Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-10
MISSOURI FOR MISSOURIANS-KA AN
SAS FOR KANSANS.
To the Editor Of the Eagle.

To the Editor of the Eagle.
Kansas packing house interests.
Is it unreasonable to suppose that if
the people of Kansas were earnestly to
try so to do that they could not build
packing houses of such capacity as
would use up the cattle and hog product
Of Kansas and stimulate the feeding of
stock all over Kansas?
For example, Wichita and Hutchin-
! son, fifty miles apart, have started into
| the packing business and with the deter
mination Of securing large percentage
of the hogs and cattle On the lines of
railroad reaching these points Both of
these cities belong to the newer Kansas.
Hutchinson, Kingman, Anthony, We'll
lington, ali in the newer Kansas, are de-
veloping salt interests.
Conway, Attica and Medicine Lodge
are in the sugar industry" All this is
for the particular benefit of these towns
and their respective counties, yet it is
for the benefit of the southwest, adds
taxable millions to the state and is pros
perity to our citizens.
Is there any reason why Salina cannot
pack $50, 900 hogs, or more, per year? If
SO, what is it? Or if Salina does not de-
sire to so do, are there not hogs enough
on the line of the Union Pacific railroad
for some other town to 60 at this in ear
nest? We assume that the Union Pacific
railroad goes through fine agricultural
body of land and that it produces hogs
and cattle that are shipped" to some
point east, and we assume that Salina
and other points on this road buy meat
at some point east and pay double freight
ana profit for this neglect
Is there substantial reason why Con-
cordia cannot take care of a
packing house? Does not Concordia
have such railroad facilities as
will enable it to secure hogs and cattle
from points east and west, north and
south? Is there any richer or more pros
porous farming community than that
traversed by the Republican river or a
body of agricultural land that is capable
of being made use of to better advan-
tage to the people of Kansas than this
same Republican river valley? Does not
this entire scope of country ship its hogs
and cattle and grain instead of building
up Kansas and becoming rich at home,
and adding wealth to Kansas?
Take the line of the Rock Island rail-
road from Belleville northeast to Fair
bury, Neb., southeast to Clay Center,
west through Smith Center, Phillips
burg, Norton and Colby, kas. Does not
this line run through territory that
raises hogs and cattle that can
be marketed at or near home
instead of at points out of Kansas:
Is there any reason why a packing
house can not be built, operated and
maintained on this line of railroad?
Kansas hogs, etc, in 1888. The asses
sor's books of the various counties in
Kansas show, to-wit:
hogs. Observation-Disclosures. 600
taItle. NU,UUD
oHetp ''''..-......- -....-.-..'.-... 4uV,VV5
How much of this was marketed at
home?
What was the loss to Kansas by the
shipment, packing, reshipment, and re-
sale to Kansas of their meats, to say
nothing of the loss of labor that might
have been employed, and consequent
loss to dealers in Kansas?
Was the loss direct and indirect less
than ten millions of dollars?
Is there no remedy for this? Cannot
this state go to work in earnest and
market the finished Gndirect) product of
Kansas soil rather than the raw product
and save all the margins.
THE PRESENT YEAR.
There was meyer time in the history
of Kansas when it was so buoyant and
hopeful as today; never period when
the future looked brighter than now:
never was harvest more bountiful or
did one promise more gratifying results:
never before, despite the financial de-
preston that rolled as blllow over the
west almost engulfng all classes of bust
ness, has there been such radient smile
of satisfaction over our state; never be-
fore did the lender seek the borrower as
now; never before were the evil
dences of our wealth, strength, power
and prosperity more apparent than now.
Today, this year, we have the power. If
unitedly put forth all over Kansas, 10
Law a foundation which in the near
future will enable US to build CONNER
cial and industrial state beehive,
and through il obliterate every
barrier, influence and power that has
heretofore hindered our growth or pre-
vented Kansas from beng selfsupport-
ing commercial state.
Contemplate our growth and compare
tive poverty, glance on our progression,
look at the hindrences and stumbling
blocks in our road from year to year. |
view our prosperity, and the consider
what we might have been bur for rail- |
way determinations and embargoes on |
our trade, and conclude in mind what |
we may nationally expect by joining |
hands. building up the state, securing a |
to Omaha and through 70 Chi |
cago. so as TO force the freight rates to |
minimum figures, expand our trade in |
every channel. and bring capital here /
instead of pairing ii premium to stay |
away.
The power 10 be selfsustaining and |
is ours If we but use the |
present opportunity. kansans, viii you |
do il: KANZAN,