The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-07
MAKING A THREAT
KANSAS CITY ADVOCATING THE
PUNISHMENT OF FARMERS.

Own Grain-The Probable Erection OF
I'm Elevator at Wichita is What Gives Ii
the Rabies-It VIII Have Them Worse
Before Long.
In view of the attitude of the Kansas
CITY papers and expressions by those
directly interested, il is no wonder that
the farmers of the southern and central
portion of Kansas are rallying to the
substantial support of the Commercial
club of Wichita in its determination 10
Iecure grain market for this state at
q point located at the gateway for the
southern outlet at Galveston.
The building of the half million bush
Il elevator contracted for by the Com
mercfal club will be commenced as soon
as the remainder of the sui scIiption Is
secured, and this fact has aroused the
Kansas City trade journals to an at
tempt 10 induce the business men of Kan
sas City TO punish the farmers Of Kan
Eas for daring to aid the project of ele-
vators at Wichita sufficient 10 handle
the grain business that naturally Should
30 TO deep water on the gulf.
There is no doubt but that the rail-
EOdu pcDplc nave DIT ldSI iSa4ANCN
their interests are identical with the
farmers in this grain trade and that
the long haul south is preferable 10 the
local haul to Kansas City. This is IN
dodbtedly the reason that the railways
are willing to accord the Kansas City
privileges TO the grain trade IN WlcIlta
when the elevator is built
Let every business man and farmer
carefully read the following appeal and
vigorous threat from the Kansas City
Home Market and Stockman" of June
%. 1876 under the heading Railroads as
Business Assassins." 1t says:
'fNo question more seriouslp affecting
rhe business interests of Kansas City
has ever presented itself than that of
the presnt fright discrimination on
grain from interior points to the Mis-
souri, river Some weeks ago the roads
in interest cut the rates TO Galveston
and New Orleans, but made no proper
tionate reduction to Kansas City, thus
trying TO compel Kansas and Nebraska
shippers 20 adopt the more western
route.
This assault upon Kansas City's prom
inence as a grain center must impress
any one as a short-sighted policy for
temporary gain on the part of the rail-
roads When the rates via this city
and the routes now taken were the same
shippers had preference of consignee
and almost invariably billed their grain
10 Kansas City. Why?Simply because
a better market awaited them here
For the amount of wheat handled by
our grain men (23.000,00O bushels last
year, no city is better equipped for the
business than this. Our elevators are
numerous and ample, fully equipped
with the latest improved machinery for
the expeditions handling and careful
sorting and classifying of grain; in fact,
millions have been expended to make
this the grain center of the southwest,
as it has and always will continu to be,
despite this unjust discrimination
WHY do the railroads wish to cripple
30 important a factor in Kansas City 5
business make-up2 This is a natural
question, and is Unanswerable by uhelr
claim of a longer haul by this new de-
parture. and that they are sure or the
business InaSmuch as this is IS but
small percentage Of the grand aggre-
gate of traffic TO and from Kansas City
it appears and is, as before stated, a
ehort-sighted policy on the part of the
Kansas railroads. for no incentive either
of interest or former friendliness VIII
prompt shipments over them that can
be placed with other lines.
How Is the concurrence, in this dis
elimination. of the Kansas railroad com
missioners to be accounted forTThis is
easy to answer, but the answer reflects
no credit on the commission. II is a
matter Of jealousy over the prosperity
and prominence of a Missouri city, and
a forlOrn hope of building up grain
point in Kansas, say in Wichita. The
shippers. the commissioners masters,
naturally do not seek this injustice.
on the contrary. they would gladly
continue their shipments to Kansas City
did the roads permit. Here they geS
top prices. prompt returns, diversified
market, lines Of read in every direction
iEsurirg prompt movement on a rising
market. and last, but not least, elias
sified grain return. possible only in such
metropolitan grain centerS as Kansas
City.
Then. again, comes the no inconsid
cradle matter of supplies for the farm
and town. over which there VIII be nC
dispute as to the superior Involvement
afforded here. SO. the whole situation
resolves itself into this: one Of Kansas
Citys most important branches OF bus
ness - being ruthlessly asSailed through
the blind avarice of a few railroads and
the piuue of the Kansas railroad com
test of the shippers. who receive not one
fraction OF benefit in the aggregate by
tie cut instituted over the far west
route and are, besides, greatly discom-
NODDED
The matter is before the interstate
commerce commission and Will un-
doubtedly be taken up next month. but
in ali probability a decision viii not Ibe
reached until after this crop is gather
Cd TO the elevators and the shippers &c
their fathers. The chancery court OF
England which has so long been the
SYNONYM for all that is vexatious in
judicial delays must yield the cactus
10 our interstate commerce commission
and the gravity of the situation admit:
Of no delay The solution of the prob
lem rests with the shipper, providing
the railroads remain obdurate. and s
campaign of starching up the farme
by our business men will work powe
Of good Let all interests in and abou
the city unite heartily and heavily an'
hastily upon this all-important issu
and score one more victory for Kansas
Ctty's supremacy and the right.
How ca the farmers like this effort Z
induce the grain shippers Of Kansas L
bght the elevator and southern marke