The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-09-07


MccREooR is hardly city enough yet to jus
tfy the organization of one Of these CONNER
cial regulators, but on Friday last, sort of i'm
promptu meeting Of our wheat buyers and mer
chants took place ut Frank Hnnnahs store, e
have private conversation with JOHN LAwLxR
Eeq, the very gcntlemanly Agent at Prairie d,
Chen, of the Milwaukee aud Mississippi Rail
road.
The meeting was pleasant one, and result
Ell in an understanding as to the interests of thu
traders of McGrcgor
Mr. LAWYER has, ere this, reported to the Di
rectors the state Of feeling at this point and We
have every reason to think that the closcncss 81
identity between the interest Of McGregor and
the Milwaukee Railway will lead to an adjust
ncnt OF difficulties on basis that will be sat.
isfactory to both parties. The complaint of our
folksis this: The Railroad Company being
the owners Of the Ferry Franchise at this cross.
ing, are carrying teams loaded with grain to
Prairie du Chen, and teams loaded with mcr.
chandise to McGregor, free Of charge. At first
sight, this looks as though it was good thing
for the whole Of North Iowa, aud any CON-
plant about II is unreasonable this was the
view We took Of it when the rule first went in.
Cooperation. We supposed the object of the
Company was to reach, in its shipping inau-
sncc, section west of us which was balanced
J" Its market advantages by Dubuque, Lansing,
Gutenberg, and other points whence produce
would he quite unlikely to pass over their road
10 Milwaukee. BY making MEG REGoR, instead
"f Frlirie du Chen, the western termn US of
the Road, III i',ducement would be offered to
deliver grain at this point, and the freedom of
access to the depot would also tend to rival the
river in its transit charges to St. Louis. This
doubtless. was the object, and it was expected
10 increase the freight business OH the road.
The Company should be credited with follow
ing what they believed to be their own interests
and nothing more. In this the Company is no
peculiar.
But the bad effects Oh McGrccor trade ard
commerce result here: Our folks, in order to
DO business at all on this side, are obliged to
build warehouses. provide bags for shipping
grain, and be at the trouble of delivering To
the other side; this furnishing of bags and
handling alone is said to be equivalent to a loss
OF fro cents per buslcl Oh wheat, and if the
Company propose to use their facilities to undo
or break down our grain operators by furnish.
ing warehouse convcnienccs at Prairie du
Chen, it enables outside dealers to pay, in our
streets, that amount per bushel more THAI. our
own dealers can do and save themselves. In
other words, the Company, having the ferry,
The warehouses, aud the trains in their own
hands, can rival our buyers out of all their mar
%" by favorins those who buy independent Of
the necessity of keeping place Of business
and shipping facilities on hand. This may look
very favorable to those who bring their wheat
70 this market for sale, but if the Company,
through its cast side or auy-othcr- side friends,
succeeds in taking the trade out Of the hands
Of our individual buyers, whose fortunes are
here invested, there will be little or no compe.
tition at this point, and the result to the Iowa
farmer cannot be otherwise than disastrous
the interests Of tho asriculturalist being al.
ways safer when individual competition rather
shan corporate monopoly rules the market.
There have been but few loads of wheat
carried across the river under this new arrange.
'nen', because our buyers prefer to sacrifice
their margin, and ship, if necessary, by Dun.
lelth. La Crosse, or to st. Louis, and that this
will be the effect Of the present adverse feeling
toward the road there is no doubt. Grain and
goods will travel other routes to North Iowa,
unless change is made so that the Company
warehouse (the Ferry Boat) ceases TO land at
our wharf-i.s receipt Of grain at that wharf
free for the Railroad making it a pare1suse to
all intents and purposes.
We do not complain OF Prairie du Chen
buyers for availing themselves of tho proffered |
facilities offered them there, nor do we com.
plain Of the Company for pursuing its interests |
the object Of this article is simply to show,
imperfectly. We own, that if our building and
other interests are TO be destroyed by the action
Of corporation which we have always regard.
ed NJ great convenience and valuable friend,
our capital. trade and partialities will be reluct
sntly compelled to seek other friends in self.
defence. We hope, however, that the matter
viii he corrected when the Directors hold their !
next meeting.
That rn~v.ns-A>