The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-14
ARE ALIVE AT HUTCHINSON
Commercial Club of That City Takes a
Stand Against Robbery.

| The Eagle in its persistent efforts to
/ thoroughly impress the people of Cen
( trail Kansas with the importance OF
the attempted steal of the corn crop OF
J the state by the railroads, has met with
success and the people are opening their
eyes to the holiness of the crime In
response to the timely agitation of the
matter through the Eagle, the Com
mercial club of Hutchinson has passed
the following resolutions:
First: We believe that the interests
of the railroads the producers and con-
sumers of Kansas should be mutual,
as the interests of either will languish
without the aid Of the other, and in view
of the aid so freely given in the con-
struction Of the railroads of the state
by municipalities and citizens they
should treat their patrons justly if not
generously.
Second: The recent action OF the rail-
roads Of the state, in increasing the
freight charges on corn from Central
and Western Kansas points, to the
southwestern gulf ports, a haul Of 500 to
600 miles, TO a level with the rates
charged to the Atlantic seaboard. haul
from 1900 TO 1.5G0 miles, is SO manifes-
: tly unjust and discriminative 10 Kan
sas producers. that the mere statement
of the proposition should convince the
railroad arrangements of the state of
the gross injustice of their action.
Third: The advance named means a
depreciation in the market value of
every bushel Of corn produced in Kan
SaS for the year 1895 Of over 3 cents per
buShel. or an actual depreciation and
loss 10 the producer Of over four million
dollars. II means to Reno county with
its over seven million bushels produc-
ton in the year named, an actual loss
OF over two hundred thousand dollars
that is to say the railroad managers Of
our state have by mutual agreement,
taken from the producers of the state
the enormous sums above named.
Fourth: We desire 10 call attention
TO the fact that the roads of Kansas are
practically injuring themselves as well
as their patrons by the rates now an
force. they having reiinquished the long
er haul under the old schedule, which
they admit was remunerative. for a
short haul TO Kansas City, where il IS
diverted from their lines and seeks a
market at the gulf ports over other
than Kansas roads-the only parties re-
ceiving any benefit being the elevators
at Kansas City, and roads leading from
there 10 Galveston or New Orleans.
In view Of the foregoing facts and
figures,
Resolved. First: That we demand OF
the railroads OF Kansas a reduction Of
the iniQuitous rates now in force.
Second: That We believe the ques-
ton Of equitable freight rates to Kan
sas producers and consumers is the
great and predominant question of the
hour-that the issue of gold or silver
-~onometallism or bimetallism sinks in
10 insigniticance in compariSOn-for I'M
less the producer can find a market at
remunerative prices for his products
he will not have much use for a circu-
lating medium OF any kind.
Third: We would most respectfully
but urgently call the attention of our
senators and representatives in con-
Cress 10 the existing conditions in our
state, and urge upon them the necessity
Of such legislation as viii in the future
prevent such gross and inCefenSible
rate Determinations a now exist, and
in this connection would ask them why
millions Of money have been spent by
the government in deepening the gulf
ports if We are still 1.500 miles from tide
water?