Morris tribune., 1885-01-28

The following extract from speech
delivered by E. J. Hodgson-a gen.
tleman we'll known in this part Of the
country-before the st. Paul Chamber
ofCommerce, on Monday last, in re-
lation to certain communications re-
ceived from the business men Of Her
man and Rush City, may prove Of in
terest to many of our readers:
The communications before us call
our attention to the fact that agricul-
ture is being crushed under burdens
that it can no longer bear, and plead
with lis for assistance. Are these
complaints we'll grounded?
The railroad commissioner in his
late report shows that the gross re-
ceipts of the railroads in this state for
the year ending June 80, 1884, were
$23, 1873, 465. That is more than the en-
tire value of our wheat crop Of 1883,
The acreage for that year was 2,5O7,-
III acres. At thirteen bushels per
acre we have 1888, 223 bushels. II
this brought the farmer seventy cents
per bushel, which I think is above
rather than below the price received,
we have go, ISIS, I56 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 thing? The net profits Of the
railroads were 81, AT. Allowing
fifty cents per bushel as the cost of
raising and marketing wheat, it would
leave the farmer net profit of twenty
cents per bushel or $6,51s,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 $4,000, 900
net profits from our farms, as against
about $12,O00,OOO on railroads. There
are $4,000 railroad employees in the
state. There are about 100000 people
working on farms. Add 1900 to
railroad employees forItheir wives, and
you have an industry with 100, 600
people making more profits than an.
other Industry with 400, 900 people, and
surely the amount Of capital invested
in farms, and farm Improvements is
at least equal to the amount invested
in railroads. But If these are facts as
to the year 1888, when we have al
lowed seventy cents per bushel to the
farmer for his wheat, how much worse |
will be the showing as to the crop of
1884, when wheat has not averaged
the farmer fifty cents per bushel.
Gentlemen ask you if these figures
do not present very serious state of
affairs for you as well as the agricul-
turist.
The railroad commissioner informs
us that the railroads of Minnesota
cost on an average $40, 1894 per mile, or
$161 1854, 515 in the whole. Now does
any one believe they actually cost this
amount? But he further tells us that
the total stock of these roads is $274,-
465 ,034, and the total debt is 800, $780,
653. We shall fall short of the mark
if we say we are paying dividends on
three times the cost of the roads.
The commissioner shows us that
the cost of operating our roads has de-
creased per cent, while the freight
business has increased 8 per cent. and
the passenger business 10 per cent.
He further says that by refusing to re-
ceive grain except from $4,000 bushel
the railroads have killed off
competition and driven off independent
buyers. Again he says that outside
buyers are on one pretext or another,
refused cars and frozen out. In con-
of these facts he states that
the Mississippi river towns from Hast
ings to Brownsville are free and open
markets, and not a solitary complaint
las come from one of them, while
rom other places complaints are
The commissioner states
hat the present rates for carrying
wheat are unreasonable and against I
The interests of the railroad them
selves. Now, if the rates on wheat
IRE unreasonable, then the local rates !
IN other freights are simple robbery.
Gentleman, as the residuary lcgatee
N the will scans the drafts upon the /
,stata 80 should you scan the drafts