The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-01-04
ests in congress for which we should

ests in congress for which we should
care?
But you ask what has this to do with
Mr.. Washburn and the senatorship
Look on the map again, and your ques-
ton Is answered. By his railway the
$500" is 500 miles distant from Minneap-
oils. BY the lake it is distant from Du-
luth about 400 miles. All the railways
deliver produce to Duluth at the same
price they will deliver 1t at Minneapolis.
And they deliver merchandise, coal, etc.,
from Duluth to points TO the West at the
same price they deliver it from Mime
apolis. The result is to reach the $500"
by rail Mr.. Washburn must carry his
produce from Minneapolis 500 miles for
the same price that vessel would take
1t from Duluth. 400 miles, and if he
would haul merchandise and coal he
must do it over his 500 miles for the
same price ii is done by vessel 400 miles
to Duluth. This it is impossible for him
to do. With the straits at the $500" in
their present condition vessels cannot
force him 10 the competition, and the
naked and bold question for Mr.. WASH
burn and the people to decide is, shall
he stay at home and the $500" be inn
proved and his road return to The
swamps and sand from which very
shortsighted intellect raised 1t or will
the farmers send him to the senate
where he can block appropriations and
the consequent Improvement of the
800" for six wears that his road may
live and his private fortune grow fat at
the expense of the raisers of bread and
burners of coal. Better had the farm
efs buy his road and turn it loose to its
native worthless wilderness. He has
or In no 10 he ha
shameless assurance to ask an unsuspect-
ing public to aid him.
Answer the plain question. What has
merchant miller, wheat speculator,
stock jobber and railway president in
common with farmer? Point if you
can to single act of Mr.. Washburn that
betrays even a disposition of sympathy
with the farmer.
Who is helping him? He says solid
delegation from Minneapolis. just what
might have been expected, and part
of the same great scheme. Do you sup
pose Minneapolis wants the 800" i'm
proved and Duluth thereby made the
great shipping and commercial center
for the Northwest as Chicago is for that
port? Was Minneapolis ever known to
labor for any measure the results of
which would be benefit to the State as
dRdltlob HcI DOeS love the
country and smaller cities? Who else
is helping him? He says all the delega-
ton from this county. Can it be posi-.
bic that the representatives of our farm
ers and the representative of Mankato
have thoughtlessly or for any other rea-
son made themselves party to transac.
ton the results of which can bring only
injury to both?
Who else are helping him? Chicago
and every railway entering there, and
every interest dependent thereon.
Who will aid him when in the senate
to defeat an appropriation for this i'm
provementP Every interest and every
senator representing it outside of Min
nesota, Dakota aud the country west
therefrom. Indeed he only needs to be
inactive and they will do it without his
aid. Can any one be stupid enough to
suppose congress will thrust it upon us
when at the last session the senate COM
mittee three times struck from the bill
this appropriation, and only bv the per-
sistent and ceaseless efforts of the sena-
tors from this State permitted the bill to
pass with $l,500,000 appropriated for
this purpose. Will the farmers lntrust
him with this great concern, and will
our own members be parties to it?
Yours truly,
A BLUE EARTH COUNTY FARMER.