The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-26

the more distant Kansas City jobbers
and those at other points on the Mis-
souri,, without considerable loss. tends
to prevent local dealers at places in
! Kansas and in Oklahoma from buying
at the nearer Wichita market Lower
J rail rates from Galveston to Wichita on
| the commodities in question would en-
| able Wichita dealers to extend their
| competition with Kansas City and other
| Missouri river points, and if such rates
were considerably lower than at pres
ent, cheaper water routes to Calves
| ton from the east and southeast could
| be utilized by Wichita merchants in
| connection with the rail lines from Gal
| weston for the transportation of goods
which now,of necessity, come TO WITCH
tia by the ali-rail lines from eastern and
southeastern and southern states. The
Santa Fe; Rock Island, Missouri Pacific
and NJ. K. & T., routes operate lines
of railway across the Missouri river to
Chicago or st. Louis, but, as shown in
the foregoing findings, rates on these
commodities to Wichita are either the
sum of charges to and from Missouri
river points or slight differentials lower
The failure of the defendant and other
lines to establish rates across the Mis-
souri, river the usual basis of decrease
IN rate per mile as mileage increases
is one of the main causes of the rela-
lively high rates in force from Calves
ton 10 Wichita and other destinations
west of the Missouri, and it largely
operates to deprive Wichita of the ben
ef1ts of rate competition TO that point.
Agriculture is the main industry of the
state of Kansas and Oklahoma terri
tory, and agricultural products of that
region are sold in competition with
those raised in other agricultural sec
tions of the country. The rates on
traffic shipped from Kansas City and
Wichita to Galveston are substantially
the same Any reduction, through
legitimate means, Of the cost in the sec
ton about Wichita of such staple arti-
Giles of food and clothing as the commo-
dities involved in this proceeding. would
be in the interest of consumers and
trade in that territory.
THE evidence in this case discloses,
and the facts found show, that rates on
the commodities in question from Gal
weston and other Texas points TO points
on the Missouri river are made by the
carriers TO meet. or be in close relation
with, rates in force from New Orleans
and
eastern points of supply. and that rates
to Wichita from Galveston or Houston
are established with reference to rates
from Galveston and other shipping
points to Missouri river points added
TO the local rates from the Missouri
river to Wichita The ground seriously
urged by the defendants In support of
the great disparities in rates shown in
this case in competition with other lines
reaching Missouri river points, or, rather
that greater competition exists at
these points than at Wichita. for traffic |
to Wichita from all markets Is also SUBJ
1ect TO such competition as the carrier
see MT 70 practice. All the facts which |
pertain directly to the conduct of trans |
portation from Texas points support the |
view OF the complainant that Wichita
should have rates as low as those To |
Kansas City and other Missouri river |
points; and against any difference in
the force Of carriers competition a |
Wichita and such other points Is n he |
considered the comeptitive business. ~
iations Of Wichita with Kansas CITY
ana other places on the Missouri river |
ana the interests of consumers and To- |
cal dealers in Kansas and Oklahoma.
All the evidence and arguments adj |
Yanced in favor OF either side have |
been given full and due considerat io-
and we hold that transportation of +hese |
commodities from Texas points bv tho
chicago. Rock Island and Pacific rasI-
way or the Atchison. Topeka and Santa
ROAD alone, or with other defendants /
OF other roads in Texas. 20 Wichita and
hahSas Ssty, or other Missouri river
points comes under the prohibition of
tue an section The circumstances that
the Santa F'e can. Il il sees A. ,.ar,1-
traffic through Wichita or via a c,,t-ofr
near 10 Wichita, which reduces its dis
tance 20 Kansas City. Atchison. .Iaav-
enworth. or 81. Joseph. only % miles is
not sufficient 10 make that section and
its prohibitory rule inapplica5ie TO the
Santa F'e line. Logan Y. Chicago & y.
". +. Co. Inters. Com. Rep. 4SI. I. c.
c. Rep. e04
The route 10 Kansas City and other
Missouri river points OF the Santa Fe
md lis affiliated road. the ST Louis and
San Francisco. via Monet. Missouri is
longer than rs route run
ming through or near Wichita: and |
sending Missouri river points traffic IN /
these articles by the longer route "a
lower rates. while similar goods for
Wichita go by the more direct line 70 the /
Missouri river al higher rates. would
constitute an evasion Of duty which We
-hink the tth section prohibits. and
y nica certainly would Re in coatraxeu-
hon OF The provisions against unlawful
prejudice and unjust discrimination.
We also find. upon the facts. that
my greater asgre Sate charge establish
ID Or any Of the defendant carriers tsx-
,ept the Missouri Pacific railway com
"a ~ 2nt the Missouri. Kansas and /
reXas Railway company for the trans
'oTiation OF either cotton piece goods. |
nolGSses. sugar, rice o. coffee from Cal
-eston, Houston.or other shipping point
Continued on Eighth psre1