The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-25

1867, 18th 1874, 9Th
G. O. ROBERTSON.
Nininger, Dakota Co., 18th March, 1870
A Letter From . The. Howling Wilder
ne.s,,..xaard Times and the Rail-
KAND1YoH1 Co., MIMI,
March, 1875.
Editor Auti -Monopolist:
SIR: take my pen in hand to write
YOU these few lines, thinking you would
like to hear from this benighted country.
1 shall write of "the times" of the
people, and of the Railroad Company.
Firstly. The times are very hard and
very cold; so cold. sir. that we have not
had chance to perspire for three months
and the mercury stood still for many
day. and the people, sir, are very poor,
poorer than Jobs turkey ever was ) so
poor, sir, that we cannot get credit at the
stores when we pay one hundred per cent.
profit, and the taxes, sir, are awful.
Forty per cent, Sir, added by the
County Commissioners, and one hundred
per cent. added on to that, by the State,
above the assessed valuation. You see,
we wanted to get at the cash valuation
and we have sir. Now, this is nothing.
We have laborcd long and hard and got
ourselves homes, valuable homes, but we
had to buy machinery and horses to draw
them. Now, we find, after these many
years of toll that we arc heavily in debt,
and the debts must be paid. Happily for
us the bankers have found US out, (way
out here in this wilderness,) just in the
nick Of time. Why, sir, we can get lots
q money, just as easy as nothing
when we have got government
ands and patent for the same. Mr..
Banker says to farmer, "You want two
hundred dollars. Well, sir, you just
draw up note (negotiable) for three
Hundred dollars, payable in three years,
At12 per cent. interest until paid, and
secured on your homestead, and l will
uy your note and give you two hundred
for it." Now, We are all mortgaging our
homes and payizg that rate Of interest
But that is nothing, sir, 10 the poor un'
Yortunates who have purchased railroad
lands, because, poor fellows, they have
paid an swful price for their lands ant
they are as badly in debt rs we are. bu
they can not borrow dime on thei
lands. They say that their title is no
good!
Well, sir, they send you those resolu
tions which you published about thei
titles to railroad lands, and now the,
have received letter from the Presiden
himself-the great President Of the grcs
company and what docs he say? "Yo
are . scalawng, sir; and our title is goo'
and never heard before that there wei
any doubts about the subject among tt
settlers, and you should make . publ
retraction, sir and instead Of slanderir
and abusing the company, I ask your c
operation in developing your fine countr
md / am nm old resident Of the State. n
have great sympathy for the pioneer 81
tiers, and you must assist me in hunti
down and branding the impostor "
darcs to shy our title is imperfect" e.
Now these poor, ignorant farmers I
to understand the Great President. 7
see, sir. they read in the papers that t
bondholders have commenced forecloe,
proceedings, and that the Presiden
powers Of attorney had been revoked. q
that there was big muss generally
their camp. So they reasoned on t
wise Suppose tho bondholders get P
session Of the lands and the road, and
company is thrown into bankruptcy,
they, tho bondholders. make good
contracts made by the company! II
sir, the Presi lent failed to make eli
but the railroad farmers hope to Sc
more satisfactory answer then they
pay up for their lands, get deed for
same, and then, sir, they will morts
their lands as VIC have done, and We S
all be in the same boat. l am told.
that the railroad farmers made to-
ing appeal to the great President conc
ins their letter in this wise: I'm behal
the poor, shivcring. hungry, suffer
pioueer settlers, and in the name Of
manly and common sense We ask
YOU will share With N more equally
bardeneome taxes and assist "a in d,
sp;ne orr country b selling your =