Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-03
BENEFITS OF GRAIN MARKET
Railroads Would Share with Omaha in
Increased Prosperity,
LONG HAUL IS NOT ESSENTIALLY VITAL
Business at the stock Yards an
illustration of what May be
Expected from the Pro-
posed Move.

Not all the grain men in Omaha who are
working so hard for the establishment OF
a grain market here think that there is
any actual feeling OF hostility toward this
city on the part of the railroads which
refuse to promote such a scheme by offer
ing fair rates through here. Some think
the railways are actuated solely by what
might be termed an instinct OF self-pro-
lection. Said one Of these;
CAS- l understand It, the chief and, In
reality, the only objection advanced by the
railroads against this grain market propo-
sition is that they run a chance Of losing
for outbound shipment grain coming into
Omaha over their lines. Thus they would
be deprived OF the long haul and full
through rate. / do not think for a minute
that any other factor enters into their at
titude on the matter. On that proposition
thing the freight men are wrong / think
the establishment OF a grain market here
would in reality increase their revenues in
stead of diminishing them. There would
be temporary falling of in that imme-
diate business OF the haul out. l admit
that With three other roads cutting in
and sharing in the traflc which the two
now carry this would be natural and an
obvious result.
Elm the end, and not such a distant end,
either, the two roads that now refuse to
carry the grain through here would be
greatly benefited by doing So II the COM
mercial value and prosperity and enterprise
of this town were increased double or three
times what they now are, the new bene-
fits accruing to the railroads would be so
vast as to completely overshadow this
profit that they now reap from the long
hauls. With Omaha built up in all direc-
tions the increase In all other lines of
traffic would be so great as to make the
present haul enjoyed by these two roads
out OF Nebraska look like a mere item.
Live stock an Illustration.
And I'll go further I'll say that these
roads would not be hurt so very much,
even at the start, by taking their chances
with the rest on the ut-business. They
seem to get along all right down at the
stock yards. They are all represented
there. They haul the live stock in and then
scramble to get a share Of the finished
product. II the railroads are satisfied with
the affairs there, IL the business of each
goes on satisfactorily with the stock, whv
not with the grain? II they can even up
all right at the packing houses why not
at the grain market?
I'm any event, Omaha should have Just
as good facilities for handling this traffic
as do the other Missouri river central
points. We have a right to have them, and
we will have them. AS It stands now,
nearly one-half of our products go to the
markets Of Kansas City or st. Louis We
deserve every bit Of It here. Nebraska is
a commercial state, in which corn wears
the crown, and yet the traffic of this com.
monwealth goes to commercial centers out
side of it instead Of to it's own. 1t is not
fair. And the railroads that oppose this
thing are merely standing in their own
light. They do not stand a chance to lose.
1t is absolutely certain that a grain mar
ket. IL aided by them, would do so much
for this town that they would be far more
than reimbursed for what they suffered IL.
being compelled to even up on the out
haul.
"As for the standing which this exchange
would have in the markets of the world
there is no need to worry about that. The
Omaha Board Of Trade already has an in
spection here, the inspection OF the South
Omaha products, and the register as well.
This is recognized wherever these products
are sold the world over, aud so would be
our grain. The exchange would be standard
from the start, and its work and its goods
would be good anywhere"