The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-05-15
An OPEN Letter 10 Oar Dakota Railroad
Commissioners.

Dakota state League.
--~~-----sr-~----~~~.-~ss-%.
an Open Letter 10 Oar Dakota Railroad
Commissioners.
peuel County AdvocGtc.
The following extracts from the
Pioneer Press calls forth an open letter
from iir. Loucks. President of the Ter
ritorial Farmers Alliance of Dakota,
TO our Dakota Railroad Commissioners:
ALEX Griggs, Railroad Commissioner
for tie Territory Of DdkOta.-N G are
proceeding in modest sort Of way to
the accomplishment Of certain desired
ENDS in the interest Of Ourpeopie; bot
We don't intend 10 2mbarrasS the rail-
ways which are doing 50 much for the
development Of oar great Territory.
Our policy is to secure rs low rate on
export goods. such as grain and pota-
toes. rs possible, and 10 accomplish the
same end in the matter OF the import
OF such OF the necessities, rs building
material. etc, as may be consistent
with thc earning capacity oi out rail-
roads without gripping them. The
mere fact that railroad within ouI
1crritorv. by the exercise OF economy
t}itht fJN skN1t "a SkAN AiA''2
accumulated q surplus which may be
utilized for the development OF new
territory tributary 10 il. is no reason
Why we should require that road to pay
tribute TO the extent Of its earning&and
surplus. We recognize the benefits the
railroads lave conferred upon our sec
tion ot the country, ana we believe oar
people share this scntimen. with u.s."
EXPRESSIONS or orINlON.
Captain Alex Griggs. q member Cf
the Dakota railroad commission, is al
the Merchants, having returned from
his trip TO Chicago, where he had a
conference with several railroad man
ayers relative to q reduction Of freight
rates through Dakota. lie said: "Our
chief desire is 20 get rates on all heavy
articles reduced, hut OGr chief anxiety
IS relative 10 grain. We pay - cents
per hundred NOW 10 Duluth, or about
II cents per hushCi. Ii that rate was
cut 10 10 Is per cent we can get a living
price for cur grain. | have figured
That on each forty acres of wheat raised
n reduction Of 10 per cent in freight
rates viii net the farmer $50 more than
he gets now. and on groceries and other
articles consumed 10y the former, u saw
ing OF about 81 per year. That is quite
q consideration To farmers just starting.
If 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
within reason from them. / shall not
push this matter At once, but shall wa I
Uutii fall when wc see what the crop is
likely TO lie. do not think THAT the
ciop viii be as heavy this year. figure
q laiiHg of in TIE wheat crop Of about
- per cent on the old farms, or course
new farms Will make up some Of that,
hut the wheat business was Ovcrdore
the past year and our farmers are going
q littlc more slowly. They are going
to pay little more attention 10 raising
other farm products, especially what
they want to consume, anl there will
not be SO much stuff imported into the
country rs there has been in the past.
Captain Grjggs leaves for Yankton in q
day or two. where meeting OF the
Dakota rajlroGd commission will bt
held od the 9Th inst
PRrsIDEET's OFFICE TERRITORIAL
FARMERS ALLIANCE, CLEAR LAKE
deuel. county, Oak, April 80, 13s6.-TC
the Honorable Railroad Commissioners
of Dakota. Gentlemen: Until | saw
the above items in the Pioneer Press
had forgotten that we had any railroad
commissioners in Dakota. and modest
as | am. it occurred 10 me that your
extreme modcsty was doing you an in
justice in keeping your light hid undei
bushel. and that | would DC doing ;
charitable thing to unyeil such wonder
ful modesty. i was under the nEpres
Sion that the railroad commissioner
were appointed TO consider the inter
ests of shippers, and not those of th'
railroad companies. | was innocen
enough 10 think that the railroads EN-
p!Oycd the very best talent III the coun
try to look after their Interests. Ii
this ! seem TO have been mistaken anC
that it IS tie special mission of on
railroad commissioners to guard th'
prosperity and increase the surplaae
Of the railroad companies. | am SURE
the railroad companies must appreciate
your thOughtgulness in not "wishing {,
embarrass them" Have YOU eve
thought OF the very embarrassing posi-
tion in which a large number OF tn
I farmers OF Dakota are placed, an,
which might have been relieved by
reasonable reduction of freight rates
: Before encouraging the railroads &
accumulate SURPRISES, would il not b
advisable to learn the amount Of sur
I plus the farmers are able TO lay ~
under existing rates and prices? Yol
admit that we arc not getting a livin
price within 10 to l5 per cent for on
wheat. You estimate 4 saving by you
proposed reduction Of rates Of $33 pc
every 30 acres of wheat grown. Yo
! assure us. Il am certain that | can sc
cure anything within reason fror
them" the railroad companies. Yo
think the above reasonable; then VIII
! in the name OF commup sense and sui
fering humanity should you allow you
modcsty TO prevent you pushing thi
matter ut once. In q case SO plain
with the railroad companies so anxiou
to comply, Why "wait until Gall whe'
we see what the crop Ii likely to bey
Surely your great niodesty will not pre-
vent yonr saying the word and securing
Iusjast 4 little relsef oat * ycsr Ah,lpd
2zf sa ~ M III b3tS