The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-21
Mr.. KUEHNE'S FACTORY
Will Move to Kansas City Ac-
count Unjust Freight Rates.

Unless the railroads will make some
change in the existing freight rates,
Otto kuehne says he will move his
pickle and preserve factory to Kansas
City for the purpose of getting fair
freight rates. The vinegar plant may
be left in Topeka.
Mr.. Kuehne expects to move his fac
tory next spring He has not yet secur-
negotiating with the Kansas City Busi-
ness Mems league and some of the
Kansas City railroads in regard to a
site. In Speaking Of the proposed move
today, he said
Il ON sorry to have to leave Topeka
with my factory, because Topeka is like
second birthplace to me. But must
leave here if I expect to do business.
THE Determinations are such that I
cannot ship out of the state. The rail-
roads used to equalize matters by Civ
ing me lower rate to Kansas points,
but now they make me pay Kansas City
rates. 1 expect to start up in Kansas
City on a careful and economical basis.
I will not at once enlarge my plant
there.
81 have also had trouble in getting
all the vegetablesI expected to get here
in Topeka. I have 200 acre farm in
Wisconsin, where I raise a great deal of
stuff for my factory. That has to come
in here under that Il cent rate.
IF this new cooperative pickle fac
tory wants to buy the buildings which
I leave vacant, I would be glad to sell
them all that leave vacant am leav-
ing the vinegar plant in Topeka because
it is not affected by the Kansas City
rate.
Il think that the Commercial club
might do something if it would. 1t
gets up statistics, but what do we want
of statistics? Business men haven't time
to read statistics. What we want is
lower freight rates. believe that if
the Commercial club went after them,
they could get them. The Commercial
club is asleep. If it had been awake, it
could have prevented the removal of
the Rock Island freight offices from To-
peka. 1t did not do anything until 1t
was too Late
+. C. Maegly, assistant general freight
agent of the Santa Fee, said today: II
think that the rates which Topeka has
are generally fair; about as fair as it
is possible to make an arrangement of
rates. We try to do everybody justice,
and while there may be isolated cases in
would take considerable study to deter
mine that point. We would first have to
know exactly what Mr.. Kuehne ships
in, how much, and where from; where
and how much he ships out; and we
would have to compare this informa-
ton with the information of similar ma
ture concerning manufacturing plants
at Kansas City. If it was decided that
he was being unfairly treated, the point
to be determined would be whether or
last point is the most difficult of ALL
T. J.. Anderson. secretary. of the Com
mercia1 club, said: Topeka is paying
higher rates and is subject to more unjust
discrimination than any town of its size
in. the United States. I think there are
Kuehne's leaving Topeka
There is some talk that the Interstate
Commerce commission may be called upon
to investigate the rate situation here and
try to adjust things basis which will
be more satisfactory to the manufacturers
Of 10 n No rrlx n 1<.r-f1-
ing that he hoped nothing of this sort
would be done until all efforts to accom-
plish an amicable settlement should prove
futile.
The Kuehne plant was established in To-
ginning it has grown into one of the
leading industries Of the city 1t employs
lars to farmers in this county. The COM
pany expended between $50 600 and 900
In wages last year. <o n In freight the com m,
various railroads.