Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-15
KANSAS CITY's GRAIN MARKET.
Built Up Only by Railroad Favor-Omana
Elevator Man Talks,

Built Up Only by Railroad Favor-Omana
Elevator Man Talks.
Mr.. E. A. Peck, assistant manager and
secretary of the Omaha Elevator company
was interviewed yesterday as to the
claims made by Kansas City grain men that
Kansas City would be affected 5000, 900 bu-
shells per annum by the new Burlington rate.
Mr.. Peck speaking of the claims advanced,
SAID: For years Kansas City has enjoyed
Il ditferential against. Omaha to the en-
barrassment Of this city. 1t has been eating
at the CRIB to the exclusion of every other
town that has had any preJcntionS to rise
above itself IN matters of business. Nan
Sas City has been a fayoritc with the rail
roads and it, has gradually improved its op-
pOrtunitieS under these favora Die conditions
with the result that it now claims to be con-
siderable of a grain center. Tit city has
more elevators than Omaha, but the facts
are that Kansas City sells less grain than
Omaha even under the advantageous rate
which prevailed previous to December 10.
As an example of what they are doing in
Kansas City ] have only to read the eleva-
tor reports for the twenty-four honrs end
ing December II, which show that they had
il store corn TO the amount of lS,44S bushels,
less than thirty cars. Now we carry in our
elevators in the neighborhood of SOC, 900
bushels. upon which we carry insurance
from $50, 900 TO $3.50, 00O. which premiums
are paid here.
tlS Sll, mas, Wy lCuoDu IA III biS-
elimination, pre-empted three-fourths of the
grain producing belt of Nebraska. although
belonging legitlmotely to Omaha. Neither
is Kansas City the grain market which the
grain men of that place would have dealers
believe, although IL has been the dumping
ground for grain for several years.
Put Omaha on an absolute equality
with Kansas City and l assure you
that, the Nebraska metropolis will
divide honors with Kansas City.
Tho rnaCons for tho noSitipn RapSnc (ity
mas assumed in the grain markets of the
country is found in the fact that they have
succeeded in manipulating eastern rates
with their low local rates as against Omaha.
They have more eastern connections than
we, which gives them advantages over us
not commensurate, however,, with the
amount of business handled.
just to show you the inequltable posi-
ton Omaha has been compelled to occupy by
reason of the discrimination against il, the
following facts may be interesting. In all
the territory north of Columbus on the
Union Pacific, Kansas City is able to meet
Omaha rates by reason of the ditfcrentlal IN
her favor; from Marysviile, Kan, to Column
bus the conditions are the same as they are
the same from Marysville to Grand Island.
This, however. Is now wiped out by the
action of the st. Joe ana Grand
Island following the lead of the
! Burlington, but it is not wiped
! out by the Union Pacific from Marysyille to
Columbus, Norfolk, Cedar Rapids and AL.
bion.
THE vast benefits accruing to Kansas
City have been through their out rates to
/ Chicago and st. Louis, having the locuI
rates to work on.
"Of course we know that the Burlington
road did not raise this rate because of any
love for Omaha, but because it wanted tc
protect its Chicago line and secure the long
haul, However, ii is to Omaha's advantage
that the raise is put in force and all we can
do is to hope that the Burlington people viii.
/ I'm uN hnnIr lhnnn n,nnlhnh Ia Enht Il ol.t -