The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-18
GOOD FOR c. R. l. P.
In Freight Rates on Packing
Products
GIVES WICHITA JUSTICE
DifferentiaI of Six Cents Is
EIimin ated.

| Inc hOck lSlanO railroad neS5 iSSOAi14S
done handsomely by Wichita in many
things but the best of its gifts has just
been bestowed.
1t has started to destroy the discrinnin-
alton against Wichita's market for pack
ing house products. There is howl from
| Kansas City, as usual, but the Rock Island
| is not to be bullied, and the rates will
| stand as they are with the discrimination
against Wichita eliminated. and not as
the Kansas City papers intimate, rein
stftuted by giving Kansas City a lower
rate still.
The Rock Island has recently given
Wichita train south on Sunday, and is
the first road to give a Sunday excursion
into the city, the first coming next Sun
day.
It's latest move is justice to Wichita in
rates. Wichita is to have the same equit-
able rate to eastern markets as Kansas
City.
One of the amusing features of the talk
in the Kansas City papers is the admis-
sion that Wichita's market is superior to
Kansas City's; that it is nearer the live
stock market, and stock can be delivered
here with less shrinkage than at Kansas
City.
The Kansas City Journal yesterday had
the following: There is trouble brewing
in packing-house circles and the Rock
Island railroad is the storm center. Sew
eral days ago the Rock Island notified the
Trans-Missouri Freight association of its
intention to make the Kansas City and
St Joseph rates on packing house products
applicable from Wichita thus wiping out
the differential OF cents in favor of Kan
sas City that has been in vogue for years.
The railroad contends that Wichita is an
intermediate station on its line, and there
fore the rate cannot be higher The pack
ers on the other hand contend that the
position of the railroad is not tenable, as
it could not be expected to overcome its
disability when the Kansas City rates
were made applicable from St Joseph.
Kansas City has enjoyed a differential
Of cents under Wichita on this particu-
lar business for years, and there is every
reason why it should. The Wichita pack
er has his establishment in the middle of
a cattle and hog railing country, and is
enabled to get his livestock much cheaper
than Kansas City as the latter has to pay
the freight; besides the former has the
advantage of getting his stock in better
condition as it is not subject to shrinkage.
To equalize this condition and place both
packers on a parity the differential was
granted. and. while it did not cover the
whole difference, the better facilities and
larger products of the Kansas City houses
made it satisfactory.
There is another peculiar thing in WITCH
ita packing-house rates. The Wichita
packer can enter the Kansas City market
and place his product in competition with
the local packer on fat rate of y cents
per 100 pounds On the other hand, the
Kansas City packer is taxed 80 cents per
100 pounds if he desires to enter the Wich-
ita market, and r. he goes beyond Wichita
he pays as much more as the local freight
amounts to from Wichita. The present
condition is not considered equal. and it
IS possible that sufficient pressure will be
brought to bear to induce the Rock Island
to rescind its action.
prominent official of one Of the Trans
Missouri lines said yesterday: 1--WE are
not as you know. interested in Wichita.
and, while not desiring to do that city any
harm, shall insist upon the maintenance of
the established differetial in favor of Kan
sas City. There is absolutely no iustifica-
ton from our standpoint of the position
taken by the Rock Island. and we intend
doing all in our power for the proper pro-
lection of Kansas City's interests
w. P. Trickett. commissioner of the
Kansas City Transportation bureau. was
seen Yesterday and asked for his view Of
the matter. He declined 10 talk. but when
convinced that the Journal was in full |
possession of the facts. he consented TO |
make statement. and was very frank in |
what he said. II do not think the Rock
Island had any intention of iniuring Kan |
sas City in giving office Of the reduction !
in packig-house rates from Wichita" said |
Mr. Trickett ''But the effect Of such a |
change on this market can be seen at a /
glance. have contended that existing /
conditions do not differ from those which /
prevailed at the time the 6-cent differ
entail was established. and it should.
therefore. be conceded that the Wichita
packers do not require any greater a1-
vantage over Kansas City than they have
heretofore enjoyed. That they have ad-
vantage over this market by reason of
closer proximity to livestock producing
cannot he disputed. and they are
now seeking what Is unnecessary in the
successful conduct Of their business to the
further disadvantage Of Kansas City
IF the Rock Island persists in maintain
ing its action. viii you ask for a CORE
spending reduction from Kansas City 50
as 70 regain the parity that existed prior
to its action was asked Mr. Trickett.
That is matter that % not care To
discuss a. this time he replied