The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-02-13
IrHs EnEEsExcY RATE TO SELL. on
TEE ELEvATOR TO KEkf, GRAiE:

IrHg EnERsENcT RATE TO SELL, o
FHE ELEvATOR TO KEkP, GRAis:
Topeka Capital.
/ Attention is called to the com
muaicatiOn below, taken from th
Hutchinson Ners. The writer, Mi
Jehn Fernie Of Hutehinsou, IL 9 dir
tingulshed engineer, member Of tn
Crystal Palace commission ut Lon
don In 1851, q member Of the Roya
Society OF Engineers OF Grea
Britain aud for many years was q
the head Of the engineering depart
meut Of the Midland railway o
England. His estimate Of the cos
and fruitags to the railroads In
hauling the present corn crop from
Kansas IL, therefore, based on some
/ thing more substantial than vague
| speculation. After showing thai
the roads make from $1,000, 90 to
els, 10000 In moving the kansa:
corn crop alone, Mr.. fernie asks,
"What will the railroads do to help
the farmers?"
The v hols state echoes the In
quiry. A month OF more ago Gov
ernor Humphrey started the present
agitation In behalf OF an emergency
rate" addressing letters quietly TO
the presidents of the several Kansas
roads, presenting the situation from
the point OF view Of agriculture and
urging that the railroads reduce the
freight Ell corn to q point more
equitable proportions to the value Of
the product aud the cost Of trans
portatiOn. From this voluntary
soliciIude OF the governor, done
without any such blare Of trumpets
~ has occurred elsewhere, aud re-
ferred to there without the COVER
nor's knowledge or consent, the
present demand for a reduced rate
has followed aud tomorrow the re-
representatives. OF the vaFiouse roads
meet with the governor 10 consult
on the problem.
II q reduction of the rate meant
an addition Of so much to the price
Of corn, the Capital would give this
movement its warm and uRstinted
endorsement. IL Is not improbable,
however. that II will simply reduce
nj Chicago the price OF the article:
causing, therefore, q direct loss to
the railroads and no benefit to the
producer. There Is another thing,
however, that the railroads can do,
and that Is by building elevators
here and there along the line OF
their track, to afford the farmer n
for his grain after the
wise aud suggestive example Of
Joseph in Egypt. Present prices
will last no more than past prices
have lasted. Pretty soon farmers
will mourn over their lack Of corn
to sell nj 30 or even ~ cents. Will
the railroads help them to store the
corn for that time?
We give below the communication
referred to at the beginning Of this
article and taken from Tuesdays
Hutchinson NcIrs:
''wHAT CAN THE RAILROADS DO?
81 asked a question In my first
could the railroads do
10 help the farmer. out Of their
present difficulties" But before
that question, might
show what the farmers are doing for
The railroads.
Taking the estimate have
given Of the corn crop grown
in Kansas in lSS9 n 90, us 900 |
bushels and that the odd 40,UD,0U |
are consumed ia the state, there /
for export 30 ON, 900 bushels,
which the railroads must carry
away.
a1.us1,'s0 bushels weigh In tons i.'atlNn |
The numt',rs at clrs. To- carry IUiso liz aSi.'o |
In each 7.so
what the railioa should get Cut
If this could only be- guessed at very |
but perhaps at present |
-ates say t3O,OOO, 90; and 10 IL all
vent To Chicago, perhaps 81, 90 ,ts'0.
nd this assumes the center at the
.OTn belt l. 100 miles east Of Hutch
neon.
AT present price of corn. ~ cents,
hen the value Of the crop, IN, OUO, 40
bushels, is 2G,ODO,mO.
what it will cost the railroads to
iu this vast business must also lie a
guess; but taking the Pennsylvania
statement for lSSI At 3l
II n cent per ton per mile, there
must be large profit which the
'ailrOads are well entitled To,
IhouId saw the service would not
.nst less than tIU,UO,UOO. But II tile
Ehole went to Chicago II would be
more, perhaps Slj,WO,-
NJ.
Amy one can make a rough guess
rom the rate from Hutchinson to
'hicago per loo pounds ~ cents. To
Il. Louis ~ cents, to Kansas city ~
'pnts.
"Having thus briefly discussed
he situation Of the corn crop aud it,
reight, ask again the question,
What can the railroads do To help
he farmers In this emergency? No
lOubt one of these roads has been
Greatly crippled lately; but IL has
rot been Through Kansas business.
II am assured by men who have
,een many years in Kansas that at
10 time in their knowledge, have
hing- been 80 critical In this state
i at the present. For three years
hev have been struggling with
thoughts aud consequently poor
rOps and now with abundance Of
aims aud large crops the price has
allen almost below any precedent.
1t present the railroads hold the
ituaiiun. Are they prepared Yolun-
arily tn sacrifice some Of their
'rOfits and help their old friends,
he farmers Of Kansas.
JnmN FERNIE"