The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-14

1T goes without saying" began Mr.
Morton, that the Santa F'e is inter
ested in the city of Topeka. It is our
home. We have our headquarters
here. We have our shops here. We
spend more money here than any
other road. We have a pay roll of
$6,00o,oOO. and about $4,000,00o of it
is spent here. We are the biggest tax
payers in the county of Shawnee with
out doubt, and I believe the biggest
in the state. only speak of this to
fare and prosperity and progress of
your city.
Taking up this matter of freight
rate reduction for jobbers, I should
say that I now think that they are
relatively fair. I know you ask for
no advantage. So far as the JobberS
are concerned, I might say that at a
previous meeting this morning we
talked with some of your jobbers and
told them that we would do some
thing for them. 1t is our intention to
put Topeka on parity with COM
petfng towns. While perhaps we can
not do this in every instance, still
think that We can straighten out
good many wrinkles.
Coming to the matter of coal rates,
think that the $1.25 is not unreason-
able by comparison with Kansas City.
We are not responsible for the fact
that slack coal is hauled to that point
for 80 cents. Market competition
does that. Missouri cuts a big factor
there. The mines of that state also
furnish coal to Kansas City, St. JO-
seph, and those points. Here in Kan
sas the coal mines, down in the south
eastern part, are owned by Topeka
people. Much of the money. they
make is spent here. If we should re-
tire from hauling coal from Chicopee.
Frontenac, Weir City and Pfttsburg to
Kansas City and St. Joseph, would the
city of Topeka be benefited? Would
not Topeka suffer from the loss of
that trade? The Missouri mines would
get the business. l am not sure but
that the operators of the Kansas
mines living in Topeka would have to
get more money for the coal to make
you so that you know why the rate is
lower to Kansas City than to Topeka.
Some of your manufacturers have
shown where they are damaged. We
shall take this matter up with the
other roads running through here
Results are obtained by series of
compromises and concessions in these
matters. This conference will be held
and we think that we can do some
thing for you.
You ask for the restoration of the
five cent milling differential This mat
ter has been UP before the court and
the railroad commissioners. The latter
decided that it should be done away
with, because the Topeka nlillers were
on a parity with their competitors on
things relating to milling and transit
l think that there is no show for its
reinsta tement.
"A better rate on lumber is requests ed
by your committee. The rates are low
er, l will admit, to Kansas City than
Topeka from the south. 1 will explain
J why Not many years ago all the Iun-
Der for Topeka came from Wisconsin.
minnesota and northern points, Then
the lumber fields of Texas were opened
up, and the people interested wanted
rates to introduce it. There was at
once big contention as to what fair
rates are. That same thing happened
IN the north about 25 years ago when
| the field was opened there, and it was
all settled by arbitration. The farther
! down the river that the timber was
RATED, the lower We're rates. Conse-
quentIy from Minnesota it was the
highest. It took a long while but af-
ter compromises a settlement was af-
fected. Just as soon as the southern
points commenced to ship lumber, they
found they had to compete with the
Wisconsin and Minnesota men. That
thing Kept up until some sort of a level
was attained. We could retire from
the Kansas City trade, but that would
not aid Topeka, but would hurt the
city Fewer men would be employed
on the roads, because the trains haul
ing the lumber would not be put into
operation. The rates are not unrea-
sonably high.
We have no rates that we cannot
defend and give good business reason
for, and if anyone can find instances
for which we can give no reasons, we
are willing to change the rates
Mr.. Embry Speaks
H. H. Embry, general freight agent
/ Of the Rock Island, was present and
called upon to speak for the attitude Of
/ his company He said: I'VE are most
assuredly in favor of aiding Topeka
and will join with the Santa Fe in con-
| ference to see what aid can be given
/ agree heartily with the statement OF
/ ATrr- ton fsa<s he r 41r
| Joab MuIvane and Frank P. Mac
Lehman were also called upon to speak
on the subject. Both expressed their
thanks to the railroad company for its
attitude. They discussed Topeka s
needs and what should be done in re-
gard to them.