The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-10-27

the railroad and warehouse commission o.
the State Of Minnesota. Section 15 OF this
act directed railroad companies to provide
sldetracks on their own land between theH
main track and elevators, and where sta
tons are ten miles or more apart the rail-
road companies would be compelled to con-
struct and maintain sidetracks between sta.
tons for the use of shippers. By this act
the railroad companies were also required
upon demand to furnish transportation 1or
all grain stored in such elevators and ware.
houses or offered for shipment In bulk OF
otherwise from any station on its line. The
railroads were also required to furnish suit
to seal the same and take and safely
transport the same to the point indicated by
the shipper, or in the direction thereof 80
able dispatch Hu and m at reasonable rates"
Under this act any person desiring to
ship grain from any established sidetrack
could secure the cars necessary by deposit
This law, although imperfect in many de-
tails, Is the basis of the legislation regard
ing the shipping and handling Of grain
which the Republican party has given to
the people of this state: 1t gave to the In.
dividual grain grower the right to demand
and the power to obtain such cars from the
railroad companies as he might require for
THE SHIPMENT OF HIS GRAIN
to market. Its provisions enable him to
might desire in bulk and without change
of cars and at reasonable rates. 1t made
the individual farmer his own chooser as
to whether he should market his wheat In
the nearest village in Minneapolis, in Du-
luth or Chicago, and rendered him indie
pendent OF any buyer or company. Such
was the intent and purport of the act OF
1885.
The Republican legislature of 1887 passed
an act for the better regulation of common
carriers, and more clearly defining the du.
ties of the state commission, amending and
simplifying the law of 1885 in many i'm.
portant particulars, and all tending to aid
in carrying out the vital point of the pol
icy laid down in the first act, which the Re.
publican party had adopted. The act Of
1887 declared it unlawful for the railroads
to give preference or advantage to any par
ticular person, firm, corporation or local.
traffic; also to provide all reasonable facili-
ties for free and unrestricted traffic on their
several lines; to- provide continuous car
riage of freight from the place of shipment
bulk or interruption; also compelling the
railroads to furnish, start and run cars
without delay; forbidding pooling Of bust
ness or rebates; and in cases where many
the shipment of grain, such cars shall be
divided equally among the applicants each
to receive one car and the balance of the
cars divided in proportion to the amount
OF freight offered by each shipper or at each
This gave the individual farmer an equal
chance with the large shipper to send his
grain to market just when he pleased and
how he pleased and to Whatsoever market
he chose to select: From time to time the
law was improved, all amendments being
especially for the benefit Of the grain grow
er, until the last legislature in 1891, which
was controlled by the Alliance and Demo-
cratic members, and absolutely rejected all
amendatory legislation asked by the Re-
publicans through the state commission and
by individual members.