The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-09
IT IS NOT A VAGARY.

criticize the EAGLES editorial declara
ton of Thursday morning that open
competition would result in such an in
crease of tonnage as would in full ratio
compensate for all shrinkage of ear n
ings following reduction of rates. The
EAGLE does not demand a cutting and
senselesS slashing of rates, but only such
an equitable adjustment as shall foster
struggling trade, encourage depressed
mines and assure desp firing manufac
lures, instead of the present arbitrary
rats based on the Davigability of the
Missouri river in the interest of a few
river points that do not see a steamboat
in mouths at a stretch. 1t pro-
tests against the robbery which
lays down fruits, sugars, cotfees, ETC.,
from the gulf ports, at Omaha, Min
neapoliS and Kansas City for one-half
less money than the same things are
laid down for at Wichita, the Missouri
river being the only pretended variance
from ''the like conditions" of the inter
state law. Slack coal, for instance, is
laid down at Kansas City from the
mines Of Southern Kansas for SO cents
per ton, while Wichita is charged SLIGO
freight alone for the same slack, dis
elimination that robs the manufacturers
of Wichita in the interest of those at
Kansas City. And SO on.
But as to the recompense possible
through increased tonnage, arising from
equitable rates Kansas has more miles
of railway today than any state in the
most prosperous, in the Union, viz: Hi
nois. Theories based on observation are
sometimes as patent and reliable as
records of actual facts. But we are not
without facts TO sustain our declaration.
The commissioners of Iowa put down
the rates to the interior towns Of that
state to the same per ton per mile ac
corded by the roads to the towns along
the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, which
flow along that states eastern and west
ern borders, respectively. This was in
1888. Their action was enjoined by the
railroads in the courts. Judge Brewer,
of Kansas, then circuit judge, in 1889
denied the injunction and the adjusted
rates went into force. The effect
of this reduction, amounting to 26 per
cent. was an increase of the tonnage
of Iowa the first year of 346, go tons.
For the second year following or last
year the official report shows Iowa's in
creased tonnage to have been 3,542, $50
tons. Now, for the corresponding reve-
nues. For 1889 the cash gains to the
Iowa roads w,re $173,698 and for the
last year the remarkable increase of
$3,848, 357 43 over the year before. The
result surprised the officials of the rail-
ways themselves.
If instead of making all Kansas tribu-
tary to Missouri town, by Subjecting
all her productions and enterprises to a
tariff in bolstering up the insane idea
that the Missouri river is a navigable
stream whose steamboats, are going to
confiscate the tonnage and obliterate
the earnings of all the roads COM
posing the Transmissouri Freight asso-
citation, Kansas as a whole were given
an equal show, no expert could
calculate the increase of tonnage which
would accrue. Every interior industry
would be stimulated, cheap fuel would
multiply the manufacturing interests of
every interior town and city, new mines
would be opened and proftably worked,
new mills erected in all the towns of
every county in the state, jobbing inter-
ests at the more important centers would
be wonderfully enlivened, the numbers
of consumers and producers, of miners
and of dealers would be increased almost
indefinitely or at least to the limit of
profitableness, limit that no human
mind can accurately fix. Hay and
watermelons, and fruits, and vegetables
of many kinds would suddenly be found
to have profitable market value with
no end of possible production while the
increase of the great staples of hogs,
cattle, wheat, corn, oats, etc., would be
enhanced to the margin Of wealth re-
turning commodities and every trunk
and branch line of railway would be
calling for new cars and adding adj
ditional trains.