Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-21
UPRISING IN NORTH DAKOTA.
The Fight Between the Wheat Farm
srs and state Authorities.

BISMARCK, N. D, Aug. 20 North Da-
kota 10 on the eve of harvesting what prom
ises to be sc, 900 900 -bushel crop Of wheat,
and the entire state has been thrown into q
high fever Of excitement by the war now
beng wsged between the railroad commits
sioners and the elevator companies. The
legislature Of 1890 passed Q stringent law
upon the subject Of handling grain and put
its enforcement in the hands of the railroad
commissioners. When the first crop was
ready to move after the passage Of this
new law the commissioners issued =
circular announcing the law impractical,
permitting the elevator companies to 60 on
and do business to suit themselves. As 3
result the grain busines in the atate was
conducted about a. before the passage Of
the law. The legislature of 1891 amended
the previous law making it more string
ent than the first, declaring all elevators in
the state, without regard to capacity or To-
cation, public warehouses and again giving
the railroad commissioners power to en-
force the law and authorizing them to es-
tablish such rules for the government Of
the business ss they saw proper.
The new Law also compelled the elevator
comp anies to clean, store and insure grain
for 20 days for 2I cents per bushel. The
elevator companies announced that the
state could not compel them to become
public warehouses, and that they would
conduct their elevators - private affairs
and buy and store grain to suit themselves.
also claiming that the 2i cents per bushel
was less than the actual cost Of the work,
and announcing also that they would pay
no attention to the law.
The railroad commissioners, however,
adopted a series OF rules. the most object
ionable to the elevator people being the
clause compelling them to furnish daily
reports Of the amount of grain received,
the price paid, the amount Of dockage and
the number Of bushels shipped out and
number on hand. The railroad comms-
sioners also made rule refusing to allow
any grain to leave the state unless it had
been inspected by state inspectors located
st points where the railroads left the state.
This the elevator companies refused to per-
nit, declaring the new Law unconstitutional,
but ptofessed willingness to allow the
matter to be settled by the courts.
The railroad commissioners have called
leading farmers and A lance people to cor
suit with them about the matter, and the
latter say that the farmers will be able to
take care Of their grain il the railroad COM
paries will come to their assistance and
furnish cars promptly. The wheat growers
are in dilemma as to what will become
Of their crop if the fight is KEEP. up. They
have not storage capacity for the big crops
now about ready to be cut, and will COM
PEELED this year, as in the past, to depend
upon the elevators to store their grain
There are 900 elevators in the state, and
the elevator people claim that with the
varying crops of the past years they have
not been able to make any money in the
business. The opinion seems to prevail
that the commissioners have waited till the
LAST moment to attempt to establish rules
that cannot be enforced.
The grain trains are made up in the day
time and run out to Minneapolis or Duluth
In the night. The inspection clause of the
rev rules woald require all trains 70 wait
At the state border for Daylight to insure
inspection.
Various estimates have been placed upon
the ield this year. mSny putting il - high
- 25 bushels to the acre. but II would
probably be about the figure. This would
give the state yield Of 81, 600, 600 bushels
II will require not less than 5. 000, 900 BUSH
els OF this for next years seed. This would
make a, ,000, 900 bushels 70, sale in Norh
Dakota this year, requiring about $4,000
railroad cars to move II to msrket.