St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-24
TILE OREGON LEASES.

Ihe meeting OF railway officials held at
st. Paul this week is perhaps of deeper
significance and effects and wider range of
interests than is generally known. 1t is
believed by insiders to foreshadow the COL
lapse of the Transcontinental pool. The ar
rogance of the Central Pacific, one Of the
prime factors which led to the building of
the Oregon Short line by the Union Pacific,
to secure Pacific outlet independent of
dictation, has paved the way for new alli-
ances. AS collateral incident, the Ore
gon Railway &c Navigation company, from
considerations of personal interest, met the
new line by the Baker City extension, and
thus prevented the extension of the
Oregon Short line to the coast.
This circumstance proved to be a
serious complication in the way of
the Northern Pacific securing sole lease
OF the Oregon Railway & Navigation COM
pan'ys lines, and this, added to the compli-
cation of the Transcontinental pool and the
menace of other through fast lines, North
as well as South, has impelled the Union
Pacific and the Northern Pacific to form an
alliance, offensive and defensive. Thus it
happens that these two great corporations
are arranging to secure joint lease of the
Oregon Railway & Navigation lines. When
the question is considered in all its bearings,
criticism can but be disarmed, for
it is undoubtedly the wisest course
that could be pursued by these
companies in their own interests,
Nor can the country tributary to these lines
suffer from the alliance to the degree that
they would from the perpetuity of the
Transcontinental association. There are
perhaps some features of the new deal
which may be Objectionable, but they will
eventually be eradicated. Some percentage
may be agreed upon as the basis of a
division of the profits on the shipment Of
Oregon and Washington wheat via the
Northern Pacific and the great lakes to the
seaboard when the new deal has been put
into practical operation. This, it is true, is
theory based upon the conclusion that
the present arrangement would bar
the Northern Pacific from the through
lake route for Western wheat. The all-rail
feature of the agreement will at least be
beneficial to st. Paul and Minneapolis, as it
will bring these Western products through
these cities instead of Duluth. One thing
is certain and that is that in view of
the collapse of the Transcontinental pool
and the completion of the Canadian Pacific
to the coast, the alliance between the Union
and Northern Paciicis measure eminently
wise to be taken. Jointly they can put on
a line of steamers and secure the lions
share of the oriental trade which comes
across the continent, and the dual cities may
be assured of an equitable division, for its
line is the more direct from Portland to st.
fact to all intermediate commercial centers.
THE DAIRYMEN'S CONVENTION.
The meeting of dairymen at Moorhead,
which will assemble to-day, is one of the
most important ever held in the northern
part of the state, and it is gratifying to the
GLOBE to see so many prominent producers
in attendance. The meeting will be needed
stimulus to the development Of this import
ant industry not only in North
ern Minnesota but in North Da-
kota as well. The statistics an
suggestions there brought out will tend to
animate the farmers to engage in enter
priSes of this kind and thus add to their
sources of income and insure prosperity to a
section of the country which has devoted it
self to the production of a single
cereal. The statistics will show that
no community has ever prospered for any
great length of time on the production of a
single crop or the development of single
industry. Nor can this idea be too strongly
enforced upon the farmers of the North
west in the very incipiency of the develop
ment of the rare resources of their farms
The soil is not only the best adapted of any
in the world to the production of the best
grades of wheat known to the milling in
dustry and the flour trade, but it is equally
adapted to the growing of nutritious
grasses. While it is true that the higher
grades of corn cannot reach maturity ON ac-
count of the cool nights and short seasons,
good fodder may be grown without limit,
and the best of hay for winter feed devel-
oped. Shelter can be supplied with but
moderate cost. Every condition but this
is present in the north, and it is easily pro-
vided for. 1t is an industry which may be
developed on small scale with but little
capital when the proper methods are applied.
And herein lies one of the great advantages
of meeting like the one now at Moorhead.
Experienced producers will then compare
notes and bestow the benefit of their own
wide experience on those who are inclined
to engage in the industry even as an expert
ment. There will be dairymen from the
southern part of the state. where the condi-
tions are almost essentially the same as in
the north, who, having become bankrupt
in growing wheat, turned their attention to
dairying, and are now prosperous.
Southern Minnesota is dotted all over with
diaries and happy homes. The same con-
dition of prosperity may come to the whole
region of the country up north, where they
have had two years of hard times on ac-
count of the low price of wheat, if the far
mer will profit by the proceedings of the
meeting at Moorhead, as they reveal the ex-
periences of their brethren from Southern
Minnesota and elsewhere.
----s...--
THE ENGLISH SITUATION.
The deadlock in the English cabinet is
broken, and Lord SALISBURY has assumed
the very grave responsibilities of the pre-
miership. GLADSTONE has generously given
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