Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-10-22
from 81 900 to $4,000 per day for dis
obeyipp the proyjsious of the hill


These points, briefly put, onstitute
the intent OF the bill the farmers
alliance OF Dakota proposes to ask
the Legislature to enact into law. The
remarkable provisions of the bill lead
one to enquire what the railroads in Da-
kota have been doing to invite such an
outrageous assortment OF statutory re.
strictions. The candid man, free from
preludices of 8 class organization which
very much oyerestimates the grievances
OF the people, will say that farmers,
shippers and others have been very we'll
treated by the railroads OF Dakota. Ia
THE end OF the territory, where diversi-
fed farming and stock growing are the
productive industries there have never
been any complaints OF general nature
against railroad companies, nor any dis
position to complain. Southeast Dako-
ia makes no demand for the law the
farmers alliance proposes to enact, but
in its good sense will rather oppose such
enactment as dangerous to their present
and destructive of their future interests.
Relative to the grievances, real or i'm
aginary, of the exclusive wheat section
OF Dakota we are not we'll informed
through personal contact with the custo-
mers OF railroads. But We read the news
papers OF that section and there has been
nothing in them to lead one to suppose
that its railroad have perpetrated any
ontrsges upon its people. Wheat is the
product OF that section and We notice
that the farmers receive within few
cents OF Minneapolis prices for their
wheat, and Minneapolis prices range
higher than Chicago prices. So far as
she railroads prevent, those Dakota mar
kets hsying direct rail connection with
Minneapolis might pay Minneapolis
prices FOR wheat every day in the yess.
Because they do not Is the fault OF the
buyers, not the railroads. Under the
milling in transit rate the roads praoti.
cally carry wheat from Dakota farms TO
the market without charge. Does the
farmers alliance want anything better
than thas9 Down in this end of the ter
ritory we pay seventeen cents to get q
bushel OF wheat to market and do not
look upon the price as exorbitsnt.
We have witnessed the Transformation
OF Dakota from reproductive, unoc-
copied wilderness into @ succession of
produc i've farms, prosperous towns and
cities and ell peopled by OBJ energetic,
industrious population, who have given
TO our territory world wide fame as the
chief among the food producing divi-
sions OF America. All this hss occurred
because railroads came into the realm
and made it habitsbie. They cana in
advance OF population, and but for their
coming there would have been no popu-
lation-no two Dakotas with their we'll
merited demand for two places in the
union-and no farmers alliance drilling
itself to rise m and strike The power that
gave it existence. II the railroad COM
panies were ill treating the people of
Dakota there would be reason and JUS
sioe in the proposed demand of the
farmers alliance. But we have no evil
dence that they are, and unless such
evidence can be produced there is coed
cause to refuse to pass this bill.
There Is no legislative district in Da.
kote without its hopes and expectations
that more railroads will be built into and
through IL and its property and products
thereby enhanced in value. IL is not de.
MED that railroads do enhance values
and we all want them. We know thai
our future depends upon their coming
But il this proposed bill becomes Law
there will be no more railroad building
in Dakota. This ie point we'll worth
considering. Because our next legisla
ture is to be made up largely OF farmers
is no reason why il should legislate &C
deoisively against the interests Of those
who depend upon its wisdom and gooi
sense.