Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-23
FROM a MAN WHO KNOWS.

Col. NJ, N. Murdock Wichita: Kansas:
DEAR SIR:-It is some time since
have had this pleasure. I noticed piece
in some of yesterdays papers. stating
that southern Illinois inside Of two years
would be almost wholly an apple grow
ing country, that they have sold their
crop of apples this year for $400 to $500
dollars per acre on the tree to eastern
parties, especially in New York state
where the crop is short. 1t occurred to
me. and will try and find the article to
send you, that something of that kind
would largely help your agricultural
people, and probably induce more fire.
quent rains, all of which l know you are
much interested in.
Mr.. Pierce has sent me your editorial,
and can hardly say enough in praise
of the facts put there in plain English.
| am sending the article to the Hon.
BENZ. Butterworth, lat Washington, DC,
as he seems to be more interested in the
agricultural people than any one I know
of in Washington. You will see by this
mornings Globe-Democrat a bill that he
will introduce in congress today taxing
"option privileges and future sales" in
American farm produce. The editorial
in the paper in reference to it simply
shows that they do not know what they
are talking about. The passage of this
law is to prevent "bear" speculation,
and to permit "bull" speculation coming
han l. TO old
prices from consumers. There is moth
ing in the bill as far as can see-and l
have gone over it very carefully-that
would induce any one to vote against it.
and I think if the farmers were made
better off by prices obtained for their
grain and hogs they would be able to
hold back their cattle and demand bet
ter price for them, it has largely come
from their necessity in marketing 50
many cattle and not being able to hold
them back that has enabled the "Big
Four" to depress prices.
1 imagine that this question has not
been studied up by the majority of men,
bers in congress, and in the senate par
ticularly, and it will largely rest with
the press of Kansas and personal letters
from leading men to their representa-
tives in. Washington whether they will
give this question the time and study
that it surely deserves.
l mailed you Cincinnati Price Cur
rent on Saturday eve in which there is a
long letter from grain receiver in Chi
cago, who does not see why Chicago
should always be decrying the value of
grain, which has entitled her to the cog
nomen of the greatest bear market in
the world and in obtaining such a
cost the producers OF the soil? Figures
cannot be made to show it. I do not
know the writer of that article, who has
hit the nail on the head, especial
ly when he says that the
obstruction of the farm interests may
not be considered as serious a matter as
it will prove" How many years more
it will take present prices to wipe them
out l would rather not discuss, and
would rather see every one, and every
man is interested, railroads included,
roll up their sleeves and go for options
and futures sales. then see the result. 1t
will not put their products down any
further, and will be willing to guaran-
tee that it results in boom for the agri-
cultural country next summer. | would
be willing to pay heavy forfeit if it
does not.
Mr.. Butterworths bill has nothing to
do with legitimate buyers or sellers of
farm products by its owners or agents of
owners, but it does seek under the guise
of revenue bill to- tax out of existence
the selling of farm produce by those
mot owning same" or agents for own
ers. / remain yours very truly,
JOHN WHITAKER.