Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-03
OUR GRAIN TRADE.
WE ARE SHIPPING GRAIN NOTWITH-
STANDING THE SO-GALLED
FAILURE OF CROPS
A Wichita Shipper Gives Some Surpris
ing Facts IN Regard 10 the Trade
This Year-Looking Ahead to
Another Harvest.


1t is not an unusual thing to hear some
old settler relating some incidents OF the
great grain trade that in former years
was carried on at Wichita. One gets the
impression from hearing these old-timers
talk that away back in the seventies more
grain was raised in Sedgwick and sur
rounding counties than at the present
time A little enquiry shows that at the
period alluded to all the surplus grain OF
Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Sumner, and
the country west of these named. was mar
keted at this place. In those days some OF
the farmers who marketed their wheat at
Wichita were required to be upon the road
from Two to four days. They carried
with them the memorable grub box
and ate their meals and slept
on the open prairies. Photographs OF the
old Wichita elevator taken in 1870 when
it was operated by Russll 6 Furlong are
still to be seen in this city. The streets
around it are packed with horses and
mules, and delapidated long-horn OK
teams like sardines in box. The farmers
on their wagons seem to be waiting
patiently their turn to unload their gold
en- wheat 1t is claimed in those days ten
to fifteen thousand bushels of grain was
daily delivered by wagon in Wichita.
What have become of the farmers who, In
the early days thronged around the
Wichita elevators? They are delivering
their grain to railroad stations at their
own doors, aud now only speak OF those
early long halls as hardships incident 60
frontier life. The ten railroads that run
into Wichita are collecting tie
grain from the territory that in those early
days was delivered at Wichita II one
could from some elevated position today
look over the great valley that in those
days furnished grain to this market by
wagon he would see hundreds and hum
dreds of cities and villages dotting this
magnificent territory like stars in clear
sky, all with their one to five railroads. A
desire to know what has become OF all this
grain trade and that the readers OF the
EAGLE might know whether southern
Kansas raised any surplus of grain last
year is what caused a reporter OF this paper
to call Oh J. w. Hawn & Co. al their office
in this city yesterday. In answer to the
question as to whether any grain was be-
ing shipped from here to other states:
know how much grain is being handled in
this city. All the grain in times past was
delivered from wagons, but now grain
from surrounding towns is shipped IN here
by railroad. / am now receiving about
ten car loads of corn aud oats day; al
lowing the other firms to get as much 1t
would make about 5000 bushels day;
that would make $40 wagon loads. Then
there is an average of about 60 loads of
grain received by wagon that goes TO the
elevators, mills and feed stores. Allowing
the mills to only ship in what would be
equal to fifty wagon loads a day, and |
guess they receive great deal
more than that, it would make in
all 430 wagon loads If that
many loads were to come in here in one
day you would think all creation had brok-
en- loose. Don't you forget. it will will be-
a cold day when southern Kansas has no
grain to ship Inside of five years from
now | expect to see Wichita one of the i'm
portant grain distributing points of the
West l wish the capitalists of this city
could be made to see the Importance of
providing great elevator to take care of
the trade that naturally belongs here.
1t will benefit Wichita and the entire
southwest. Our grain should not be ship
ped east at harvest time but
should be held here for the south
ern and western trade. Those points
Now of course we had light crops last
year, but just to give you some idea of the
demand made upon Wichita for grain in
shipping car lots to stations in Colorado,
New Mexico, Arizona and southern states
pay the freight here for convenience"
And Mr. Hawn turned to "Dick" Clarke
and asked him what the freight bills
amounted to in the month of February;
s13,50227 said the efficient bookkeeper The
grain buyer said he had on another occa-
sion told the readers of the EAGLE of the
inconvenience of supplying this trade on
account of storage room in this city not
being sufficient. There will be this year
raised in Sydgwick county," said Mr..
Hawn, go 900 acres of wheat, counting it
fifteen bushels per acre it will make
900,0 900 bushels of wheat. We will
have 10000 acres planted to corn
thirty bushels per acre will make 4,50O, 900
bushels of corn. We will have 80, 900 acres
of cats, thirty bushels per acre will make
900, 600 bushels. That would make g. 3G0,-
600 bushels of grain Cor Sedgwick county,
and the estimates are low for a good crop
year. Sumner county walks in the column
right up by the side of Sedgwick, and
and Harper counties viii not be much, if
any, behind. Thus you see at a low esti-
mate these eight counties will raise, this
year, more than As, 900, 900 bushels of grain
Then Pratt county is coming to the front
as grain county. The new counties west
Of those named, will soon be large ex-
porters of grain. All the surplus grain of
this valley will be sent from Wichita di-
rect 70 consumers if we are equal to the task
taking care Of it." Will we do it? IS the
question asked by the EAGLE many times
in the last six months. Our millers have
said we want elevators; our grain men
have said a large elevator is necessity;
our bankers have said give US a large
elevator and system of inspection. and
we will furnish money to handle ali the
grain of southwest Kansas. Our capt.
talists have said it viii pay and our bust
ness men say the elevators will be built.
OUT OF THE OLD HOUSE INTO THE NEW"
Mrs. Cash Henderson took possession Of
her new home, now just completed on
lie fine