The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-23
WI EREVER YOU SEE A HEAD
HIT 1T.

| To the Editor of the Eagle.
| When Pat went out to take a hand in
the free fight his tactics were simple and
effective He took his shiIlaly and
| wherever he saw head he hit it. This
| is what we should do in our fight with
the railroads for just freight rates, In
former years if any one dared raEe his
| voice against the extortion of railroads
some one was sure to cry out in horror.
''Hush. don't say anything against the
railroads; capital is timid and you will
prevent the building of roads in our
state. Yes, capital is timid, but as it is
not at this time particularly seeking in
vestment in our state and as the citizens
of our state are not very busy voting aid
to railroads, this is the very time to reg
ulate the roads already within our state.
We cannot push tlAs matter too rapid
ly as it takes time to get the needed
legislation and then you can count upon
a series of years of legislation to compel
the railway companies to submit TO the
laws, as they are in the habit of doing
nothing against their wishes until they
receive their orders from the supreme
court. Early in the seventies the writer
shipped some law books from Illinois to
Wichita. The charges to the Missouri
river, distance of over 400 miles, were
&c. From the Missouri river to Wichita,
distance of PIP miles, the charges were
S12, the latter distance being less than
one.half the former and the amount
paid double. This system of railroad
book keeping has never been changed
from that day until the present time,
although somewhat modified
The testimony of witnesses at each
sitting of the board of railway COM
missioners, shows this same state of
facts to exist. Take for instance the %
cent grain rate to Chicago. 1t requires
Is cents of this amount TO carry the
grain through Kansas, goo miles, to the
Missouri river. but once over this River
grain $50 miles for the remaining 10
cents. This is not because railroads can
be constructed, maintained and operated
more cheaply in the states of Missouri
and Illinois than in Kansas, for the re-
verse of this is true; nor is it tonnage
that makes the difference. 1t is steal
age" And the fact that the trouble is
with the roads within our own
state and not with those outside
our borders, makes the extor-
ton more shameful and uncomfortable.
The great wonder is that the business
men of interior Kansas have been able
to do business and live as long as they
have.
The railroad managers, though sup
posed to be keen enough to see through
a grindstone are too wllfuiiy blind 10
see across the Missouri river and would
have Us believe that the Almighty made
a great mistake in locating Kansas on
the west side of this stream: that it is a
crime to live beyond this sweet scented
baslng line and the penalty is to be
skinned allve-up one side and down the
other. Two words express a remedy,
full and adequate, for all this fOollshness.
Agitation-action Let the PLAIN facts
be known. Ii it were possible for the
voters of the state TO listen for q single
hour to the testimony given before the
state board of railway commissioners
and understand the manner in which the
companies have dealt with the people
of interior Kansas. there is not a rail-
road within the borders of Our state
that would escape the hands OF re-
ceIyer. The attitude Of Wichita and
all interior Kansas towns, on this mat
ter of freight rates should be that of
fight to the finish. Ask no quarter
and give 10 quarter We have every
thing 10 gain and nothing to lose. The
time for weak kneed policy has passed.
Patience is no longer q yiTlure. lnaction
is cowardice. Remember one thing;
that the railroads are here and are here
10 stay and be operated; if not by their
present owners then by others. and that
we can bump their heads with coed re-
suits. We do not have 10 sit Idly by and
await the action of The interstate com
mi>sjoners 10 regulate Determinations.
Let US bestir ourselves.
Wherever you see head hit it. Let
the city council require all railroad COM
panies, in the city, TO bring their tracks
10 the grade az all street crossings. Let
US have handsome aad substantial ele-
vailed crossings upon our business streets
Let US have fifty additional ilagmea a.
the various crossings IN our city TO pro
Iect the per=ons and property OF oar citi-
gems and let US suggest various other
WAYS III which the railroad companies