The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-25
TRAFFIC LEAVING Us"
Walls the New York Mail and Ex
press in a Long Article.

press in Long Article.
New York, March 25.-The Mail and
Express prints the following:
New York has of late manifested
disposition to sever her connection with
the west. That is all right, but 1 Won
der if New York understands the mag
nitude of the recent movement on the
part of the west to divert traffic from
this city to Galveston, New orleans and
other southern ports?'' said 1. NJ. Ray
rnond of Nebraska today.
lean Exchange bank of Lincoln, Neb., and
cry house and packing company at the
prominent business men of the trans
tician. He had the Republican nominal
ton for governor of Nebraska within his
grasp three years ago, but was forced
to withdraw from the race on account
of his extensive business interests:
Il do not mean to say" continued Mr..
ern commerce by New York is the result
of the refusal on the part of eastern
west, particularly to Kansas and Nebras-
ka. The primary reason Is the fact that
the south has deep water harbor facilities
that are unsurpassed anywhere, and
the shipping points in the south are much
more favorable than the rates to New
York.
Il have just been making a tour of the
south, having visited Galveston, New
Orleans and other seaport towns We
of the west have known for some time
that there is a growing tendency to send
grain and provisions to these ports in
stead of to New York, but 1 was un-
prepared to find that a large proportion
of western products intended for export
and for points in the south is unloaded
The receipts of Galveston and New
Orleans have doubled and trebled in the
last year or two, and from what 1 could
see they are steadily gaining. Both ports
have magnificent facilities for handling
products of any kind in large quantities.
There is deep water that will take ships
of almost any draft, and the wharfage
rf.1lr CF1a hlaff
can be had in this city. There are great
elevators and storehouses capable OF re-
New Orleans the biggest ships be
seen in the harbor and there are plenty
of them. 1 noticed the battle ships Texas
and Maine at anchor while 1 was there.
II believe it is safe to say that three
Iourths or the gram and otner products
that have lately gone out of Nebraska and
Kansas have gone to these southern ports
and it would be strange if we did not
take adXantage OF the opportunities We
enjoy. The farmer in Nebraska who
sends his corn to Galveston gets two
cents more a bushell than he would get
if it went east. There are several COM
peting lines of railroads that go south
from the corn-producing states. and the
rate is low. The Missouri Pacific is an
important factor in this movement. and
there are Independent roads that make
live competition. There is now building a
new road from Kansas City to Port Ar
thur that will be just $50 miles long, the
shortest route to the seaport This road
pendent concern. and it is likely to give
a better rate than that now in force II
could afford to do So Railroad build
ing is cheaper now than it has been for
economically built. 1t viii not have to
earn interest on such a large capital as
the other roads.
Swift, the packer. recently sent a large
consignment of canned goods for export
from his houses in Chicago, Omaha and
Kansas City to the southern seaport, a
great many carloads in all, and it is a
common thing now for big shipments
from points on the Atlantic coast towns
to be sent by boat TO Galveston and New
Orleans, there to be transferred to the
Denver that l know of buys in large
quantities in Boston, and the goods are
all sent by water to Galveston and there
loaded trains for Colorado. Money
is saved by this operation. This is the
way southern seaport trade is being de-
Veloped. 1t might pay New York to give
little serious attention to this SUBJ
THE policy that the east has lately
adopted in its relations with the west
Is the best thing that could have hap
to Nebraska, We do not want to lend
you any money Nebraska has accepted
the ultimatum, and set about the task
OF working out her salvation. Our people
are fast getting to the point where we
are ready to say, We don't need any OF
your money. Keep it and put it in your
enough to stand upon its own bottom,
and soon our farmers and business men
viii be independent. 1t is possible to
ind the way to prosperity without as
There has been a great deal of talk
about the hard times in the west. the
tions as they become due. Suppose that
there should be an attempt to collect
every mortgage and note in New York
city as it falls due for the next two or
would then find out what hard times
are"