The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-21
TALK ABOUT
FREIGHT RATES
Mass Meeting of Farmers
Grain Dealers and MiIIerS
CALLED FOR JUNE II
Headquarters for Kansas Grain
Dealers Will be in Wichita

At the annual meeting of the Kansas
grain dealers and millers, held in the
Carey hotel yesterday, a mass meeting
of grain dealers, grain producers and
rnillers Of Southern Kansas was called for
June 18th. in this city The purpose Of
this meeting is TO discuss the question Of
more equitable freight rates in the south
west on grain and grain products.
By the resolution of the meeting yester
day the secretary was instructed to call
the meeting and will send out notices TO
grain dealers, millers and farmers, asking
them TO attend this convention 1t viii
be a convention of everyone who is inter
ested in bringing about a more equitable
adjustment OF freight rates on grain and
grain products. The question is Of as
much importance 10 the farmers as TO the
dealers and millers, and these have been
invited to attend.
The meeting last night passed a resolu-
ton indorsing the action Of the city of
Wichita in its effort 10 obtain better
freight rates on all goods, and the sup
port of the association was pledged the
city in bringing about the desired re-
suit.
This annual joint meeting Of the grain
dealers and miIlers was attended yester-
day by about eighty dealers and millers.
The meeting was held that the millers
and dealers could talk over business in
which both were interested, and to pro-
mote harmony that both could work to-
gether.
For some time the millers have found
that they could not buy Kansas wheat
as low as a Missouri or Nebraska miller
could, because the grain dealers have
heretofore given the preference to ex-
port business instead of to home con-
Germs. At some times millers were COM
PEELED TO pay cents per bushel more for
wheat in their own state than the miller
from another state or dealers who do an
export business. The discussion yester-
day afternoon was along lines that
would remedy this difficulty and hard
ship.
When the meeting closed the grain
dealers agreed that they would stand by
home industries and give them the prefer
ence on milling wheat in their bins or
elevators. The grain dealers henceforth
will give the horne millers bids the pref
erence over those of foreign millers or ex-
porters.
This action was taken that the millers
of Kansas could compete with the NIL
lers Of the world with the famous hard
wheat -four. The grain dealers are vitality
Interested in this, but it will be- seen that
q Wichita miller could not hope to com
pete successfully with other. millers when
he was at a disadvantage OF 1 to cents
per bushel in buying milling wheat. The
markets Of the country do not justify
this difference, and it has often times
worked a hardship the Kansas miller
and sometimes has closed mills, as the
miller was unable to pay cents per
busheI more for his wheat right at home
than the foreign miller, and then try TO
compete in the same territory. Both
foreign and domestic trade should be on
the same bids, and this would not work
to the disadvantage OF the home mills,
and the grain dealers decided to help the
home man as far as possible.
The next annual meeting of the Kansas
Grain Dealers association will be held
next March, in Wichita. This viii be the
first annual meeting Of this association
ever held IN Wichita.
1t was also decided to move the head
quarters Of the association from Topeka
to Wichita. Mr.. +. D. Smiley IS the
secretary, and he win. move to this city
at once and open headquarters here.
The dealers and millers yesterday dis
cussed the damage the Hessian fly has
done to the crop this season. a number
of samples were shown from Rice, Nc
Pherson, Marion and Sedgwick counties
and nearly everyone present was agreed
that the damage so far this season IS at
least % per cent and in some localities
more According to the grain dealers,
the damage in the four counties men
toned will cut down the crop at least one
fourth.