The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-19
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Examining Witnesses.
Governor Leedy Tells What 1t
Costs to Raise Corn.
A FARMER AND KNOWS
Senator King and Representa-
tive Brown Also Testify.
J. B. DennisOn, of Galveston,
Gives Interesting Figures.

Austin, Tex. april 19.-The inter-
state commerce commission convened
in the federal district court room at 10
O'Clock Saturday morning and took I'D
the complaint of the Kansas railway
commission that less is charged for the
same service in handling grain by rail-
roads east than is charged for shorter
distances in the direction of the gulf
ports
Judge Martin of Kansas appeared as
representative for the Kansas commits
sion and Mr. Christie for St I,O1liS and
Kansas City. Attorney General Crane
announced that the Texas commission
had not Joined issues with the COM
pla1nants in this matter, but desired to
resist the application of intervening
Kansas millers for the same freight
on Hour as on wheat from Kansas to
Texas common points.
}. Is. Denison, commissioner of Gal
VeStOn'S freight bureau, was sworn and
testified; That the average rate on
corn from central Kansas to Galveston
is 1852 cents per 100 pounds; to St
Louis, 1886 cents; to Chicago, 23.S7
cents, and to Chicago for export 81 "a
cents. He had prepared an exhibit
showing grain rates from a number of
central Kansas points to the points
named, which was submitted in evil
dence- He thought that for distances
OF 500 miles a rate of six mills per ton
per mile on export corn would be a. fair
rate This would make a rate of "a
saS to Galveston, p cents 20 Chicago.
Is cents to St Louis and 30 cents to
New Orleans. There are no breaks in
the haul to Galveston and no extra
terminal expenses. The haul east is
broken at Kansas City and Kansas
lines originating shipments earn but
their proportion based on the local rate
to Kansas City, where it is put in the
elevators and pays arbitrary switching
. charges, and if hauled east of Kansas
City by originating line is only done
so at additional expense of soliciting,
etc. Conditions have changed at CAL
weston, inasmuch as it is now a practi-
cal export point The Kansas producer
of grain is entitled to an advantage by
reason OF his nearness to Galveston.
Kansas occupies about the same rela-
tive position to the gulf as Indiana
does to the Atlantic seaboard. The av-
erage rate on food products from Indi-
ana to the seabOard is about 1872 cents.
The rate from Kansas to Baltimore on
corn is BIZ cents. to Galveston 20 cents:
distance to Baltimore about twice as
great as to Galveston; Kansas man is
entitled to Chicago prices on his grain.
To Galveston the present average
wheat rate is SO cents, Chicago 28
cents. st. Louis % cents. The average
rate to Baltimore, on corn only, a small
per cent higher than to Galveston, al
though the distance is nearly twice as
great.
Mr.. Dennison here submitted COM
parative statements of rates from diff
ferent tariffs to Galveston from 1891 to
the present time. The present rates
are some higher, comparatively speak
ing, than they were when no special eff
fort was being made to export grain
through Galveston from Kansas. Since
September 1, 1896, about 5 500, 900 BUSH
els of corn and 5000, 900 bushels of
wheat have been exported through
Galveston. The cost of fuel is greater
to railroads in Texas than over north
ern lines to the seabOard, but climatic
fa n n
Figures given are based entirely on
movement of export grain. Rates are
higher on domestic grain, hence earn
ings of railroads show up better than
his figures would indicate. Export
business does not require new equip
ment Entirely new business, hence a
pickup to Texas roads Rate from In
dian Territory to Galveston on grain is
about the same per ton per mile as the
rate from Kansas points, about twice
the distance. So far as Texas roads
are concerned, they can afford to haul
grain pretty cheap, and this is the
trouble, evidently, with their northern
connections. Referring to the Illinois
Central grain tariff to New Orleans, it
showed a maximum rate of Is cents
reached at 800 miles. Mr.. Christie,
representing st. Louis and Kansas City,
asked leave to postpone crOss-examina-
ton of witness until he could examine
data submitted by him. Granted.
Cross examined by Paul Morton, third
vice president of the Santa Fe, Mr.
Denison thought the proportion of emp
ties hauled out OF Galveston was
against that point as compared with
Chicago and st. Louis; knew OF emp
ties having been hauled from Chicago
to Kansas City during grain season.
however; western people raise more
grain than they consume; it is mer-
chandiSe in so far as bulk IS concerned;
since the grain movement toward Cal
weston had been inaugurated the haul
ing of empties either way had appre-
ciatiYely decreased.
At the afternoon session Governor
I.eedy of Kansas, called to the stand
by the compliments, stated that he
was farmer and that the average
price of producing corn was 26 cents
and of wheat So cents in eastern Kan
sas The price of corn varied from II
to 16 cents of late years. Kansas grain
raiserS have been losing money for the
last five years and are not now in a
f1ourishing condition. he was here IN
company with the Kansas legislative
committee appointed to meet with the
legislative committees OF Texas and
other state for the purpose, if possible,
of obtaining better freight rates to gulf
ports.
for the purpose. If possible, of obtain
ing better freight rates to gulf ports.
Senator King OF Kansas was called
to the stand. He is farmer The
cost OF producing corn is from 16 to "A
cents per bushel; of wheat from
% 10 Az cents per DuSlAci AS sN q ets5G
price of wheat in the last two or three
years has been 10 cents per busheI, of
yellow corn Is cents. OF white corn Il
cents Kansas grain farmers are not
prosperous as q rule. He did not
know whether any of the Kansas rail
roads were being managed as econOm-
ically as possible or whether they are
paying dividends or not. They had in
Vestigated the question of salaries paid
by Kansas railroads to their employees
and come to the conclusion that the at
torneys and officials thereof were draw