The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-21
HOW TO SETTLE FREIGHT
Export Company Tell How This Can be
Accomplished.


met yesterday at room 307 Sadgwick
block and although the gentleman and
a number of clerks were busy in pre-
pairing their mail, Mr.. Consley took
time to make some explanation Of the
circular which they have issued, full
copy of which will be found on the
sixth page of this mornings Eagle.
1.-The object of the circular is TO lay
before the people of Kansas and Okla
homa the necessity of making Wichita
q basing line. Without which freight
discrimination can never be averted.
Many people do not stop TO consider
that by the establishment of a regular
business between Wichita and aGlves-
ton that this Of itself will make Wichita
basis point. Suppose that only oc-
casionally load is shipped from Wich-
tia to Galveston can it not be under
stood that the best ship rates by vessel
can not be secured.
''All contracts for shiploads are made
thirty days prior 10 shipment. Suppose
that a ship ladened with some foreign
product is about to weigh anchor and
it is beseached to bring its cargo to
Galveston instead Of TO the other points
The ship will not make Galveston I'M
less it can be assured of a returning
load
Now, to make Wichita a regular con
trfbutor TO Galveston she must have at
least a 500, 000-bushel elevator. Wichita
must become the center from which
shipments of grain are made, and also
become the entreport for receiving and
distributing the cargoes brought into
the port.
This move does not only mean cheap
rates upon corn, but upon all products,
and IL never can become a basing line
unless it has the facilities for handling
products both ways.
$50 it is safe TO calculate that a
steady business through Galveston
would result in a saving to the people
Of the west at least 2 cents per bushel
between Galveston and Europe. Now.
as TO the interior: the average local
rates on grain from Kansas and Okla
homa TO Wichita is to AZ cents per
bushel less than the average local rate
to Kansas City, all of which would
practically be saved to the producer,
as, after the grain had accumulated at
Wichita the railroads bidding for the
same in competition with each other,
would make, possibly, lower than AKIN
sas City rates to Galveston, and to New
Orleans, St Louis and Chicago very
Kansas City, and for western business
lower rates than from the initial point
direct.
MANY counties have paid hundreds
of thousands of dollars to get a second
railroad in order to make competition,
when really it did not make competi-
ton, as, even at junction points the
business was not sufficiently large to
induce the roads to compete for ii at
Pa possible sacrifice to their local rates
at intermediate points. Now, by erect
ing a large elevator at Wichita and con-
centering the grain, you get the bene-
fit of four competitive railroads as
much nearer to you as is Wichita nearer
than Kansas City. So, with the eleva-
tor and a market established as above,
when there was an export business, it
would enable the producer to realize.
through Galveston, being assured of a
steady business, at least 2 cents per
bushel more at Galveston, than on pres
ent conditions, and to AZ cents addi-
tional at this end saved in local rates,
making a total of to 61k cents while
on business to the east and southeast,
where in some years 1t may possibly all
go, it would be practically a saving of
to AZ cents the difference between
the locals to Wichita as compared 10
Kansas City.
"A large grain elevator and central
market at Wichita, concentrating out
bound tonnage, the same as in the regu-
lar markets, is the key to the rate ques-
ton.
"Offer to the railroads Of Kansas
liberal market and elevator facilities,
nearest where the grain is grown, and
on their own lines, where they can
keep better control of their cars, get
them unloaded and back TO primary
points most quickly and secure both
the in and out-haul; also, for the long
er haul, load their cars to full capacity
and in solid trains, then the railroads
will seek the business at minimum
rates, the same as in the regular mar
kets.
''If you want thing you must place
yourself in a competing basis TO get IL.
This is direct and practicable, and will
accomplish for the west quickly and
permanently what under any other
methods may take years and then posi-
bly, then not be permanent.
'sThe foreign business is done under
contracts made months ahead in grain,
mechandise and securing steamship
and rail transportation 10 fit. Without
a steady outbound tonnage assured to
the railroads and steamers 1t is impos-
sible for any participating in the same
Calculating far ahead to work on as
close and safe margins as they other
wise could.
1.-THE ocean traffic. generally speaking
is handled by tramp vessels. A tramp
vessel 10 the ocean traffic is as the job
wagon to the town or city. A vessel
or job wagon would carry freight for
much less per load if they were assured
OF certain steady business than for one
load not knowing when they would get
another. A clerk would work for much
less wages II assured a steady jog for
q year than he could afford TO if the
Job was only from week to week. The
same way with the farm hand the same
with the grain exporter that is he might
be able to make good money at handl-
ing charge OF ! cent per bushel from
TO b. in the interior to delivered in Eu-
rope, if assured Of a large and steady
business. while he might loose at 5
cents per bushel handling on irregular
trade.
Here IS one illustration Of uncertain
~ and risk OF trying TO do an export
business without being in a position 10
feel assured of inland rates. We. an
ticipating a continuance of rates. char
tered a specially desirable vessel and
afterwards was unable 20 buy the corn
on account of change in rates; so. we
were long on this vessel. but fortunate
" for US. the vessel met with an acci-
dent which caused her 20 default her
charter by only four hours. saving Us
| a clear loss of at least $1,000, as. II the