The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-23

nlerciaI Club the Committee Not Only
Files Suit TO Adjust the Railroad Dis
elimination, But it Gathers Up Addi-
tionaI Facts and Makes Comparisons
which Place the Unjust Determinations
Made by the Railroads in Anything But
a Favorable Light for the Companies.
In addition to the suit brought by
the Wichita Commercial club against
the railroads centering in this city.
which was done by direction of the IN
terstato commerce comm ssion, the
transportation committee have pre-
pared a number Of additional fact for
the consideration and information Of
the commission, court and general pub
lie
The present outrage has stirred the
people Of Kansas in their demand for
justice as they have never been stirred
Before. and the people rejoice that the
fight i now in the hands of men who
Nj nusf i through and bring justice
pnly to the people Of Southern Kansas.
The following is a synopsis of the
public grievances filed and VIII be
found ful' 60 information 10 the read
ers of the Eagle
Railroad rates should be adjusted
TO the common law of principle of COM
pensation according to service. The
question Of rate from the point of pro-
duction 10 the point of consumption,
that it, the combined rail and steam
ship rates, should not concern the rail-
way companies, whose business ii is
to transport the commodity to tide wa
ter without reference to ocean rates.
Your committee demands a differen-
tial in rates on grain to Gulf ports
on account of our nearness to such
ports We believe that the only ad-
5ustment that viii be satisfactory and
just viii be on a mileage basis, 50
much per ton per mile.
I'VE 90 not believe that the Atlantic
ports are entitled to any of the grain
west of the Mississippi river and that
they should not be considered in the
adjustment of these rates but that the
west and south should have reasonable
and just rates TO Gulf ports fixed on
the mileage basis in the same proper
ton as the present rates now in effect
TO Atlantic sea-bGard points.
The people of this state are deeply
imbued with the idea that the railroad
traffic systems are wrong and this ag-
itation VIII be kept up until a substan-
tiaI reduction in rates to Gulf ports
are made
THE only way to stop the agitation
is to give them a rate proportionate to
the mileage and whenever the east
and west lines reduce rates to meet
late competition the Gulf port differ
entails should be preserved on a slid
ing scale
''Grain IN one respect, is like water
and always seeks its level.
''The difference in the price of garin
between St. Louis and Kansas City
and the Atlantic and Gulf ports should
be and is in fact the cost of transparta-
ton, handling and profits, and when
the published rates are more than the
difference in the prices Of grain be
tween grain centers as is the case, grain
will not move except on a cut rate. The
prices between Kansas City and the
several export points and the fact that
no corn has moved direct TO Calves
ton since the present rate went into
effect, January 20, goes TO prove that
tariff rates are not being maintained
and that Kansas producers are vir-
tuaIly shut out of the Galveston mar
ket
1.-THE price OF corn today in New
York is 36lA cents per bushel. In Bal
timore 1872 cents per bushel. In New
Orleans and Galveston % cents per
bushel. The price of corn in Kansas
City is 23 cents per bushel and the diff
ference between the price of corn in
New York with the price of corn in
Kansas City is 1872 cents; Baltimore
1912 cents; New Orleans and Galveston
3 cents per bushel.
This difference represents and is ir
=
Kansas City TO said points together
with cost OF handling through eleva'
tors and profits 10 the broker: whilt
the rate to Kansas City from Wichits
is ~ cents per bushel, which added
10 the rate from Kansas City make:
a through rate from Wichita to New
York by Kansas City of 20 cents pei
bushel. Baltimore Is cents; New Or
leans 161: cents, Galveston 161a cent:
per bushel.
BY deducting the last named rate:
from the price of corn at New York
Baltimore, New Orleans and Galveston
you viii find that the price of corn il
Wichita is fifteen and one-half cent:
per bushel, on either export markets
New York, Baltimore, New Orleans o.
Galveston when routed by Kansas City
while the direct rates from Wichita I,
Galveston or New orleans Is - CenI
per bushel which, deducted from tn
price of corn in said New Orleans anC
Galveston would make the price o
corn in Wichita IA cents per bushe
when routed by the direct short line
I'VE do not believe that the people o
central and southwestern kansaa
should be compelled to ship their corr
10 Kansas City in order TO start il T.
the Gulf ports and by reason of new
direct lines from the Gulf ports tn
people of Kansas are entitled 10 hav
a haSiGg point at Wichita or SOM
other point on said direct line and tina
Kansas City should no longer be con
sldered q basing point for this bust
ness.
The following statement of rate
viii also probably be of service 10 you
The rate on corn from Wichita 4
Kansas City, a distance of 225 miles i
49, cents per hundred pounds; from
Kansas City 10 st Louis, 200 miles, 81
cents Der hundred pounds; from Kan
sas City 10 Chicago. 400 miles, liz cent
per hundred pounds.
The aoOve rates show that the rate
in Kansas are double what they ar
IN adjoining states. In our opinio
the only satisfactory adjustment o
the grain rates from this state 10 Gul
ports must be on a mileage basis an
the fight should be made on this line.
W T. Haskell. DR.. McClees, d.
Hoffman and Bion Hull left for III
duck lakes last night.
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