The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1884-12-11
"A Kick

:. +.
We have nothing but the kindliest
feelings toward the Mp. Ex. Co., but we
are nevertheless heartily glad that
the Wells, Fargo Ex. Co. are. making a
beginning toward destroying a monop-
oily which is keeping this country down:
The rates on everything are far higher
than they arc in the east. For this
there is some reason, inasmueh as rail-
roads, ETC., cost much more to build.
We are, however, laboring under the
disadvantage, hil over Dakota, Of being a
new country and paying higher prices
for articles we use than almost any
other part Of the country. 5:=i
Take the items Of freight, express,
passenger and telegraph rates that;haye
come under our personal notice. a car
load Of freight from Milwaukee to st.
Paul was thirty-four dollars: From st.
Paul to Medora it was three hundred and
sixty-four dollars. This was an un- IN;
classified lot Of goods. Classified car
loads have come nearer five hundred dol.
lars. That these rates arc: extremely
profitable bandaltIy showff BY the
fac that the N. P. is very well satisfied
to ship goods to Metlora for the Black
Hills at fifty cents hundred, unclassi-
fed, or one hundred and fifty dollars a
car load. It; is an actual fact, com
ing constantly under our notice
since shipments began from Medora to
the Hills, that freight from St. Paul,
Chicago, and in fact all eastern points,
is landed in Deadwood cheaper than the
same freight can be landed in Medora
for local consumption. It is also fact,
demonstrated by personal experience,
that owing to this state of affairs, goods
Of almost every description are actually
sold in the Hills cheaper than they can
be sold in Medora. When we take into
consideration the, fact that the rail
Journey is equal, and that in addition
the Hills goods must be loaded OF
wagons and freighted across country
two hundred miles, it shows that there il
something rotten in Denmark II
shows that merely because it has the
power, the Northern Pacific railroad is
charging exhorbitant rates, and rates
way above those it could adopt at q
profit.
Almost exactly the same points can be
brought against the express rates that
have been mentioned in reference t.
freight. The, Wells, Fargo Express Co.
as is well known, do not by any means
'stand in" as well as the N. P. Ex. Co.
but they are, metaphoricaliy, knocking
the eye out" Of the N. P. on rates.
The passenger rates are also unreason
ably high. Five, six, seven, eight, ant
in some cases We think ten cents a mile
are charged. This is beyond all reason
and should be regulated Immediately by
the legislatures Of the territories passet
through. To show eonclusiveIy tha
these rates are not essential to the ex
istence or profit tof the road, we viii
mention the fact that it was, and prob
ably is possible to buy a ticket from
New York city to Portland, Oregon
cheaper than one from St. Paul to Mis-
soula. -
While we are about it, an illustration
Of telegraphic charges may not be inapt
Ten words from Medora to St. Paul
night rate, is sixty cents. Ten words t,
Grand Rapids, Michigan. is seventp-fi~
cents. In this case the whole line il
under the management of one concern
and the injustice of, the discrimination
Is more apparent. It does not cost ,
particle more to conduct telegraph
line in this country than it does in th'
east, yet the same telegram costs onl,
ons-fourth more in going twice the dis
tance, and has to be repeated twice. Oh
consistency, thy name is not o railroa,
For q telegraph monopoly. *-'s5 1'.s
The above illustrations show the diff
ference between monopoly and competi
ton The time Is probably far distan
when Just rates will be established an
maintained, unless the Northern Pacifi
wakes up to the fact that their shor,
sighted policy Of extortionate rates !
THE snrest way in the world To- ocutihei
Iown throats