Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-10-08
MANAGER MELLEN TALKS,
The General Manager of the n.
II. Speaks About Matters of
Universal Interest
To the Farmers of our Fair State
They Should Prepare for
Holding Their Grain.
Success of Cattle Raisers An
Editorial Change Other
nG News.
"A Northern Pacific Visitor,

a Northern Pacific Visitor.
General Manager Mellen of the North
ern Pacific railroad spent the night in
jamestown and this morning made trip
of inspection over the James river valley
line to Cakes, returning to this point at
noon. Mr.. Mellen was called upon by a
number of leading citizens of jamestown
and talked freely of the prospects for
the development of the country, and the
leading share which the great company
he represents. expects to take in the,
work. The moving of the present crop
when threshing is again fully under way
is the problem that IS at present exciting
the greatest interest and was the predom-
inant topic of discussion. To an Alert
representative Mr.. Mellen said in sub
stance: ''Early in the summer we began
masslng freight cars at all the
points along our road and succeeded in
getting large number on the ground
before threshing began. By this means
we have been able to promptly supply
all demands made upon us. We will en-
deavor to do this as far as lies in our
power iu the future. But the crop is so
large that it will be strange if some de-
lays are not experienced later on. We
will try to avoid this, however, as far as
possible. believe that the farmers
of North Dakota make great mistake
in not providing storage for their own
gram on their farms. Our company has
very large equipment OF cars, and our
facilities for transporting grain arc equal
to il not superior to that of any north
western railway, but even the Northern
Pacific cannot haul all of the wheat re-
quired of it at once. Eight months in the
year we have freight cars idle on the tracks
and for the remaining four months
more grain to transport than our equip
ment, large as it is can do.
By rushing all their gram to
market at once, the farmers break the
price themselves. II different plan we're
pursued in this matter farmers would get
better prices. and the railroads could
comply with all reasonable requests for
cars at all times. I can assure you, how
ever, that it is the intention OF our COM
pany to assist IN every way in the
marketing of the North Dakota wheat
product to the best interests of the men
who raise it,"
A suggestion was made that if the
company would concede a reduction on
lumber rates to farmers who desired to
erect granares it would be in the line Of
the mutual benefit desired. Mr.. Mellen
promptly said that was a practical sug-
gestion and one that no doubt would re-
ceive favorable consideration.
In the matter of warehouse and eleva.
tor sites Mr.. Mellen stated that any per-
son or company could build such storage
OF grainhouses along the right-of-way by
complying with the conditions usually
stipulated. By the terms of their char
ter the company had no right to sell or
deed the right-of-way, but where parties
desired to keep open houses the year
around, do legitimate business, and not
interfere with the operation of the road
any person could build gram warehouse
or elevator on the right.of-way. He had
found, be said, that IN most cases the ap.
plicants to build small warehouses In.
tended only to blackmail the regular ele
vators by compelling them to buy the
small warehouse at exorbltant figures.
In reply to question as to whether
the Northern Pacific would extend its
James river line from Oakes to Aber-
deem this fall, Mr.. Mellen said that the
construction business OF the road was
not within his province and that he was
unable to cay. Concerning new depot
for jamestown Mr.. Mellen SAID:
You will get that all right,
pretty soon, and the present delay will
only result in your getting better and
more satisfactory structure. There are
other places on the line worse off for
depot Accommodations than jamestown.
Our policy has been to get as near per-
feet main line track to the coast as pos
slble, and without boasting I can say
that we have the best road bed
and track to the Pacific of
any railway in the country. This has
cost an immense amount of money, and
the work is not yet completed. There
are several portions of the line where i'm
provements are still in progress, but as a
whole the work is about done, and has
been we'll done. Jamestown will get a
handsome and commodious depot before
long, but the finances of the company