The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-11
GO TO THE TRADE CONGRESS

1t is a matter OF deep concern to the
PEOPLE of Kansas That the trade con.
gress TO be held in New Orleans Nov. 81,
should be success. The ground has
been covered before but like the stories
that are handed down indefinitely, il
will bear repeating. Il should be the
fundamental policy of the west, both 10
seek the nearest market and to direct
her surplus To The most convenient por
for foreign shipment. In directing our
trade to the south we secure 10th OF
these objects. Our beef, pork, wheat.
corn, oats. and potatoes are indispensa-
bic in the south. The consumption of
these staples in the cotton growing dis
trlcts Is far greater than is popu'arlr
supposed here, simply because they go
by the roundabout market of Chicago,
St Louis and even New York. The
useless freights, tolls and commissions
are all deducted from the price paid the
producer, hence IT is of first importance
that we select the shortest route, and
that we deal directly with the nIerch mt
who sells direct to the consumer. This
we viii secure only through trade
coalition with the south. Ii this is to Re
accomplished there is no time to lose.
Every citizen of Kansas knows that moth
ing has retarded her growth more than
the low prices which she has been forced
to accept for her surplus Agriculture
Icing orr chief industry, the best econ
omic facilities for taking its product to
the consumer should be had, and that
without delay.
The completion of the jetties in Gal
weston harbor and the improvements
now being made at New Orleans, No.
bile, Tampa, Fla, and Charleston, S. c..
will provide ample facilities for handling
the vast su plus for export. We mus.
remember that these improvements are
being made with special reference TO
securing the western and southwestern
trade. 1t is being done mostly at the
expense OF the government and we
should regard it as so much found-an
no other proviso than that we accept it.
By so dong we sound tie death knell 20
the long hauIs overland at local rates to
eastern Atlantic ports. We have been
the victims of traffic managers and deal
ers ut the so-calied basing and di5trib-
uting points. The system has been IN
natural and wholly without excuse from
the beginning. 1t is considered by its
promoters legitimate, but the appro-
pirate name for the whole sys-
TEN would be scheme for
taxing all western products down to the
actual cost of production after the
amount for home consumption is taken
out. The time has come when these alb
normal conditions must he set aside.
We have been helpless to do this up to
date, but now that harbor facilities are
provided, and the south, through an or
ganized body Of influential citizens, is
extending friendly and helping hand,
the fault will lie with us if we fail TO
accept it. The trade congress is the
nucleus and the means through which
this alliance NAV he effected. The meet
ing held in Wichita last spring showed
that the southern people are deeply in
earnest in the matter. They came to
meet us on our own ground at the iritia-
ton of the movement. They have ex-
to US, and we will fail in our courtesy to
them and our duty to ourselves, if there
Is not generous response.