on the lines Of road IN the state
We have also suggested and recommended
q few changes in the corn tariff, chiefly,
however, with view Of rendering the scale
more even and equal, and these We also rec
1mmend Oe adopted.
By order Of the board.
Z. j. TURNER, Secretary.
Following are the tariff rates upon wheat
and corn, to be applied on local business
and through business Of all the lines Of road
10 the state as recommended BY the board:
UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY oozEAHEs
Rates upon wheat, In car loads, In cents per
hundred pounds. Between Kansas City or