Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-02-22
Miles con- Miles Of

in 1887. oper' ion.
Northern Pacific ......Il7 $40
Chicago. Milwaukee d st. Paul 100 ], 155
Chicago & Northwestern. ..... IS 70l
st Paul, Minneapolis Man. .3l5 l,037
Black Hills a. Fort Pierre. Is
Fremont Elkhorn Missouri
Burlington. Cedar Rapids &
Chicago, St. Paul. Minneapolis Minneapolis, & "
Minneapolis & Pacific. ......:.... Ss s.
Minneapolis q st. Louis. ........ 4
Total .....,..................7l .7l6 4,2T
Three hundred and one miles OF road were
graded in the territory and will be ironed
next year. The gross earnings of all the
roads doing business in Dakota the past
year was SS5, 127 .4S3, their operating ex-
penses and taxes. $40. .6G3 0l9. leaving as
their net earnings. 1886. AGA. .464 The follow
ing table shows the amount OF taxes paid
into Dakota's treasury by the various roads
under the gross earnings tax law" for the
year ending June 30. 1887
Burlington, Cedar Rapids d Northern 9 l,5l7 a5
Black Hills 4 Fort Pierre. ............. l433 10
Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha. ..........,............. I,s64n
Wisconsin, Minnesota Pacific ... s77ss
Chicago& Northwestern .......... 9s5ln
Chicago, Milwaukee st Paul. 1900, 30,S9557
Freem0nt, Eikhorn q Missouri Valley 2,425 50
Minneapolis Il Pacific c............... 951s
Northern Iacif1c Observation-Disclosures. 5,2S4 "a
st. Paul, Minneapolis Manitoba. 50,9ga 20
Total gross earnings tax. .sl94, ,246 26
One-half of the gross earnings tax of the
Northern Pacific has not been paid. owing
to litigation. which is the result of n contro-
versy as to whether or not the company s
land can be taxed. The Northern Pacific
representatives state that the con pany is
willing to pay a tax either on its gross earn
ings. or on its land. but not on both. The
total number Of miles run by trains in Da-
kota during 1886 was GA. 196. .O09; in 1887 a.
693.4l1. During 1887 the total tonnage Of
grain was 5.22s.634 OF which Dakota had
720521. In the construction of its extension
through Northwestern Dakota and into
Montana the Manitoba eclipsed all previous
efforts at track laying. and opened up one
OF the richest agricultural districts OF the
territory to the settler and homeseeker
Another advance step Is that taken by the
Northern Paciflc in giving the public a
coast, and thus shortening the trip nearly
one day. 1t has also reduced the time Ct its
local passenger train. The Chicago, Mil
waukee Il st. Paul ia reaching for unoccu-
pied territory; the Chicago 4 Northwestern
ia doing likewise and the Minneapolis Il Pa
ciflc has started for the Missouri valley in a
manner that is encouraging to the settlers
along that stream.
Dakota has more miles of completed rail-
road than either California, Tennessee. vir-
xinia. North Carolina. Colorado, Arkansas,
Alabama or Georgia: twice as many miles
as either Massachusetts,, South Carolina
Florida. New Jersey. Mississippi or Ken
tucky; and more than three times as many
miles OF railway as either Maine, MARYLAND
West Virginia. Louisiana or Oregon. As
nearly all the roads OF the territory are
comparatively new, the bridges and tres
ties are strong and nnimpaired. On the
Northern Pacific and Manitoba roads there
has been reduction OF about ~ per cent
on freight rates; on passengers the rate has
been reduced from five cents per mile to
four cents per mile. and on mileage books
from three to two and one-half cents per
mile. The Minneapolis and st. Louis has
reduced its freight rates about Is per cent,
but its passenger rates remain unchanged
-four cents per mile. During the year
there were twenty eight persons killed on
the railroads in the territory. Among these
was one passenger. seventeen employees.
and ten who come under neither Of these
heads. The total number OF miles Of West
ern Union telegraph wire in Dakota is
5.211. the number OF telegraph Offices, 279,
and of employees. $40. For years the sys-
tenn Of handling and shipping. grading and
storing grain had been a source OF much
stances an absolute loss to the farmers.
The owners of elevators were
unchecked in their control Of
the local market throughout the terri
tory; there was no protection to the
producer. and the cheating In grades.
grain warehouse law brings the manage
ment Of the elevators within the reach Of
the public, and provides means for cheek
ing many Of the abuses Of the past. The
new law provides that all elevators storing
grain for q compensation shall give good
from the railroad commissioners. Before
there wa 4 lack Of security Tor Grain vhich