The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-21
THE ADVANCE OF THE CORN RATE

/
Our farmers have just had an object
| lesson worth thousands of dollars as "a
the advantage of deep water ports to the
south OF US. The most Of our corn ship
| ped out this season has gone south and
while the price of corn 10 the consumer
has been no higher than il was in the
famous low corn year of. 1859. the price
at shipping points to southern markets
has been from to Z cents higher than in
1SS9.
TheWichita rate to Galveston has been
IS cents per loo pounds, making the aver
age price Of corn in southern Kansas con-
siderably higher than If exported 10 the
east. The natural consequence has been
the shipment south instead of east, but
the eastern roads, for the purpose of
stealing the traffic. have managed to force
a higher north and south rate of 30 cents.
which will go into effect Monday.
The effect of this victory Of the eastern
roads viii be a loss 10 the farmers OF sew
eral cents on every bushel of corn. The
roads offer no justification for their rob
berry Of the producer. Il is not claimed
that IT costs more than Is cents to ship
100 pounds Of corn 10 Galveston, but Il
is claimed that corn cannot be shipped
TO New York for less than 80 cents and
that TO enable eastern roads to do partl
Of the business an exorbltant rate mustl
be charged to Galveston. or the north and
south roads viii be boycotted and injured
in their Chicago business by eastern lines.
It is simply hold-up OF the north and
south roads with eastern connections.
The action Of the traffic association Is
utterly wrong, vicious and outrageous
No business proposition could be more
preposteToUs than the impudent demand
Of the eastern lines for an equal share|
Of traffic that naturally should 90 10 a
port GO miles distant instead of a port
1905 miles distant. That the producerl
should be prevented from enjoying the
natural advantage Of the shorter haul Is
a fragrant example OF the tyranny Of the
traffic associations and brings directly !
home to the people the necessity forI
prompt legislation restricting the powers !
of traffic associations and prohibiting
such despotic use OF their rights III
ought not 10 be a difficult matter for the |
Republican party. which has made q good /
beginning in regUlatii & interstate com
merce, 20 enact a law that the producer |
shall not be buncoed by the traffic as
sOciations into paying 1.So0-nile rate for
a eoHmiIe haul That Is all there Is ia |
the present advance Of the Galveston rate
and 81 IS simply a case Of highway rob
berry. a robbery Of the producer for the
benefit not OF the consumer but OF the
carrier.
The people Of the west IN their efforts 20
build up southern deep water ports will
have 20 face the CRED and enormous com
blEed power Of eastern lines Of roads ard
they should organize for the battle. The .
Of the people Of this section Hes
In The development OF the new southern
ports Ill their influence IL congress
should Dc used for such government az
orOpriations as may be necessary % ac-
,omplsh this object. Where they can
ship either east Or south az an equal rate
hey shouid ship south AID organize and /.
combine ia every way % turn their trade
. the direction % least resistance ard
% defeat the eastern combination against 4
. natural outlet Tor our productions. The
,etter price OF corn during the cont8n-
Knee q the natural 1-ce1t Galveston (
ate -s. a. we sid before s-rss; Object
essen % our peoTse Ard they should con-
tier x seriously. Wc practically have
low cur sa1 har5or. bgt We VII have /.
o hsat = Ws are % enjoy he advantage y
Z ic--Topeka Capital.