Wichita eagle., 1890-03-05
THE VESTS GREAT INTERESTS.

The practical unanimity with which
the western representatives in con-
gress supported the claims of Chi
cago for the location of the worlds fair
in 1892 at that place is construed by that
city as evidence of its hold upon the ad-
miration and confidence of the people of
the west. That the pluck and energy
displayed by the Lake City has been and
still is an admirable characteristic will
not be denied. While this is true, how
ever, the west finds that it is compelled
to look elsewhere for a market Tor its
agricultural products, Or be squeezed for
the last cent by the Chicago system OF
railways, the Chicago elevators and the
Chicago board of trade; and it is just as
true that Chicago must set these things
right, or see her western grain and stock
business diverted to ST. Louis, New Or
leans and the Gulf, within the next
| five years. Cheap transportation,
half way honest produce exchange,
and a reformation Of the eleva
tor system, will alone enable Chicago to
retain her long established prestige as
the great traffic mart Of the west. Other
wise different outlets and new markets
will be found. Already the grain ship
ments of the northwest, which have for
many years been running the Chicago
gauntlet, have found a way out by Du-
luth and the north, and Baltimore has to
a considerable extent broken IN upon
the Chicago and New York combination.
And this Is but the beginning.
Throughout the west the people are
everywhere beginning to agltate the
question of ''gulf routes" The idea has
become fixed that the salvation of the
western grain grower and stock raiser
depends upon the creation of direct
routes TO the tidc-water of the gulf, and
the consequent escape from the clutches
of the middlemen of Chicago, who exact
toll and tribute from every pound of
grain and stock that passes through that
city in transit for New York and Liver
pool.
The great railway systems traverslng
the northern part Of the continent be-
tween the east and the west have chang
ed the original channels OF traffic that
should naturally follow the direction
taken by the great water courses of the
country, which tend TO the southeast
To the people between the Mississippi
river and the Rocky mountains, between
the Mississippi and the Missouri valleys,
and living in or tributary to these great
valleys, this question of southern outlets
is of the greatest Importance. Railway
and river routes direct to the gulf, and
transportation direct from the gulf to
foreign ports will materially assist in
placing the agricultural population of
the western half of the continent in a |
position to secure adequate returns for |
their labors. Then it might be reasona-
bic to expect something in the line of
competition.
The provision made by the government |
to secure adequate harbor facilities at |
Galveston is a step in that direction, and |
there is little doubt that this will be sup
plemented by the construction of two or !
three additional lines of railroad from as |
many starting points in the west with |
the gulf port the termini within the very |
near future. The truth is there is at the |
present time gong on a revolution |
throughout this whole western country !
that is going to work out many, and |
some radical, changes in our politico-eco-
nomic system. If these changes shall |
inure to the betterment of the condition
generally or even partially, the efforts
put forth to bring them about will be
accomplished and all will be well.