St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-27

| Tue TallrOau IrelSnL tariuS lot Tue northwest
have remained Substantially unchanged, ex-
acting nearly all the same rates for transpor-
tation as in prosperous times when wheat was
worth 80 cents more at the markets OF the
sea board than IL is to-day. The railroads have
| pushed their rule of 'charging all that the
traffic will bear" to the utmost limit, but it
is the opinion of many experienced and sa-
gacious business men, some of whom are
largely interested in the railroads, that they
would In the long run have realized a greater
amount from the transportation of grain If in
these times of general depression they had
made liberal reduction in their tariff at the
outset, and thus encourage and foster the
producing interests.
These statements find abundant proof in
the following facts, which we believe are not
disputed: The cost, including elevator
charges, freight and commissions of trans
porting wheat from Fargo to Duluth, dis
lance of $50 miles, is 20 cents bushel, and
from jamestown to Minneapolis, distance
of 356 miles, % cents. It has been asserted,
and not disproved, that the rates from Fargo
to Duluth are nearly double what they are
from Minneapolis to Chicago,
ALMOST TWICE THE DISTANCE,
and it is stated that wheat can be trans
portedf rom Chicago to Liverpool at less cost
than from Grand Forks or Jamestown, OAK,
to Minneapolis. In the department of agricul-
ture reports of the relative price Of wheat in
the various home markets, we find that the
average price in December last was 46 cents
in Dakota, so cents in Minnesota, while it
was IS cents in New York state and Sc cents
in Pennsylvania. This difference OF 35 to 40
cents per bushel very nearly represents the
cost of transportation to the seaboard, and it
is noteworthy that more than one-half Of this
amount is exacted before it mas been moved
beyond few hundred miles from the place
of production.
In view of these facts We may we'll ask
where is to-day the boosted supremacy Of No.
l hard wheat, which this northwest is sup
posed TO have the exclusive monopoly of pro-
ducing? Aud the natural queries that follow
are how long, even with these cheap and
wonderfully productive lands, can We hope
to command the wheat markets Of the world,
and how long can any agricultural COM
munity pay such enormous tribute to cor
porate organizations in times like these,
without final exhaustion and ruin!
If the carrying business and the grain bust
ness were absolutely divorced, and the rail-
roads were the public carriers in fact, (which
their charters demand, and servants Of the
people, from whom they obtain their valu-
able franchises they enjoy, and were com
PEELED to furnish every shipper all the facili-
ties required to give him free and open
market, the complaints against the elevators
would cease, and If they were then shown to
afford the benefit to the farmers which is
claimed for them, they would not be slow to
appreciate it and continue to use them.
Your committee have not overlooked the
complaints by no means uncommon, Of ex-
cessive transportation charged by several Of
our railroads on outward freight, which also
adds to the burden of the agricultural classes,
as it imposes tax the greater portion Of
which much must be eventually borne BY
them as consumers.
There is also evidence that the rebate sys-
tenn and the transit system, work greatly to
the disadvantage of the shipper of grain.
1t is hardly possible for any intelligent, fair
minded man to defend the course of the
railroads, while at the same time he does not
fail to recognize and value all that they have
accomplished for the development of this
new northwest. Their plea in self defence
has been the
NECESSITY OF EARNING DIVIDENDS
gard to most of the roads is that they have
built large number of feeders into spaIsely
settled regions, often in advance OF immi-
grafton, which it could not be reasonably ex-
pected would be able 10 pay interest on the
in vestment until the country was more largely
populated and fully developed,
The railroads by their persistent course are
inviting and precipitating hasty legislation
upon a question which should be considered
dispassion atey with calm judgment and wise
craftsmanship, in spirit of mutual conces-
sion 10 the interests of both parties, which
should always be identical and inseparable.
The agricultural population Of this region,
class composed OF the best elements of adj
vanced civilization, are courageous aud per-
severing in the face of discouragements that
would appall the stOutest hearts, and they
look hopefully TO the future with the utmost
cunfidt nee in the boundless resources OF the
land they occupy. But in this extremity they
naturally turn 10 the law-making power, the
creature Of the peoples sovereign choice,
confident that the legislature OF this state aud
of the neighboring territory of Dakota will at
this session enact such wise and sautary
laws as will afford them all necessary relief,
while in no wise impairing the franchises OF
In response 10 their request that the board
T trade cooperate in obtaining the required
/, gislation, aud in the fullest sympathy with
tie interests presented. your committee
would respectfully offer the following resolu-
lions, and urge their prompt adoption By this
board:
Resolved That we request our representa-
tiyes in tue legislature to urge the enactment
Oh ..ws establishing a uniform mode Of grad
ing heat in elevators and warehouses, re-
duclng the number Of grades 10 the smallest
practical minimum for the advantage OF both
buyer aud seller, and prohibiting all arbitrary
rules Of dockage.
Resolved, That we request our representa-
,ives to urge the passage OK law requiring
all elevators and warehouses, IL on careful
investigation IT would seem practicable, to
have facilities for cleaning wheat at b reason
able price, and when clean all dockage shall
be prohibited.
Resolved, That we urge the enactment Of n
Law compelling railroads TO furnish side track
facilities for ali persons DESTROYS Of erecting
elevators or warehouses Of not less than
5000 bushels capacity, at any regular sta
ton on the line of ans railroad operated in
the state, ~ the end that free and open
market mag be afforded to all shippers Of
grain With proper remuneration TO tue rail-
roads for side track facilities If required In
dependent Of side tracks already established;
and that said railroad be compelled as com
mon carriers TO furnish all applicants, with
out Discrimination and on Unable notice,
cars for shipping grain from any elevator or
warehouse on the line Of their roads.
Re,olged, That we urge the enactment Of
law appointing railroad commission, con-
sistiug Of three persons, Of whom one at least
sball represent the agricultural interests Of
the state, whose duty /. shall be TO see that
the above laws are properly enforced, and ~
whom all grievances in regard TO freight
tariffs shall be submitted. And We recon-
mend that sufficient salary shall BE- paid TO
said com missiOncrs 70 secure the best ability