Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-02-20
FARMERS' RESOLUTE.
She Central Kansas Farmers IDStl
GuIe Takes stand On Trans.
POPGRSiOm Hates 10 Ihe
Gulf OF Mexico.


pOFGNtiOm Hates 10 Ihe
GuIr or Mexico.
At the annual meeting Ut the Gem
trail Kansas Farmers Institute, held
the CITY OF. Hutchinson, Feb. 9th and
7th, the following preamble and resO
lutiOns were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, 1t has come to the know
ledge Ot the members of the Central
Kansas Farmers Institute, that the
railroad lines extending from points in
this state directly to ports on the Gulf
of Mexico, have recently increased
their freight rates on corn to the tx.
tent Of taree cents per bushel, 80 AS IU
make 1t possible To compel the ship
ment Of that commodity by circuilOus
routes through Kansas City and other
eastern cities, aud,
Whereas, II is u wise and we'll set
tied rule OF freight rate making, that
the rates between any given points
should be fixed on the basis of reason.
able compensation for the haul accord
ing to the mileage along The shortest
and most direct lines between each
1
points, and -.,
Whereas. Both by nature, and by
the establishment of transportation
lines, the people of Kansas are within
reach of the worlds markets through
the ports of the Gulf of Mexico, with
practical saying Of costly land trans
pOrtAtiOn to the extent OF eight hun
bred miles, Compared'with the haul to
the Atlantic sea. board, and,
Whereas, 1t is of the very last i'm
portanCe to the interest and well-be-
ing Of the people of the Trans.Mississ-
ippi states, end of the people of Kan
sas in PARTICULAR, situated as they are,
so far from the ultimate markets of
the world, that they should be left free
and unIrammelled in the selection of
the shortest and cheapest hauls for
their heavy cOmodiTies, to the END
that all the profits of agricultural labor
may not be absorbed by the cost Of
transportation, therefore,
Resolved, First; That, in common
with the chief executive of Kansas,
the entire press of the state, and the
whole people, we COndemn the recent
withdrawal of the reduced corn rate
by our north and south railroads, and
the substitution therefore, Of a rate
three cents higher, as unreasonable,
arbitrary, and unjust; as an act invOlv-
ing direct loss to the people of Reno
county, of nearly quarter of a mill
ion of dollars, by the depression of the
price of corn thus produced, and loss
in the like ratio, to tue other counties
of central Kansas; and as having no
other effect, than to compel our people
To pOuc grain into the elevators of
Kansas City, and possibly some other
eastern cities; TINS paying tribute
where no service is due.
Resolved, Second: That we appeal
the sense of common fairness and JUS
tiCe of our railroad lines, to restore the
reasonable Gulf rate as 1t was after
November, and thus restore the feel.
ings OF cordial goodwill aud confidence
which should subsist between til ship
pers and the public carriers Of every
community; and which can only con.
tinue where these dispositions are mu.
tial.
Resolved, Third: That If the appeals
made by the chief executive Of the
state, by the state railway commission
by the press of the state, and through
the voice of the people, heard through
many other channels, shall be unvai-
ing to secure justice, then we appeal
to the interstate Commerce Commiss-
ION, and to congress, and in such case,
we request our senators and repTeRen-
tatiyes in congress. to make the effort
to secure legislation by the national
law making authority, which shall pre-.
vent the previous wholesome legisla.
ton of congress, legislation which has
opened deep water In the Gulf ports nj
n cost of $1,000. 10000 of the public
money. from being rendered futile.
Resolved, Fourth: That copies OF
these resolutions be sent to our sena
tors and representative in congress
and 10 the Secretary of the Dee } water
! Utilization Committee.
Z, RAYL, A. NJ. SwrTZER,
Sec. Pres.