Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-16
THEY HEAR THE. FACTS.
rHE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS IN
SESSION ON WICHITA RATES.
They Hear the Facts on the Tonnage of
the City, its Importance as Ship
ping Center, and Attention
Called to Rates as Com
pared with the Mis-
souri, River.

the leading business establishments of the
city were represented and ready to talk
business to the board, the members of
which in turn seemed fresh and vigorous
and willing to listen with patience and
attention that is often missing on occe-
sions Of investigation. There were also
present a conspicuous number of'railroad
men who were long accustomed in
figuring On freight rates, long
and short hauls with the sliding
scale one way but not so
sliding in another. They ta1 been APP
prised Of the meeting of the board so they
could be present to explain the why of the
facts and situations. The Frisco line
was represented by Mr.. f. D. Russell,
assistant general freight agent with the
st. Louis office. The Missouri Pacific Was
represented by c. V. Lewis, of Kansas
City, general freight agent; the c., K. &
\. by D. Atwood, of Topeka, general
freight agent; the Santa Fe by Mr.. Z. H.
Davis, division freight agent with Office in
this city, and the Wichita & Western by
d. II. Rhodes, the superintendent. 1t
was noticed that the railroad representa-
tives were quite clanish and for some
time before the board commenced work
they occupied corner talking the situa-
ton over in an exclusive" tone The
usual run Of jokes common among
railroad men had been left off the program
of the meeting and they were absent
minded on business"
When the board signified their readiness
for business the live stock question, one of
vital Importance to the city, was intro
duced and an explanation of the facts as
found out by experience was explained by
the manager of the Dold packing COM
pany, T. w. Schirmer. The company he
was representing had killed since it COM
menced operation over twenty-seven thou
sand hogs and over twenty-five million
pounds of product shipped ont. This had
been done and is being done on a rate out
of proportion with other distributing
rate centers. The rate per car
on stock from points south, west and north
to Wichita, in his opinion, is higher than
it should be when compared with the rates
for similar service at Kansas City. The
local rate is such that at a distance over
one hundred miles south or west to Wich-
tia comes so near to the rate two hundred
miles further east that justice would de-
mand change in the interest of shippers
and the Wichita market.
The consideration of the live stock ques-
ton consumed the time until 1890, when
the board adjourned until o'clock.
The afternoon session was quite interest
ing, commencing with a continued investi-
cation of the live stock rate. To
the many strange and unadiustabie
facts disclosed, Mr.. Lewis, on be-
half of the railroads, would reply:
1.-THE local distant tariff rate will answer
that" This statement was applied to
everything and anything in place and out
This seemed to be the panacea for all ills,
assuming the 'local tariff distant rate" in
invaluable or at least is above any POSSIBLE
ity of being wrong. Mr.. Schirmer made
some paralizing replies for the common
remedy.
After this question had been presented
in its many features the foundry interests
were represented by Stewart, Coney & Co..
who gave his experience in getting pig and
scrap iron and the rate out with the pro-
ducts as compared with other points. This
was followed by ". S. Corbett, president
board of trade, who gave the facts concern
ing the wholesale business in the grocery
line.
Mr.. Vandenberg, of the Kansas Sash &
Door factory, represented that line of bus
mess, submitting communication and
table of rates as compared with Kansas
City The president of the board, Judge
asked for list of wholesale
and manufacturing establishments in the
city They were furnished by Mr.. Corbett
and some assistants and the board seemed
somewhat surprised at the number and
their Importance. The freight received
for the 'S7 as shown by the railroad COM
panies was forty thousand cars incoming
and thirty thousand outgoing. The
freight charges for that year were g, 100,-
900, or one-seventh of all the business
of the state. The freight for 'SS had
not been ascertained as yet but
would certainly be more than on the pre-
vious wear.
Through with this important feature
Judge Humphrey turned to the railroad
and said: Suppose the
board comes to the conclusion there ought
to be a different system of rates, how
would you prefer we should make the
changer We could 10 it by one of two
ways. BY revising the whole system of
rates, which would create great disturb
ance and possibly do injusticeto railroads.
Another way would be to devise system
Of special rates adapted to this locality.
The question is which would be the one
you would like Assuming the board
should decide to make a change, what
would be your idea, Mr.. Lewis?"
Mr.. Lewis, in answer singled out the
chestnut that if they made special rates
put of Wichita would they not be required
to make special rates to all points asking
&c?
This was followed by Judge Humphrey,
who stated that recasting OF the whole
matter might be imperative.
Mr.. Lewis then remarked if some one
would determine what the jobbing point
IT points are in the state the railroads
would make that point or points basis
or calculation for freight rates.
This brought Mr.. Schinler to his feet,
Who recalled the figures on the packing
business. and asked if any other city from
business in that line could present as IA
Torabe claim for rates, taking volume
# business calling for point OF calcutta
ion. He had no objection TO other cities
n Kansas having change of
ate or rate in keeping with
,ther packing centers, along with
x ichita. This was followed by another
application of local distant tariff rate,
tc.," by Mr.. Lewis.
There was a general discussion of the
question. including finishing touches on
he various interests that had been repre-
ented, including live stock, coal. lumber,
ron and general merchandise. The board
.djourned at o'clock.
Mr. Green left last evening for home,