The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-04-09
MINNESOTA NEWS CONDENSED.
Railroad Commissioners Appointed.

the men who were least talked of, and least ex-
pected They ares. 8 Murdoch of Swift county,
republican,, and George l. Becker Of st. Paul,
democrat In connection with those appoint
ments, the governor furnls hes tho following
statement:
Tho Legislation of last winter for the regula-
ton OF railroads and tho warehousing and
tn;sndilng Of gram was suggested by the necessi-
TIES and demands of the producing classes of the
state and was enacted in their interest and for
their reilef. therefore regarded It of the first
Importance that the board Of commissioners
should be constituted, as whole, in a manner
that would ASSURE to the producing interests the
emplost consideration in the discharge of it's
outles, and at the same time give promise of
absolute Justice to every other interest affected
1y me laws with whose execution tits entrusted.
1eit that 1t was due to the agricultursts of the
esa1c mat one OF the apDoiAtces undor the law
enouid be farmer, aud ono whom the farmers
OF tne state would recognize az such. Mr. Muir
dock Is large farmernf Swift county, who has
Sallzed IN his own Experience just what the
grievances OF the farmers are that are most COM
planned of, and who has practical and compre-
nenslve views as to their remedies His sole
occupation for many years has been that Of
farmer, who lives on and works his own farm.
IN former years he has been engaged in extern
&ve business enterprises of q character that has
gwen him much experience with railroads "a
Supper. and during which he has had oc-
Saslon to give much study to the question of
transportation IN ITS many phases. He has also
had experience in tho details Of elevator man
aSement, and has practical knowledge regard
ing the handling and inspection of grain Mr..
Becker, as is generally known has had much
experience in tho practical operation of rail-
roads, though for several years past entirely
disconnected from their manago cement His
technical knowledge of matters relating to the
construction and operation Of railroads, and
'so his requirements as q lawyer, will prove
OF OIL great value in the treatment Of questions
with which the board will have to deal. His
present Interests are largely agricultural, he
being engaged in farming on an extensive scale
IN western Minnesota Gen, Baker, tho pres
ent en- commissioner, is also farmer; hence,
'aar,,a sne BOARD, az Whole, may be re-
interests of the state they arc all able gen-
tiemen, and will bring to the discharge of their
aotles Intelligence and ability of a high order,
eogeener with business qualifications, acquired
oy experience, that peculiarly fit them for the
Sbecial duties imposed by their appointment
ihe list OF over seventy names offered for con-
slderatlon afforded an abundance of excellent
'a'erlal from which to select the two appoint
-; YET 1t was something OF problem to give
-.od desirable, and yet comply with the
ms OF the law md meet the question of spe>
" ntness most successfully.
THE NEW COMMISSIONERS
George l. Becker was born IN Locke, N Y,
Feb: q, 1929 He graduated at Ann Arbor,
Mich, in lS46 and three years later camo to st.
faul whore he practiced law for eight years
III the firm of Rice, Holllnshead 4 Becker. Soon
after Mr. Becker became railroad man, being
land commissioner of tho st. Paul 4 Pacific,
and afterward president Of the road A few years
eEo ne severed his connection with the road and
retired from business. Ho has held several im-
portant Offices III tho state. In &:4 at the first
municipal election, he was chosen alderman, and
two years later mayor Ho was a mon,ber of
the constitutional convention i'll 1857, and cleo
ia to congress the noxt year. In 1859 he was
unanimously nominated for governor, but de-
feated. In 1857 he was elected to the state
senate nd served four sessions, being re- elected
without opposition.
s. Murdock's connection with the history
of Minnesota dates from 1860 when he was
practlcng law in Saltwater, and where his
brother Judge Hollis R. Murdock, still re-
sides. In 1865 he came to St. Paul as an
lotive member of the firm Of Bigelow,
Mnrdock & Co., and whom his connec-
7 charge Of the St. Paul Harvester Works. HIS
health failing him, he resigned his trust and
engaged in farming at Murdoch, Swift county,
(the town taking its nalnc from ll1n,) and also
IN the ownership and management of a large
elevator. Called to MINNEAPOLIS to take charge
OF the Harvester Works there he remained
only a year and half and thea his poor health
sent hin, back to agriculture, whi n he has
followed since. Though a Republican, Mr.
Nurtlock has not naked in politics for the last
ten years He has fine legal trimming, is we'll
known in the state and bears high reputation
for problty. AS the governor suggests, his
long exSorlence In shipping while in tho har-
vester business and his years of farming since
were doubtleas the chief causes of his appoint
ment
Capt A. J. Murphy of Lake Crystal
died recently. BE had suffered for years from
calcu!us, and submitted to an opera
ton IN the hope of obtaining relief: but
tho result showed that he lacked vitality to
undergo the ordeal.
fire at Byron destroyed the buildings used
as stores by A. L. Cutting and K E. Mo, DAM
aging Cuttings stock badly and almo. & utterly
consuming the stock of Mr.. Mo, on which
ihere was no insurance. His loss was $5UOO
syndicate of Amsterdam, Holland, and
lhicago immigration agents have purchased
~ ,OCO acrcs of St Paul s. Duluth railroad land
IN Renvillo, Chippewa aud Kandiyohi counties,
and Will settle the land with immigrants from
Holland, Norway and Germany.
Fire destroyed the barn and large number
OF horses, cows and other stock, and farm
machinery, grain and hay belonging to Mrs.
Ann killeen, near Wabasha.
Washington Sipes, convicted for the murder
of James Reagan, at St Charles five years ago
waa recently removed to the insane asylum at
June.
Lyon county maintained $4,000 poor farm
last year for the accomdation of single inmate
and expended 500 for county poor outside of
tho institution.
Col. T. J. Sheehan has entered upon his duties
as Indian agent at the White Earth agency
Mrs. Harriet Burner of Minneapolis was SEN
tencel to three years in states prison for ad-
ministering poison to Lille J. Hadley
The St Paul Fire and Marine Insurance
company has elected the following directors:
c. Bakeley, c. H. Bgelow, h. G. Burbank,
John s. Prince, Fl. NJ Smyth, A. H Wolch, j.
1. Merriam, W. F. Davidson, r. n McLaren,
II. e. Thompson, E. F. Drake, Petor Berkey
- NJ. Auerbach.
II pe cottage residences of J. B. Tarbox, Dr.
Bryant, Charles Nichols and Mrs. E. B. Gibbs,
of st. Paul, at White Bear lake near st. Paul,
were catirey destroyed by fire. All were in
snred
In reply to Adj Gen. MacCarthy, Adj. Gen
Drum, u s. A. writes that letters or endorse
mcnts conveying information or instruction az
to tho performances of duty, already author
izod or ordered by the superior, may be signed
by the adjutant general Of the state without
using tho name authority OF the commander;
'ut orders, or expressions Of satisfaction, or
ine reverse, must mention the authority by
which written. Lieut. Gen. P. H. Sheridan
concurs in this opinion.
William Simpson and William Cow, skating
rink propretors at Champlin, broke through
tie ice at Anoka and we're drowned.
A spotted fever is epidemic among children
at Breckinridge.
Thomas Gallagher was arrested and fined
$40 at Glencoe for running skating rink
without license.
A correspondent writing from La Crescent
Houston county, gives an account of remark
able case of life long sustained without food
Mary Moore, aged eighteen years, has taken no
water, which she invariably disgorges . few
moments after swallowing. She is very much
wasted and suffers from distressing cough,
but her eyes are bright and she moves her