Wichita eagle., 1890-02-08
BOARD OE TRADE TALK.
Some Interesting Views on the Reduced Freight
Rate on Kansas Grain-''What Kansas
Wants First.

Thers was anenthusiastic lot OF business
men at the board of trade for and hour
and half yesterday. There were many
topics under discussion and consideration
at once. 1t was free for all paired OF
time and sometimes quartette could be
seen engaged in earnest conversation. The
leading topic. as estimated, was the freight
rates on grain. This at least appeared to
be one of the features of the all round chat.
Most of those who were heard venture
an opinion, went on record favorable to
very low rate on grain for time If it was
possible and the temporary. reduction, as
referred to in a an idiomatic way, it was
hoped would last as long as possible. The
general opinion was that the farmer
wanted the relief now: the business men
in all the towns and cities of Kansas
wanted it now, just now, with little
delay as possible There were many
scheme suggested that was believed would
assist in the movement. A railroad argu-
ment was ventured by one to the effect
that the freight rate on grain transporta-
tion had nothing to do with the price re-
ceived by the Kansas farmers. The idea
was not a popular one among those who
chanced to hear it. Concerning the ques-
tion Mr.. A. I. Carpenter, member Of the
board of trade directory said
1.-The low price of grain and farm pro-
duce necessarily makes money very close,
close with the farmers They are earnest
ly seeking the cause of the money pressure
which this produces, and in my judgment
there is more real hard thinking being
done by the Kansas farmers just at this
time than for many years. So that while
this strain is uncomfortable, | cannot
avoid thinking that existing conditions
will, upon the whole. result in good. Dis
covering the cause, they will apply the
remedy"
By way of suggestion in doing the best
under the present conditions, Mr.. Carpen-
ter ventured:
I'm the first place the bulk of the corn
should be fed out on the farm where
raised. Successful farmers will not sell
corn at IA cents per bushel when it will
bring 30 TO 40 cents when converted into
pork. Sheep. grain fed through the win
ter, yield a handsome profit to the feeder.
Dairy products, fruits, vegetables, etc,
open still wider the door of diYersifed d
farming in which he must engage to in
sure profit and success. The Minnesota
and Dakoto wheat raisers learned to their
cost that grain raising exclusively is dis
astrous and have abandoned it and en-
barked in the dairy business and general
farming The Kansas farmer must also
stop putting all his eggs into one basket"
By way of general observations: 81
have been in many states and OBJ
served closely, and it is my deliberate
Judgment that Kansas is unequaled by
any state west of the Mississippi river as
an agricultural state She has successful
ly passed through many trying ordeals.
Today Kansas is not only the central state
but she will soon convince the world that
she is the banner state. We have some
drawbacks it is true but they will be set
aside The legislature has not been care
full of the interests of the people as it pos
sibly should have been. We have some
legislative enactmepts which are not in
the interests of the farmers by consider
able. If an extra session, of say ten days,
could be convened 1 thiuk it would be
worth cool million dollars to the state.
grain rate to meet Kansas half way for
a few weeks or months would make the
average Kansan feel again independant
and smile at the slightest provocation. He
might not love his wife and children Dlore |
but he would not certainly love them less. |
1t is safe to say he would be in |
humor and the domestic affairs might be
slightly improved with better clothes and |
an introduction to a small bank account"
As to the immigration question by way |
of a swing over the situation: 1.-The i'm |
movement recently inaugurared |
will prove TO be a wise and far reaching |
measure. With new facilities coming into
the state the farmer will at all times have |
a ready market for all his surplus products |
at his very door The present low price of
grain and produce is largely due to the |
fact that immigration has been directed
from Kansas to other states. This has
been done by special eXertions made by 9th
er states while Kansas has been inactive" "
Some may say that an increase in the |
number of farmers in Kansas and hence |
an increase in the production of farm |
products would not bring relief to peo-
pie walking over corn and wheat The cry !
of an over production might not CORES
pond with my theory Of getting more |
farmers in Kansas. But here you see is |
the point" using both hands to lend en- |
phass, bring more farmers to Kansas to
divide the farms That the farms are too |
large is true, or there would not be so |
many mortgaged farms. In times past |
farmers bought many broad acres by way |
Of speculation, just as some of the boys |
went after town lots. At that time farm |
lands were increasing in value and some |
of the farmers got out with money. just as
some made money in town lots but the |
per cent with either class is small, and in |
each, as / suppose. about the same. Well, |
having these many broad acres unpaid for, |
the farmers being in debt, want to get out. |
If farmer owns $50 acres of land let him |
sell enough to an eastern man to enable |
him to own some iand not dec |
grated with a mortgage and he can |
then live at hume and board at the same |
place. The new conner can farm the other !
part, being out of debt the two can stand |
low prices, should they come. better than |
one in debt. We want enough farmers to |
come to Kansas to buy the cheap pro- |
ductive lands; enough land to enable the |
farm land speculating farmers to get out |
of debt and all the farmers, as Yearly as |
out of debt and Kansas cut up /
into little arms, well cultivated, will soon /
be dotted with white farm houses with |
glistening lightning rods, Tat cattle, |
horses, and everything lovely. Yes sir. |
the hard times among the farmers, due as
claim, greatly 10 speculation, rs Is the |
case with many in the towns and cities, |
and summing it up it can be covered with |
a fat mans expression on another ques- |
80. h,r rnrar-