The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-27
ABOUT wICHrA's GRAIN RATE.
WICHITA, KANSAS. Feb. "a, 1894.


To the Editor OF tue Eagle.
DEAR SIR have noticed the several
articles in your paper about the success
of the reduced freight rates on groceries,
coal and lumber for Wichita, to confirm
with river towns, all of which is good as
far as it goes, but it is very little in
comparison with what Kansas ships out.
Please compare the rate in eastern states:
Chicago commission rate on grain to
New York is % cents per hundred
pounds for one thousand miles, and ST.
Louis commission rate to New York is
% cents per hundred pounds for twelve
hundred miles. This mornings paper
says that railroads have reduced the
rate from Chicago to New York to 20
cents per hundred pounds and st. Louis
followed suit and put theirs to % cent
rate Kansas City rate to New Orleans
is 10 cents per hundred pounds all the
year, a distance Of about 1000 miles.
We are charged 16 cents per hundred
pounds to Kansas City, distance of 2so
miles, and from Wichita to New Orleans
~ SC1No DCi ilubdISds IhO NiotohSS
from Kansas City 10 New Orleans and
Wichita and New Orleans is the same
and yet We are charged 16 cents hum
dred more. But they say that is water
route {but will bet the red apples that
if a train is loaded with grain at Kansas
City, it is still on the cars when it gets
to New Orleans) To Galveston from
Wichita the distance is 720 miles and the
rate on wheat is 81 cents, say 13 cents
more per hundred than from Kansas
City to New Orleans. How much longer
will the people OF Kansas, yes, Of Wlch-
ita, stand such outrageous charges? Just
look at these figures:
Kansas raises about 320, 900, goo bushels
of grain in ordinary times. out of which
they ship about 150. 900, 900 bushels. If
Wichita should get a rate 10 Galveston
of 10 or 20 cents per hundred pounds, we
could ship all the grain within
radius of seventy-five miles on the
east and north and all the western part
of the state and it would make very
material showing on Wichita's bank
clearance. Just look at the saving of
. cents per hundred pounds on 15O, ,O0O,-
600 Of grain, wheat, corn, oats, rye ana |
barley average them at 80 pounds to the
bushel. would be a saving to Kansas OF
So. $50, 600 year. There is no reason
that grain should cost over 10 cents per
hundred from here to Kansas City. L
have talked to the grain mer here.
Some of them think if they had grain
elevator here, the reduced rates would
fellow. think it doubtful, we have the
packing house, car works and number
Of other enterprises, but the freights are
against them. On the contrary get the
rates, the elevators and moneyed men
will follow. Another thing, in the east
ern states the price of a thousand mile
ticket is $50 and west of the Mississippi
river the price $50; twenty per cent more.
1t can't be said that railroads
cost more in Kansas than in
eastern states, nor can it be said that the
railroads have not business enough.
And that they are in hands of the re-
ceivers, would state here, with the land
grants, bonds and the over-charges that
some of them have received in Kansas,
their stock should be worth way above
par, if they had quit selling bonds after
the roads were built.
Now then. Can we lay our grievance
before the state and interstate railroad
commissioners l ask the question. If
So, there will be no trouble for the
Wichita board of trade to call all the
southwestern grain men here, also a
committee of the board of trade from
New Orleans and Galveston, to agree
about action for the just rights in the
matter.
What Kansas and Wichita want is
freight rate on grain TO New Or
leans instead of 80 cents per 100 pounds,
19 cents per hundred pounds, the same
that Kansas City has, the distance is
not as great, and to Galveston about Is
cents per hundred instead of 81 cents,
as the distance Is $50 miles less, and the
local rate to Wichita should not be more
than 6 cents to 10 cents per hundred.
There is no reason that theKansas farm
er should get less money for his grain
than farmer in Indiana or any OF the
middle states. as we have less than 100
miles to tide water from the southern
part of the state. OBSERVER.