The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-19


the transportation Problem With
Clearer Eyes-A Correspondent for the
Eagle Writes a Letter Covering the
Situation Thoroughly and showing the
People a Way Out.
All the men who are in the field rep
reSenting the elevator project have
sent in reports of f1attering prospects
for the success OF the enterprise. The
recent rains G1ave greatly stimulated
the hopes of the grain producers and
they feel more fully the Importance of
having the means TO ship their prod
ucts to the consumer at the least pos
sible cost or at least at the least nee
essary cost. A gentleman writing
TO the Eagle yesterday on this dues-
ton says:
There has never before been present.
ed 10 the people Of Kansas a matter so
laden with certain promise of speedy
and permanent good as is the project
70 establish commercial relations with
Galveston, Of proportions so gigantic
Fhat the benefcient sequences viii de-
scend upon every home.
once acquaint the masses with the
actual, permanent, natural, geograph-
&c and economic conditions, and ena-
Die them TO apprehend the artificial
commercial conditions already related
10 them, and their intelligent judgment
viii declare it's worth and demand its
speedy accomplishment
Some people seem to be resoIutely set
against every effort to communicate 10
them knowledge of the project; yet
the personal benefits they cannot fail
70 possess when it shall be fully estab-
nsned. It is hard for those who have
been the victims of wildcat ventures.
and multiplied experiences in which dis
appointment and chagrin were the only
returns, to believe that there is auv
sure thing" possible and they stand
aloof and suspicious, fearing that eff
forts 10 educate them concerning This
important and progressive enterprise
conceals a purpose to deceive and de-
fraud
The discussions Of the vast POSSIBLE
ltleS IN easy grasp have stimulated in
uoIent and respondent minds to be
tnoughtful and hopeful, and the mis-
glvlngs OF the timid and apprehensive
10 nee before the sound and forcibIe ar
euhents that the commercial neccessi-
ties demand this remedy for the ills
that affiict the people.
We know that times have cberga5
However much We may have been de-
pendent upon the monopolies of the
east IN days gone by, there IS no rea-
son why they should dictate to us now.
ana compel our patronage Of their bus
mess enterprises. The east is the mi
'lal point from which has been pushed
westward the great chain of monetary
power that has tended to monopoIize
trade and traffic. Link by link. as the
west has been peopled and deveIoped-
the chain has grown in its proportions
and power, an indispensable adjunct to
our marvellous achievements in national
growth and prosperity. But the init
mate connection of the money. center.
with each new development, seems to
nave generated proprietary instinct;
the manifestation of which is found in
monopolles that exact tribute a. if there
could lbe no question concerning their
right to do so, and opposing the efforts
made to escape toll and contribution
as an attempt TO avoid an obligation.
To be specific, the cities and RAILWAYS
10 the east have handled the surplus
products Of Kansas so long and with
such profit that they seem to have a
claim TO them and a disposition to re-
slSt any attempt to deprive them of
what they choose to think belongs 10
them. The New England and Middle
states have always been the seats Of
financial power and their seaports were
the gateways through which the ex
ports and imports of the country must
pass. The arteries of trade spreading
westward, there came to these favored
cities or the Atlantic and increased bus
mess with corresponding profit Then
followed the establishment of new points
or concentration; and Buffalo and Chi
cago became grain centers. For over
fifty years Chicago has handled vast
ein grain and the profits acquired have
enabled her to build and maintain a
large number Of elevators the cost of
which alone amounts TO millions of dol
lars
''The railway companies have pushed
out from Chicago, and kept pace with
increasing acreage, until millions have
been expended upon tracks and equip
ments. All these were Investments has
ed upon present and prospective bust
ness; and that they have proved prof-
'taIole is evidenced in their growth and
the augmented wealth of their promo
1ers. For many years Kansas has
contributed her surplus Of grain IN This
large and remunerative business. and
millions OF dollars have been made ont
OF her products to increase the taxable
wealth of the east. There was no re-
course. The west and northwest had
no other outlet. But the people saw
IN natures great highway.-the Mis-
sissippi river-the means to an cid. and
congress made ii available by the con-
struction Of the Fades jetties. This
brought some relief from the burden
OF high freight rates. more especially
20 the people of Kansas on account OF
geographical advantages; but Chicago
and the east did not relnquish their
mold upon Kansas, and her grain brok-
ers still forecast their contracts, IN some
measure, on Kansas crop conditions.
The Kansas surplus is quite import
ant element and Il wields a powerful
anhuence. There's millions in it and
the disparity of wealth between those
who produce. and those who haul and
handle. shows where the millions go.
The growth OF the inland traffic is Won
derful in its proportions. The freight
age by river and rail embodies through
Its pooling and centralizing agencies
influences and strength that sometimes
become alarming. What subject can
be Of greater importance 10 the people
OF Kansas than this question of traffic?
Take a given price OF grain in for