Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-16
SEVERAL SOUND CONCLUSIONS

The Fort Scott Monitor, in reply to
an article from the X. &. Journal, in
which that paper complains that
Wichita and Fort Scott and other
cities in the west are getting as low
rates on through west-bound freights
as Kansas City herself, which are
given by roads which run to these
cities, around and independent of the
Kansas City pool, has the following to
say:
Yesterday the Monitor referred at
some length to the rate war now being
waeei by the Kansas City Times and
Kansas City board OF trade upon the
Southwestern pool, in which the
opinion was expressed that time would
more fully develop the animus of the
movement. Above will be seen an
extract from a report of the pro-
ceedings of the Kansas City board of
trade, which explains all. We were
skeptical all along about the great in
terest felt by the Kansas City Times
in the welfare of the people of the
Missouri valley, and after all it appears
that the real cause of sOlicitude lies in
the fact that part of the people of
the Missouri valley are enabled to do
business by the railroads without con-
tributing TO the Golfers of Kansas
City. The Southwestern pool, it is
true, has emptied millions into Kansas
City, but the real cause of complaint
lies in the fact that it has not emptied
more millions. in fact Kansas City
will not be satisfied until it has the
earth. 1t is evident that the Times
attack upon the pool was inspired
by the Kansas City board Of trade
which was placed in possession of the
facts by some member of the pool
which saw the scepter of COM
mercial supremacy slipping away
from Kansas City, and
which had no interest west of that
place. Before this argument goes
any further we desire the direction of
the Kansas City Board of Trade to
rise up and give the people of the
Missouri Valley one vivid reason why
the cities and towns west and south
of Kansas City should not have as low
rates as Kansas City on west bound
freight. Until they have answered this
question to the satisfaction of those
in interest they cannot appear before
the Southwestern pool association
with any just cause Of complaint. The
railroads should remember that the
real cause of complaint entered
against them by the people in the
past was an account.o determinations
in favor of Kansas City and other
points which on account of the lower
rates, afforded them we're enabled to
crush out competition in rival cities.
The complaint made by the Kansas
City Board of Teade instead of being
oppression on the part of the roads
indicates desire on their part to do
equality by according to all cities
equal facilities for developing their
resources. The railroads will find by
inquiring among the people that low
rates are not so much demanded
as equal rates. In other words, the
people desire rates so adjusted as to
bring the producer and the middle
man close together. Such a policy |
would furnish a wider scope for en-
terprise and adjust values upon more |
equitable basis. We can assure the |
Kansas City Times and Kansas City's
board of trade that the people of
Kansas understand their gentle |
racket, Notwithstanding that in the
future their plans may be scarcely in
cubatcd |