The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-28
A MISTAKEN POLICY.

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To the Editor of the Eagle.
a bill was offered last week by a
member of the house which partakes OF
the nature of controlling, regulating and
reducing the charges of the live stock
yards companies and the COM
mission companies of the state of
Kansas. There is an imaginary demand
by the people for such an act, but with
the proper information of all the sur
roundings pertaining 20 the live stock
business of the west the cry would soon
cease.
The members of the house were elected
for the purpose OF enacting laws which
shall be beneficial to the farmer and
state at large.
The enactment of law by which the
stock yard charges and the commission
charges shall be reduced to an insigniti-
cant sum will surely work an injury TO the
very men who it was intended to help,
as well as direct injury to the greatest
business of the west Reader, go back
with me to 1870 and halt awhile at the
small, dirty and uncomfortable building
at the Kansas City stock yards,
which was used as an exchange;
also the twenty-five or thirty pens
for the reception of you stock,
without a floor, with mud knee
deep, with the privilege of watering
your own stock and big risk for fear
there would be no buyer, and when a
10 Z, ,aff
for you was afraid the purchaser would
give you the slip, and many other forms
of worry and danger. About that time
a stock yards company was formed, and
gradually the commission business be-
came necessity and grew into favor,
and the wonderful growth of business
forced an organization on a regular sys-
tented plan of commission, which Is
80 cents per head for cattle and 50 per
car for hogs. The stock yards COM !
pany charges cents per head for hogs. |
which includes weighing, loading or I'M |
loading. yardage, water, etc, etc, also |
10 cents per bushel for corn. For cattle, !
20 cents per head for the same work and |
81 for hay feed. The stock is increased |
by the grain and hay consumed, there !
fore no injury. We shall admit there is |
a profit, but every dollar has been in
vested in scales, buildings, pens, bridges,
water works and all the necessary appur-
tenanceS and conveniences for taking
care of and handling all kinds of stock;
also erecting a stock exchange building
second to none in the United States.
The legislators should not fix their
gaze on the grand and magnificent stock
yards of Kansas City with a feeling of
enmity, which has been encouraged, fOs
tered and built up by the very incentive
this bill aims to destroy. Every true
5tockman should point with pride to the
Kansas City stock yards, and rejoice that
they are increasing in prominence, mag
nificence and volume of business. You
should remember that several other
stock yards and commission companies
are springing up in different parts of our
state, struggling for existence, and
should virtually receive at your hands
spirit OF protection rather than fatal
rebuke. Those infant enterprises of our
state in which your city. Mr.. Editor,
cad would wither and die if such law
was passed. The men who made the
kansas City stock yards what they are
.oday-a thing of beauty, usefulness
and necessity, as well as an honor to the
west, arranged with all modern conven-
ences for man and beast, and now bears
,he proud distinction of being the great
asst live stock market, except one, in the
never have accomplished
his if such law as contemplated, had
been passed by the legislature twenty
years ago. 1t is believed by eminent
men who have witnessed the migratory
action of the live stock markets of the /;
United states. once located at Philadel-
)hia, Boston, East Liberty and Cincinnati,
Iuietly but surely moving westward,
lalting awhile at Chicago-long enough
1t least to honor her with the dstinc- I
ion of being the largest live stock cen ]
er that ever existed and by all nations I
# the earth is considered the wonder of !
he world. These same men believe the ;
ime will soon come when Chicago, with I
il her pomp, her pride and prominence
will be compelled like her predecessors, /
0 yield her place to the proud and dash. {
ng queen at the mouth of the Kaw, as !
ar as the live stock business is con- '
erned.
Legislators, can we afford to clip her '
wings or lay an impediment in her way, i
II do anything that may retard the pros {
'erity and growth of the live stock mar t
et of the west, we cannot get closer to
market, but we can bring the market
enter closer to us.
As soon as l get little time again.
viii give you some more reasons why
UGH law is unnecessary.
A. G. Forney, |