Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-07-06
An Appeal to the People.

Owing to systematic effort that is
being made by certain INSCRIPTIONS
parties. through the medium of Kansas
CITY and st. Louis newspapers and by
circular letters scattered broadcast
throughout the state for the purpose of
deceiving the people as regards the true
nature of the fight that is being made
against freight determinations, we, the
undersigned. the compliments in the
case, for the purpose OF correcting the
said misrepresentation and explaining
to the people at large, the true nature
and Justice of our cause, do respect
fully submit below, as briefly as posi-
BILE, an explanation which we affirm
above our signatures, to be true state
ment of the essential features of our
case. In order to economic space we
will illustrate the discrimination exist
ing upon but one article Of merchan-
dise-sugar. We would remark, how
ever, that while the over-charge on this
Item is great, it is but fair example of
the discriminative charges made upon
nearly every article bought by mer-
chant or consumer of this state. Hence,
we submit that our matter should claim
the interest and hearty endorsement of
every true and loyal citizen of Kansas,
whether he resides in city or upon
farm, as in any event the consumer pays
the freight IN the end. It would also be
we'll for the reader of this to remember
that our fight is for precedent, the le-
suit OF which will largely effect, favor
ably or otherwise, the future efforts
made in similar manner, by other cit
liens of our state.
The exact distance from New Orleans
to Wichita, via Fl. Scott, Kansas, is 939
miles. Of this through distance, the
New Orleans railroads haul car of SUI
gar to Ft. Scott, distance of 1872 miles
Tor over fOur-fifths of the entire haul)
and charges thirty cents per cwt. At
TT. Scott, the sugar is delivered to the
Kansas Line (The Missouri Pacific rail.
way which hauls it to Wichita, dis
lance of but 157 miles, and less than
one fifth the entire haul, and insists
upon charging thirty cents per cwt.,
making the through freight charge to
Wichita sixty cents per cwt. It will be
readily seen, from the above figures,
that the discrimination and over-charge
on this through rate exists between Fl
Scott and Wichita, and hence it was
that the Railroad Commissioners of
Kansas ordered the Kansas Railroads
to lower their freight rates into some
proportion to the charge made by the
New Orleans Lines.
Again, the Santa Fe Railway Compa-
ny hauls New Orleans sugar directly
through Arkansas City and Wichita to
Kansas City and only charges the Kan
sas City merchant thirty cents per cwt.,
while if they drop the car at Wichita,
the Wichita merchant is compelled to
to pay sixty cents, although the dis
lance to Wichita is 221 miles less than
to Kansas City. Again, the Santa Fe
and Union Pacific Companies haul SUI
gar from San Francisco through Hutch
inson, Salina and Wichita to Kansas
City, charging the Kansas City mer-
chant sixty-fve cents, and the interior
merchant $1.01 Der cwt., although the
distance to the interior cities of Kan
sas is $50 miles shorter. Is there any
justice in this? Is it not an outrage?
Are we not right IN fighting such prac-
tees, and is it not to your interest to
help us? 1t NAV be possible that we
shall need your assistance, for we real
iZe that we are fighting not only power
full railroad corporations, but also an
immeese combination of Kansas City,
st. Joseph, and other Missouri River
merchants, who, having grown fat with
the immense profits made out of the
people of this state, which profits were
made possible by just such freight dis
as we complain of, are en-
deavoring with determination that is
as desperate as it is INSCRIPTIONS, to
overthrow the authority OF our Rail-
road Commissioners who have dared to
do their duty by the people of their
state, Respectfully,
WICHITA WHOLESALE GROCER Co,
Wichita, Kans.
LEHMANN- HIGGINsoN GROCER Co.,
Wichita, kans !
HUTCHINSON WHOLESALE GROCER Co. |
Hutchinson, Kans. |
81. d. LEE MERCANTILE Co.,
Salina, Kansas.
RANNEY, ALTON & Co..
Arkansas City, Kansas.