The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-27
NOT SHUT DOWN.
Hutchinson Salt Works All
Running Regular Time.
No Indication of Closing Up As
Yet.
TALK WITH MULVANE.
Story Seems to Be a Malicious
Fake.
TALK WITH MULVANE.
Salt Works Have Good BuSi-
ness in the West.

Mr. John r. Mulvane of this city,
who is financially interested in the Kan
sas Salt company at Hutchinson and in
close touch with the industry in Kan
sas today to Journal declared that
the reports of plants being shut down
and men discharged are absolutely
false
81 do not understand" said Mr.. Null
vane, "how such reports gained circu-
lation. Our plant at Hutchinson is
running today to its fullest capacity;
and there has been no cut in wages ana
none is contemplated. My informat ton
is that every salt plant in that section
of the state is running full time, with
a full force of men who are employed al
good wages, and that not a single hrm
has reduced wages or laid off man.
Asked if the Dingley bill interfered
with the salt industry in Kansas, Mr..
Mulvane said:
mo, sir The salt industry in Kan
sas is not affected a particle by the
Dingley bill either way. The reason IS
that we are so far interior that our
business is neither injured nor benefited
by that measure.
1.-The Dingley bill helps the salt in
dustry along the coast remarked Mr..
Mulvane. There the manufacturers
have been compelled to compete with
salt made by workmen at 30 cents
day, the product coming in free OF outy.
1t was impossible for the salt COM
panies to do business under such cir
cumstances, but now that the tarlf IS
imposed upon the foreign production,
the American coast salt manutactorieS
are eua bled to resume Operat tons ana
pay their men living wages
Referring again to the Kansas lndus-
try, Mr.. Mulvane said:
1.-THE Queen, Star, Hutchinson Pack
ing company, Hutchinson Salt com
pany Kansas Salt company and one
other. the name of which do not now
recall and Joy Morton'S company, now
ready to begin operations, all located at
Hutchinson,are running to their full ca
pacity. I have not heard a single init,
nation that any of them had reduced
their force or cut wages.
my opinion" said Mr. Mulvane, with
emphasis, based upon actual connec-
ton with the business, is that the salt
industry today in Kansas is more pros
porous than ever before. The employees
of the companies at the various plants
are receiving good wages and are work
ing full time. Consequently the reports
which purport to come from there, tell
ing of shutdowns, laying eff of man and
a general deterioration OF the business
are absolutely false
Asked with refers nee to freight rates,
Mr.. MuIvane replied: Two years ago
the rate from the Kansas producing ter
ritory to the Missouri river was cehes'
Today it is 2-3 cents.
A reporter for the Journal visited the
Santa Fe general freight offices to as
certain if there has been any increases
in the freight rates which would work
| to the disadvantage of the Kansas salt
producers.
1t was 1OunQ IndC SOOSleh1llAo1
| creases have been made during the
| past few months of such a character
| that practically prohibits the Kansas
salt from getting into the Mississippi
river territory and also to Chicago,
while the Michigan product gets into
| those markets at the old rates.
The rate from Kansas producing
points to Kansas is today % cents
| less than it was year ago. The rate
| from Kansas City west is much high
! er. and prohibits the Michigan salt
| companies from doing business west OF
| the Missouri river.
Our rates from Kansas City to n s.
| sissippi points today" said an official
| of the freight department, lis IL 2-3
cents. To Chicago it is Is cents. Fig
| to the Mississippi river the rate is IL 1-3
| cents The old rate was Is cents per
| hundred.
| THE present rate from Kansas pro-
| ducing territory to Chicago is Il 2-o
| cents. The old rate was 20 % cents"
| Asked why the discrimination should
| exist in favor of the Michigan salt,
| the railroad man replied:
| THAT is their legitimate territory
| 'FWhy is it not, a legitimate field OF
competition for the Kansas indus
| tries?'' asked the reporter.
IT presume it isl was the reply.
"Are the Santa Fe rates on salt today
| shipped from Chicago west, lower IN
| comparison than upon consignmerts
| shipped from Kansas points or from
| Kansas City east?" inquired the re-
| porter
| freight official