Wichita eagle., 1889-03-31
WICHITA GAINS A POINT.
THE STATE BOARD OF RAILROAD
COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZE
AND OONCEDE
Its Importance and Necessities as the
Great Distributing Center Of the
State and Southwest
merce, Its Wholesaleing, Manufact-
uring, Live Stock and Packing.
Missouri River Rates Both
In and Out.

Will De IounQ the DECISION In fuu or the
State Board Of Railroad Commissioners in
the matters at issue between the business
men Of Wichita and the railroad compa
MES centering here, as to Determinations
in the rates of freight charges on the job
bling business Of the city, in favor of Mis-
souri, river competing points. The board
present very comprehensive resume Of
the whole question at issue and unresery-
edly recognize the importance Of an equit-
able adjustment CT the matters complained
of. not only in the interest OF common
fairness and justice to the wholesale bust
ness of this city, but also to the people of
the large scope of country who find their
most convenient market here for the sale
of their surplus products and in which to
purchase their necessary supplies. And
in conformity with their finding in these
respects the board decide and di-
rect that Wichita be given
Missouri river rates of charges
on all freights pertaining to its jobbing
trade, both on shipments to and from the
city, On live stock and packing house
products coextensive with the state, and
on all other lines of business to similar
limit except on shipments east, where the
limit is fixed at seventy five miles.
With the exception of the last point
mentioned, the decision is substantially
what the city asked for, and that point
the eastern limit of seventy-five miles on
outgoing rates-will not long stand in our
way. The other concessions granted puts
Wichita on an equal footing With its
principal competing points in the matter
of freights, and that is all she asks
The lengthy resume of Wichita's varied
interests, their magnitude and import
ance, upon which the board base their de-
cision, shows careful inquiry and pains
taking endeavor on their part to arrive at
full understanding and an equitable con-
clusion OF the matter between the parties
in issue, the city and the railroad COM
panies whose lines center here, and will
therefore, we think, give general satisfac-
ton, and although somewhat lengthy will
be read with interest by all concerned, and
that means every citizen not only of WITCH
tia but of the territory embraced in the
jurisdiction of the board as specified in the
ruling.
This decision is of greater Importance
and value to Wichita just at this time
than any enterprise or industry it could
possibly obtain, for the reason that it
unites her hands and places her in posi-
ton to unite more capital, manufactures,
packing houses, wholesale establishments
in the various lines of commerce, etc,
with the assurance of them of the full en-
joyment of transportation facilities equal
to the best, which after all is the great
desideratun to commercial life. The
value of the decision is further enhanced
by the fact that such a recognition of
Wichita as the great trade center of a vast
territory is based upon the merits of the
case and could not have been
secured otherwise. Subsidies are some
times necessary to secure railroads,
and bonuses as inducements to manufac-
point gained by the decision in question
could never have been reached by any such
considerations. 1t is the most important,
because the most valuable point yet gain
ed by the city.
AS to the railroads, the decision will no
doubt be likewise acceptable. The diff
Guilty heretofore experienced in getting
rates has been mainly from a
lack of concert of action in carrying into
effect uniform reduction of rates, stimuli
by all the roads, and no one of
them caring TO take the initiative in
making such new schedule. But when
date is fixed and a basis given there is
little doubt that all will cheerfully
acquiesce in the new arrangement.