The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-06-21
The Farmers and Railroads.

Railroad Commissioners Austin, Becker
and Gibbs and Secretary Warner met ~
large number OF representative farmers
and business men at Moorhead, MINI. The
meeting was opened by II long speech by
Gov. Austin, who related the history OF
railroad legislation in the state. and the
difficulties met and the opposition OF rail
road managers to the enforcement OF the
law. He touched upon the Farmers alli-
ance executive committee passing resolu-
tions condemning the commissioners when
they were fighting the peoples
battles against the power of monopoly.
He made use OF the word cranks to some
alliance men, etc. He stated he would
soon call a meeting to g i've all counties in
the state opportunity to be heard. also
the railroads, on the question OF reduction
of freight rates. He advised farmers to
send down able men to represent them and
unfortunately referred to them as attor-
neys who would have to meet sharp at
torneys OF railroads. Mr.. Probstfeld,
secretary OF the Moorhead Farmers al
lance, resented some references made
by Gov. Austin in a sharp speech,
referring to we'll known re-
that he would shake the railroads
over u certain hot place, and that the
farmers had been shaken over that place
so long they had no money to hire attor-
neys, but wanted the commissioners to
cope with the railroad attorneys. Messers.
Wilson, Smyth. Canning. Burdiek and
Others made speeches. The following reso.
lutions embrace the demands OF farmers
Whereas. We find in the official report
OF the statistician OF the department. OF
agriculture for April, 1883, that the rate
for transportation of wheat and other
grain in car load lots over the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul railway between
st. Paul, Minneapolis and Chicago, IL dis
tance OF 45O miles, is II 1-2 cents per 100
pounds; assuming this is an equitable and
reasonable rate for transporting
wheat 42O miles, to transport 1t 2lO
miles, the distance between Moorhead and
st. Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth, ia
cents per 100 pounds would be an equal
and reasonable rate. But allowing that
on account OF the great competition
among numerous railroads between st.
Paul, Minneapolis and Chicago, and the
larger volume OF traffic, by which they can
afford to transport wheat at IL lower rate
than Between Moorhead and st. Paul,
Minneapolis and Duluth, we will add 40
per cent to this equal rate according to
distance, which will make it Il rate OF
9.99 cents, or, to avoid fractions, 10
cents per 90 pounds. We deem 10 per
cent in favor OF the roads reaching our
territory, which haul probably more
wheat than any other two roads in the
United States, is sufficient; therefore,
Resolved by the Moorhead alliance, that
the board OF railroad and warehouse COM
missioners of the State OF Minnesota be
requ sted to make and order the rate OF
10 tents per 100 pounds in car load lots
for ,he transportation OF wheat and other
grain from Moorhead, to st. Paul, Mime
apolis and Duluth, and the same rate on
flour, potatoes, lumber and hay. to take
effect on or before the 18th day OF August,
1888, and just and equal rates from tho
intermediate points to the terminal points
above named.
Resolved, That we also request pro-
portionate reduction according to classifi.
cation on the transports ton OF cattle,
hogs, sheep. horses, coal and wood from
the same date as above.