St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-20
SOME SUGGESTIVE FIGURES.
Remarks of E. j. Hodgson at the
Chamber of Commerce Yesterday.


of Rush City, and another from the business
men of Herman, in reference to alleged ex-
cessiye freight rates, being before the cham
Der of commerce yesterday, Mr.. Hodgson
desired to present some facts and figures
germane to tine matters of complaint, and
said
The subject matter presented by these
communications is OF the utmost i'm purtance
to each one of us and demands our most
careful consideration. Agriculture is the
great leading industry of this state, the one
which supports and moves all other industries.
1t is the only industry of our state that
sends forth its products and brings back
money. The amount Of money that comes
to this state, except in exchange for farm
products, is very trifling, unless it be the
money on which We pay interest or dividends.
We obtain large amount on mortgages, but
that goes back, first in interest and again in
principal still larger amount has come
to build railroads, but that also goes back in
dividends on from one TO i've times the
amount invested. Substan italy, all the money
that comes here, unburdened by interest and
dividends, and wholly free from the grasp of
Wall street, comes in exchange for farm pro-
duets. II the farmers are prosperous, we all
have an opportunity TO be prosperous. They
are free spenders, and the money
they bring here is soon distributed
around. But if they have no
surplus to spend what are Se gong
TO do, gentlemen! Creditors, sheriffs, judy
ments, attachments, closed doors and drawn
shutters must be the result. Quite a varie-
gated but not very cheerful foreground to
the picture of the future. Having then a
tyffo oil "a INT in he e<F
this chief industry, we should neglect no
means at our disposal to aid and develop it.
In the east, where manufacturing is the lead
Ing industry, they see to its protection to the
extent of controlling the government which
levys tribute upon US TO support manufac-
turers, and we have quietly submitted 10 be
bled for their benefit for 10 these many years
Is 1t not about time We stopped paying tribute
TO sugar monopolists in Louisiana, iron mo-
nopolists in Pennsylvania, cotton monopolies
in New England, and so on, and turned our
attention TO protecting our own chief in
dustry.
The communications before us call our at
tention to the fact that agriculture is being
crushed under burdens that it can no longer
bear, and plead with US for assistance. Are
these omplaints well grounded!
The railroad commissioner in his late re-
port shows that the gross receipts of the rail-
roads in this state for the year ending June
30, 1884, we're S23, 1873, 465. That is more
than the entire value OF our wheat crop Of
1888. The acreage for that year was 2,5O7,-
Ill acres. At thirteen bushels per acre we
have 80, 593, 223 bushels. II this brought the
farmer seventy cents per bushel, which |
think ia above rather than below the price
received, we have $22, Sl5.256 as the value
Of our entire wheat crop, taking out nothing
for bread or seed. Gentlemen, how long do
you think we can stand this thingl The
net profits Of the railroads were $1l.753,477
Allowing dity cents per bushe as the cost Of
raising and marketing wheat, IL would leave
the farmer a net profit of twenty cents per
bushel or 6,5lS, 644 The net profits on all
other agricultural products could not be more
than one half as much as that realized on
wheat, making total OF about $40, 900. 600
net profits from our farms, as against about
$l2, 900, 900 on railroads. There are $4,000
railroad employees in the state. There are
about 100000 people working on farms.
Add AZ, 600 10 railroad employees
for their wives, and you have an
industry with 100, coo people making more
profits than another industry with 400, 600
people, and surely the amount OF capital in
at least equal to the amouutiuvested in rail-
roads. But II these are facts as TO theyear
1883 when we have allowed seventy cents
per bushel to the farmer for his wheat, bow
much worse will be- the showing as to the crop
Of 1884, when wheat has not averaged the
farmer fifty cents per bushel.
l. Gentlemen ask you if these figures donot
present very serious state Of affairs foryou
as well as the agrculturist.
The railroad commissioner informs Ms that
the railroads .lof Minnesota cost on an
average SAC, 994 per mile, or Sl6i. O54. SIS
in the whole Now does any one
believe they actually cost this amounts But
he further tells US that the total stock of
these roads Is S974, 465, O34, and the total
debt is $500, SEQ, 653. We shall fall short Of
the mark II We say We are paving dividends
on three times the cost Of the roads
The commissioner shows us that the cost
OF operating our roads has decreased 3 Der
cent, while the freight business has increased
per cent. and the passenger business 10
per cent. he further SAYS that by refusing
10 receive grain except from 80. 900 bushel
elevators. the railroads have killed of com
petition aud driven of Independent buyers
Again be SAYS that outside BUYERS are, on
one pretext or another. refused cars aud
frozen out. In confirmation OF these
facts he states that the Mississippi
river towns from Hastings TO Brownsville
are free andopeu markets, aud not solitary
complaint has come from one OF them, while
from other places complaints are multiply
Ing. The commissioner states that the pres
ent rates for carrying wheat are unreasonable
and against the interests Of the railroads
themselves. Now. IL the rates on wheat are
Il -.
freights arr simple robbery.
Gentleman, as the residuary legatee in the
will scans the drafts upon the estate so should
YOU sean the drafts upon the farmers sur-