The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-25
INTERIOR KANSAS WILL WIN.

The geographical position of Kansas is
such that no agricultural state enjoys a
better location. People get into ruts
with their business and stay there long
after common sense tells them that they
are injuring themselves. For years the
roads of Kansas have enforced what Is
termed a commercial rate in this state,
the meaning of which is that a product
must pay high freight because it can
stand it. For instance, Wichita and
vicinity must pay stiff local rate to the
Missouri river because the commodity
can be bought here at the Missouri
river price less the freight
to the Missouri river. When we ship
south or west we must pay as much or
more than Missouri river towns because
the eastern market governs the price,
and because we can afford to. This
policy cuts us out of the advantage OF
our proximity to the south and west
and whipsaws Us. Our primitive con-
dition and light business is the argu-
ment used by the railroads to justify
their actions. The preponderance OF
business, or immense tonnage Is the
true basis for low rates, they claim,
which is only true because of the COM
petition, not only of the roads but of the
markets in which the commodity is sold.
The wheat crop of 1892 was the largest
ever raised in Kansas or any other
single state in a single year. The
moving of the immense crop caused a
car famine to exist for four or five
months, and yet there was no reduction
in the wheat tariff in the state of Kan
sas. This illustrates that railroads only
make reasonable rates when they are
compelled to.
For several years the wheat and corn
of central and western Kansas during
the last half of the crop year have COM
manded too high price to bear shipping
to Chicago or ST. Louis, and why! Be
cause when the states 10 the south and
southeast exhaust their home grown
supplies they look TO the nearest surplus
state, and enter Kansas as competitors
for our products and force the price up.
So much for home supplies. But large
per cent Of our products find European
or foreign market, and it is to this trade
that we are compelled to pay a heavy
tribute, first paying for rail haul
Of 1,500, miles when suitable
ports lie to the south of us
at distance of from 600 to 800 miles.
When our products go to New York CEN
trail Kansas pays a local rate of about 10
| cents to the state line while Chicago is Of
ten able to send wheat to New York five
times the distance, for the same money.
In the general liquidation that is going
on today not the least inflated thing that
needs attention is the long haul fallacy.
Then Kansas will receive justice and
reap the benefits of being so favorably
located. During nearly all the year
| grain at Wichita should command as
| high price as it does in Chicago as we
are Just as near tide water, and the day
is not far distant when it will 1t is only
within the past few years that Chicago
becoming scared at the thought of los
ing the grain of Kansas that they
| inaugurated system of elevators and
now each road has pit operator on its
line to take the wheat for the Chicago
market so long as there is a fraction of a
cent margin in it, and the heavy rebates
they enjoy. Just as surely as water will
find its level, just so surely is the time
coming when the surplus of Kansas will
| be hauled to its nearest and best market.
The friction of the insane policy of TAX
| ing freight twice as far for the same
money has been just enough to wear out
the rolling stock and bankrupt the stock
holders and a new and better policy is
bound to obtain.