The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-27
And Badly Hurt by the New
Grain Rates.
Farmers Deprived of Millions
for Kansas City's Benefit.
AS SEEN AT WICHITA.
The Matter Clearly Put by a
Merchant There.
Not One, But All Parts Of
Kansas Injured.

WICHITA. Jan. 27.-Wichits grain men
are red hot with reference to the high
handed robbery made upon them aud the
corn producers tributary TO Wichita,
and will present certain startling facts to
the Commercial club and also the farm
ers of southern Kansas.
If one was to judge from the tone of
the shippers, both here aud at Galveston,
the Kansas City cut throats will be call
ed to answer for the crime of robbing the
people of southern Kansas out of over
So, 600 600. taken directly from the corn
crop raised last year.
The grain rates fixed by the Kansas
City meeting by which it will be made to
cost much TO ship by way or Galveston
as by way of the eastern lines, is going
10 produce fruit in Kansas, and fruit thai
will be mighty bitter to eat for those
who are responsible for the arrangement.
A prominent Wichita grain dealer says:
as IT right to force people of West
ern and central Kansas 10 ship and eX-
port their surplus grain through Kansas
City at an additional cost of IL cents per
bushel? A sum which ought to move
it nearly TO tide water, when the natu-
raj outlet, and most direct route is by
way of New Orleans or Galveston?
The direct mileage to New Orleans is
913 miles; TO Galveston 7U5 miles. By
wav of Kansas City, New Orleans is
1,161 miles; Galveston 91S miles. Is it
reasonable then that exports should be
routed via Kansas City when a saving of
from 800 to $40 miles may be made in
following the North aud South lines?
$40 the people of Kansas realize what
this protection of their Interests mean?
DO they comprehend that it is COST
ing them from five to ten millions excess
freight 10 route via Kansas City?
That through the utilization of the
direct north and south lines that the pro-
ducers would be saved this amount?
THAT given equal rate, mile for
mile, that if the southern outlet were
used, that this amount would be kept in
the hands OF the producer aud that the
commerce would seek the outlet that
convention upon convention has clamor-
ed for and which generous government
has furnished.
shall these people sit Idly by and be
deprived of this princely sum?
at would appear that they would rise
in their might and proclaim through
conventions called for the purpose. Tor
their rights and petition their legislature
and congress to rsctify these wrongs.
Il would think it was the duty of the
Commercial club 10 take the matter up
It is we'll worth considering. No one
man can nope 10 stem the Tue QndlQeC,
for the support of central aud western
Kansas will be needed to fight the com
bines that hamper the commercial up
building of this section of the state.
'Given an equal freight rate, mile for
mile, Wichita 10 Galveston. based on the
rate of Wichita to New York city. the
rate would be less than 20 cents per 100
pounds, a rate that would allow the ex.
poFters at Galveston TO pay tine producer
from 3 to cents per bushei more for
their cora than they are receiving to-
day.
There is directly tributary to Wichita
nine of the best corn producing counties
of Kansas, with n population of 100000
people, and with a surplus corn crop
which paid for on an equitable freight
rate would leave in the hands of the
farmers an incalculable sum-"