The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1885-02-19
A Fair mount Protest.
To the editor Of the Argus.

AZ the issue VI Ille sunday Argus
of Jan. Is, noticed "a comm unica-
tion from the pen of President Sar-
gent, of tho Fargo Southern Rail-
way company, in which Mr.. S. es-
says to discuss the evils of "low
prices,' "high freights'' and "eleva-
t frauds" but I think he has sig
nally failed to throw any light upon
the subject. He says "there are
those who appear to think all the
evils complained of are going to be
cured by legislation" Speaking for
myself I can say that do not think
legislation is going to cure the
"evils," nor do I think that all of
t Q legislation in Christendom can
remedy the evil Of Glow prices," but
I d. know that if our state and ter
ritorial legislatures will do their
duty to the people who elected them
they would cure the evils of '.high
freiglts" and elevator frauds,
These two very pernicious evils can
be cured by proper legislation. The
Interstate commerce bill that has
passed the lower house of congress,
should it become Il law, will have
the desired effect upon discrimina-
tion in favor OF monopolles, and it
is Il step in the right direction. Our
legislature should follow it up
speedily with Il bill similar in effect.
Notwithstanding Mr.. S. speaks of
elevators" and elevator men," he
does not tell us anything about
them. He does not tell US whether
it is through ignorance or fraud
that causes such greaC difference
N grades given by different eleva-
to. men. He does not tell us why
farmers were paid from ten to tif-
te:n cents per bushel more at other
elevators than they were at Fair
mount. He does not give US any
light as to why the special agent Of
the Fargo Southern Elevator COM
pany instructed their man at this
point to cut down a grade upon
certain farmer and should it drive
HIN away to send for him and give
ii.m his right grade. This is from
the elevator man himself. Cannot
legislation cure such fraudulent
TRANSACTIONS? Why does not the
presldant tell US why individual
sh ppers cannot procure from his
company cars for the purpose OF
snlppng their wheat, when they
can readily be obtained for the ship
mrnt Of oats, stock, in fact, any
thing but wheat? These are points
that we should have thought the
gentleman would have made plain,
but not one word does he utter up
on the subject. Mr.. Sargent goes
on to point out the evils of slack
farming, and makes some timely
which are all in order
and should be adopted by our far
mers. l am sure l do not know
whether the railroads can afford to
carry wheat for a less price than
they do, bat I do think that Mr.. S
read can i'll afford to lose the vast
amount of freight carried from their
territory by the Manitoba and Nor
thern Pacific. AS an instance, it is
estimated that from 10000 to $4,000
bushels Of wheat raised in the vein
lty and directly tributary to the
station Of Paramount, was hauled
to other roads on account of low
grades, heavy dockage and other
fraudulent scheming practiced by
the Fargo Southern Elevator COM
pany At Paramount. The figures
may sound large, but I believe they
are under-estimated, as 7 have in
my possession atfidavits to $4,000
bushels, and there are several large
farmers who sold their wheat at the
station Of Campbell, Min
nesota, whose affidavits we have
been unable to obtain yet, When
the railroads change their system Of
leasing their entire line to elevator
and permit 4 free and
open market, then the price will be
regulated by the supply and demand
and the farmer will get wAstever
the wheat 10 worth. Why not Ger
nit any one who 50 desires to build
elevators or grain houses upon their
line and give private individuals q
chance to buy the product Of our
soil, and then refrain from discrim-
ination in freight? Or, better yet,
let the railroad company build tfeir
own grain houses. as they do freight
houses, and receive wheat for ship
ment as they do any other class Of
freight. This would give us sfree
buyers, competition, and every
4 Thin n cleo doc ri hin in oso,,r; ., :, 10