Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-05-20
mot DEAD, But SLEEpETH. /"
In Open Letter to our Dakota Railroad
Commissioners.
Frem n. |. Lousks, President Of the
Territorial Farmers Alliance
ofDakefa.
Deaal County Advocate.

The following extracts from the
Pioneer Press calls forth an open letter
from Mr.. Loucks, President of the Ter
I;torial Farmers alliance of Dakota, to
our Dakota Railroad Commissioners:
'Alex. Griggs, Railroad Commissioner
for the Territory of Dakota-We are pro-
ceediDg m modest sort of way 10 the
accomplishment of certain desired ends
in the interests of our people; but we
don't intend to embarrass the railways
which are doing so much for the de-
veiOpment Of our great territory. Our
policy rs to secure as low a rate on ex-
port goods, such rs grain and potatoes. as
possible, and to accomplish tile same
end in the matter of the import Of such
of the necessities, as building material,
etc, as may be CONSTANT with the earn
ing capacity of our railroads without
Gripping them. The mere fact that a
railroad within our territory. by the ex-
ercise Of economy and by virtue of good
management, has accumulated a surplus
which may be utilized for the develop
ment of new territory tributary to IT, is
no reason why we should require that
road TO pay tsibute to the extent of its
earnings and surplus. We recognize the
benefits the railroads have conferred
upon our section of the country, and we
believe our people share this sentiment
with us"
EXPRESSES AN OPINION.
Capt. Alex Griggs, member of the
Dakota Railroad Commission, is at the
Merchants, having returned from his
trip to Chicago, where he had confer
ence with several railroad managers rel
alive 10 a reduction of freight rates
through Dakota. He said:
"Our chief desire is to get rates on all
heavy articles reduced, but our chief
anxiety is relative to grain. We pay %
cents per hundred now to Duluth, or
about u cents per bushel. III that rate
wac cut 10 to 10 per cent we can get a
living price for our grain. Ihaye figured
that on each forty acres of wheat raised,
a reduction of 10 per cent in freight rates
will net the farmer $50 more than he gets
now, and on groceries and other articles
consumed by the former, a saving Of
about So per year. That is quite con-
sideSation to farmers just starting. II the
roads of North Dakota do this, the roads
of South DAKOTA will follow suit. have
very encouraging replies from all the
railroad managers. and am certain that
can secure anything withinreason from
them. l shall not push this matter at
at once, but shall wait until fall when we
see what the crop is likely to be. l do
not think that the crop will be as heavy
this year. ! figure a falling off in the
wheat crop of about Is per cent on the
old farms OF course new farms will
make up some of that, but the wheat
business was overdone the past year and
our farmers are going little more slow
ly. They are going to pay little more
attention to raising other farm products,
especially what they want to consume,
and there will not be so much stuff inn
ported into the country as there has been
in the past" Capt Griggs leaves for
lankton in day or two. where meet
ing of the Dakota railroad commission
will be held on the 9th inst.
PRESIDENTS OFFICE, TERRITOR-
IAL FARMERS ALLIANCE.
CLEAR LAKE, OAK, April 50, 1886.
To THE HONORABLE r. r. COMMISSIONERS
OF DAKOTA. GENTLENES:
Until / saw the above items in the
Pioneer Press, had forgotten that We
issd any r. r. Commissioners in Dakota,
and modest as am, it occurred to me
thas your extreme modesty was doing
you an injustice in keeping your light
hid under bushel and that would be
doing charitable thing TO unyeil such
wonderful modesty. / was under the
that the r. r. Commissioners
were appointed to consider the interests
of shippers and not those of the X. K.
Companies. l was innocent enough to
think the railroads employed the very
best talent in the country to look after
their interests. In this l seem to have
been mistaken and that it is the special
mission of our r. r. Commissioners to
guard the prosperity and increase the
surpluses Of the X. II Companies. am
sure the X. X. Companies must appre-
ciate your thoughtfilness in not swish
ing to embarrass them" Have you ever
thought Of the very embarrassing position
in which large number of the farmers
of Dakota are placed, and which might
have been relieved by reasonable re-
duction of freight rates? Before en-
the railroads to accumulate
would it not be advisable to
learn the amount of surplus the farmers
are able TO lay up under existing rates
and prices? You admit that we are not
getting living price within 10 to Is per
cent for our wheat. You estimate
saving by your proposed reduction of
rates of s33 per every 40 acres Of wheat
grown. You assure US, 81 am certain
that i can secure anything within reason
from Them the r. K. Companies. You
think tie above reasonable; then why in
the name of common sense and suffering
should you allow your modes
ty to prevent you pushing this matter at
once. In case so plain. with the X. r.
Companies so anxious TO comply, why
wait until fall when we see what the
cropis likely to be?" Surely your great
viii not prevent you saying The
word and securing us just little relief
out of your abundant store You can
not secure it too soon, and then you
know while you arc waiting and watch
Ing the growing crops the r. r. Compan-
les may change their minds if they think |
you mean business. waiting to see
how the crops will YIELD" will, / fear.
result in the old game, "heads win, |
tails you lose" II the crops are good |
your warm interests in the II. r. Com
panies may induce you to think that the
Iarmers can afford to pay present rates
which would enable the r. Z. Compan.
les to add TO their surplus, etc. If the
,rops are poor. why of course they can |
not afford TO reduce their rates when
here is likely to be falling OF in |
'reight Then as TO incoming freights.
You think there should be a reduction. |
fou are certain you can secure it. You
,stimate saving IS on groceries, etc.
4 you add farm implements, lumber and |
wine you could, no doubt raise that es-
innate. several times. Are you aware
hat the bulk of slich necessities win be
ieeded before fail? IL not hope YOU
VII forget your modest blush long
nough TO investigate, realize and push
or reduction at once, You cannot do it
DO soon for your reputation and our
ockets. There is another subject to
'hich would like to call your attention,
IL; The rate Gu wheat to Chicago to
Ihich. or corresponding point, we are
ompelled to pay freight ON all shipments
wheat. Take for instance the rate
ON Waterfowl to Chicago is SO cents.
hat was the rate when transit sold for
cents and was protected at that by the
. X. Companies inissested. Transit has
fely fallen as low AS O cents. Wa nsed