The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-03

Master Wallace, Mayor Savage of Wall
ington, Mayor Brown of Anthony, Ex-
Governor LewelIing, ID. c. Imboden and
others-Spirit of the Meeting was IN
doubtedIy for an Elevator and the
Shorter Haul.
Notwithstanding the fact that yes
terday was Saturday and hence very
rushing day for business men very
good sized mass meeting was held IN the
Garfield hall to discuss the elevator
poriect. There were representative ci-
uzens present from twelve counties and
MAYORS from five of the leading cities
who gave their hearty support to the
project and promised to cooperate with
wichita in securing the solution of the
Transportation question.
When 2:30 o'clock arrived Senator H l.
Gordon Of this city called the mass meet
Ing to order and in behalf of the mayor,
who was absent. welcomed the visitors
from abroad to Wichita
Senator Gilbert Forney Of Sumner
county was made permanent chairman
and Grand Master Wallace Of King
man county and David D. Leahy of
Sedgwick county were selected perman-
ent secretaries.
In taking the chair Senator Forney
made a very impressive speech on the
Importance of directing the products
Of southern Kansas towards the Gulf
for export to the outside world. He
said that il was beyond doubt the solu-
ton of the transportation question. II
have been a quarter of a century in
Kansas" said he, "and during all that
time have been a farmer. 1t was TWEEN
ty-fve years ago last night since I
canped in this city looking for a home.
Ever since then my dream has been to
See gulf port at our doors for the
cheaper export Of the products that We
raise. There is no politics in the move
ment that brought US here today; it is
question of business and of interest
TO every man who lives in this produce
ing region whethe he be a farmer, a
banker, lawyer or a laboring man."
The following committees were then
appointed:
On resolutions-O. H. Bentley Of Sedg
wick county, Mayor Savage of Yelling
ton, Mayor Brown of Anthony, Mayor
Brinkerhoff Of Lyons and Mayor Park
er Of Mcpherson
On arrangements -H. W. Stewart, W.
A. Ayres and T. C. Wilson, VINO, by the
way, are the county chairmen Of the
three political parties.
Judge King Of Kansas City, Kansas,
was called upon to make a speech adm
he did so very ably.
In speaking he introduced a series
Of charts through which he nlustra ted
the points IN his address more forcibly.
The first chart was the United States
In outline The New England states
including New York, Pennsylvania and
New Jersey were painted black as were
also three Pacific state-California,
Oregon and Washington. These states
represented oue-sixth of the entire area
Of the nation and received the benefits
from f1ve-siXths Of the exports and inn
ports, while they produced but small
fraction Of the goods usually exported.
He then showed how New York and
Philadelphia were the modern duplicate
of Genoa and Venice. Four hundred
years ago there could not be a dish Of
meat seasoned or cup of wine spiced
in western Europe without the consum-
ers paying tribute TO the ports of Genoa
and Venice and he said the same Is
true Of New ork and Philadelphia with
reference to their business rela atoms to
the west. 1t was the exaction of this
tribute from the people of western Eu-
rope that gave the impetus TO the gen.
eral desire to find new route to India
and which eliminated in the discovery
of America by Columbus. Before that
time for centuries the new world of Eu-
rope traded with the old world of India
by two routes-one through the Caspian
sea, overland and by the Euphrates.
the other by the Mediterranean over
land and the Dead sea. Then the Cape
of .Oo5 EJnraa y-oY1ta Noe
finally the Suez canal. Mr. King finely
applied these historical facts to the pres
ent question. He said that the long
overland haul to the east must be dis
continued and the shorter haul to tide
water in the gulf must be adopted.
Then" said he 1.-The Nicaraguan
canal must be cut and 800, 900 900 worth
Of exports and an equal amount of inn
ports. must be carried and brought by
that way TO and from the Asiatic CONT
nent." He said that the saving in
freight on one California product each
year would pay the interest on the
bonds of the canal Mr.. King showed
that the central states had the surplus,
that the eastern states had the defc-
fencies in export products and hence in
sisted that the export trade must he
done by the short haul through the gulf
ports.
His next chart showedthe lines OF
land transportation. All the trunk rail
roads could be seen going from the east
10 the west while In long numerous red
lines only small and short local roads
could be seen going to the gulf ports.
Mr.. King showed that while f1ve-sixths
OF the products went through ports
along 800 hundred miles OF the north
Atlantic coast, contiguous 70 which was
no territory producing a surplus for eX-
port only 1-26th part of the products
were exported through 5000 miles Of
south Atlantic and Gulf coast, all of
which is contiguous TO territory produc-
ing the surplus products. The same
could be said OF the imports. He show
ed that 10 per cent could be saved 10 the
producing west through a shorter haul
10 Gulf ports and that enough money
could be saved annually 10 pay the full
expenses Of the governments Of the CEN
tral states. or more than $40. COX, 600. He
said that he was not present to denounc
the excessive rates of the railroads. but
20 denounce the popular and establish |
ed custom Of the people 20 pay unnec-
cessary rates for a long haul TO tide |
water when the shorter haul was open
TO them TO the Gulf ports He said
that ii was astonishing but that it was |
e fact nevertheless that the people are
willingly paying freight over a long
haul while they can reach the markets