Wichita eagle., 1888-10-02
HOW TIE FARMERS ARE INTEREST
ED IN WICHITA

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
In 1885, 1885 and 1887 the oats crop
was rather short in this county. In 80
the value Of the whole crop was, in
round numbers, $274, 900; in So, S43e, 900.
For 1878 have no statistics. In 80
bought oats for 12 cents, and in SO fol-
II cents, by the wagon load on the street.
But in 81 the lowest price that I know
of by bulk was 90 cents. This year they
began to sell from 90 to % cents just
after harvest, by the wagon load. Such,
in brief. is the history of oats during that
period.
Referring to the above data we find that
while the oats production of this county
for '86 was about five hundred thousand
bushels greater than 1885, the price adj
vanced five cents per bushel. The same
| advance has continued to the present.
| But this has not been the case SO much
in the neighboring towns. This season
oats sold, was told, as low as ten cents
| per Dushel on the streets OF towns one
hundred miles west on railroad; and
have not got beyond thirteen cents yet
IN the same places.
Whenwe look for the cause we find that
from an over grown provincial town in
1884 Wichita has assumed the proper
| tons or young cosmopolitan city. A
| great demand has been created for not
only oats but for everything
the farmer raises. l have cited
the oats crop because it
has heretofore been least marketable for
ready cash. The increased market
facilities have extended to all staples in
proportion at least. And other things
made saleable for cash that were hereto
fore worthless in the market. This large
and growing demand becomes more
diversified as time passes. This diversi-
fication retains more and more cash at
home now as against less and less as we
go back to the town and village days.
1t is the steady process of capitalizing a
country. The proof is in the fact that a
load of country produce of any sort finds
a ready market in the streets of Wichita
for cash now because there are forty
thousand people as against six or eight
few years back when such stuff was
largely bartered.
With packing houses here ready sale
will be found for tender Ions, chimes
spareribs, etc., which enables packers to
turn profit largely from local popula-
ton. This, too, makes items of cheap
food which partly cheapens labor and
enables men to start glue factories,
tanneries and other adjuncts to packing
houses. And it all makes a ready cash
market right at home for the farmer for
all he now raises, and creates demand
for what he cannot now afford to raise.
These influences are extensive in their
reach. Make Wichita more varied and
extensive market, and every farmers
chances for getting clear of debt and
greatly enhancing the price of his land
is increased many times. Dispense
what has now been built up here in the
way Of markets if possible, and the
mortgagor and the mortgage of this
section will both be injured. Create
here a city of 100000 active
and thrifty factors and consumers in
four, six or ten years and our farmers
will be able in that time to get out of
debt or refund at 5 to per cent
Were great congress of bankers as
sembled and in possession of all the
knowledge bearing upon this question
they would say that the key to the
business situation in this valley is to
maintain and strengthen Wichita as
great home market. Were great con-
gress of packers, grain and stock dealers
in the cities east of us assembled with
like information they would no doubt
say that the key to their contin-
uing to control the prices of Kansas
produce is to break down Wichita as
market; and set every little town so jeal-
Gus at every other one in Kansas that no
one of them could make city.
w. e. HUTCHINSON,