The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-13


Brought About by the Efforts of tn
Grape Growers Association-The Ne,
Kate Said to be a Reduction of Over 8
Per Cent? n. Dean Tells How the NeN
Rate Was Secured
When Wichita citizens and Sedgwicl
county farmers unite as touching an.
subject they always accomplish the oh
ject for which they stand. In unioi
there is strength and the truth o
I this was fully demonstrated yesterday
by the receipt of the following telegram
by 1. n. Dean, president Of the Wichitz
Grape Growers association, which i!
self explanatory and reads as follows:
Denver, Colo, Aug. II.
I take pleasure in informing you that
we have been successful in securing fol
you a grape freight rate, which viii
take effect the 18th Of this month. at 50I
per hundred. We have done a great
deal Of figuring in order to get this rats
In effect. and trust that the same will
be appreciated by yourself and associ
alton We have left nothing unturned
TO prepare our trade, both in the city
and country TO handle this grape bust
hess 10 your utmost satisfaction.
DENVER PRODUCE & COM. co.
c. H. Minemacher, President.
1t should be remembered that the pre-
Vious rate on fruit to Denver was $I.zt
per hundred, and by the new rate q
saving of 20 cents per hundred will be
brought about, and an the roads lead
Ing to Wichita, and having Denver con-
nections, which includes the Missouri
Pacific Santa Fe, Rock Island and
Frisco, announced yesterday that they
would meet the new rate which it IS
said was first made by the Rock Island,
and to go into effect next Wednesday.
The new rate win also affect other
classes Of fruit and vegetables and on
the receipt of the telegram caused gem
eral rejoicing, as it virtually opened
a new market for the fruit and vegeta-
bies OF Wichita and scores a great sue
cess for the Grape Growers association
and viii be the means of placing Denver
and Wichita in closer relations than at
any time in the past and VIII undoubt-
edly lead to an improved business reIa-
tion between the two places and the
new rate on fruit Will be the means of
securing rates on other products as
well.
Denver is the natural market Of Sedg-
wick county but ii is claimed that dis
eliminating freight rates in favor of
Missouri river points virtually closed this
market to the products of the Ar.kan-
sas valley and the bringing about of
the new rate which means much to the
growers of fruit and vegetables can
not help but prove interesting at this
time land for the purpose Of arriving
at the true cause OF the new rate being
given a reporter for the Eagle called up
President Dean yesterday and asked for
an explanation. Mr.. Dean said:
Eyes, the new rate is now an assured
fact and 1 want to say that every men,
Der of the Grape Growers association
is under a debt of gratitude TO the
Wichita Eagle for its valua bic assist
ance n bringing the matter about The
new rate is a victory for the Eagle just
as much as it is for the members of the
association, and while it may not have
any grapes to sell ii will undoubtedly
reap its reward.
Single handed the new rate could not
have been secured. Neither could II
have been brought about by the action
of any single firm. In the spring I
visited Denver and found there a good
market for the products Of the Arkan-
sas valley. We had the produce which
was Just what the people there needed.
soon found that the Missouri river
firms. while they could not compete
with the fruit of the Arkansas valley
when compared as TO quality, had big
In freight rates. went
then to the railroads and asked for the
for this discrimination. 1 told
them that Wichita was 200 miles nearer
Denver than either of the shipping
points on the Missouri river. OF course
they denied the discrimination, but /
was prepared for them and had Sc
cured from the Denver firms bills OF
lading which fully demonstrated my
position, and they promised to rectify
the matter. 1 was not after having
this rectified but 1 wanted simple jus
tice dane. This rebate business Is a
slow and uncertain process and knew |
the Grape Growers association would |
never he satisfied with chasing the rail- !
road devil around the stump and I re-
solved not 10 remain idle over the dis |
freight rate facts which ] |
had gathered and on returning home I |
hunted w an Eagle reporter and in a /
lengthy interview gave the public all the |
facts had secured while in Denver.
The interview accomplished the oh |
jects had desired and il started a stir /
among the railroad men. l accused the /
roads of vie discrimination which was
N violation of the interstate commerce.
decision which had been
fully sustained by the United States
supreme court decision in both the Leh-
man Higginson sugar case and in the
Try goods case brought by the Lar;mer-
Johnston company.
THE interview had only been publish
ID two days in the Wichita Eagle when
received an invitation from the Dem
FER commission firms to visit that city
Is they desired 10 bring the matter set
orth in my interview before the board |
# trade of that city and IL the discrim-
alton existed as / had stated in my
interview in the Wichita Eagle that the ,
'ame would surely be ratified.
Il lost no time in gathering up the |
proofs of the discrimination which 1
lad alleged as existing and again Wis
led Denver. You see 1 had mailed /
'opies Of the Eagle containing my in
erview 10 the Denver commission firms
Ind 70 the board of trade as we'll as
o the different railroads. When l ar
lived at Denver l was met by a prom
nent railroad man and given a promise
hat the rates would be adjusted as I
oon as the leSaG notice had been given
he interstate commerce commission. I
tarted the Denver men to work and |