The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-10-14

the railroad and warehouse commission Of
the State of Minnesota. Section Is Of this
act directed railroad companies to provide
sidetracks on their own land between their
main track and elevators, and where sta
tlons 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 for
all grain stored in such elevators and ware
houses or offered for shipment in bulk or
otherwise from any station on its line. The
railroads We're also required to furnish suit
able cars for the shipment of grain, ''and
to seal the same and take and safely
transport the same to the point indicated by
the shipper, or in the direction thereof SO
Tar as Its route may extend, with reason
able dispatch and at reasonable rates."
Under this act any person desiring to
snip grain from any established sidetrack
could secure the cars necessary by deposit
ing 50 with the nearest station agent for
each car ordered.
This law, although Imperfect in many de-
tails Is the basis of the legislation regard
ing the shipping and handling of grain
winch the Republican party has given to
the people of this state. 1t gave to the in
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
ship his grain to any market or point he
might desire in bulk and without change
OF cars and at reasonable rates. 1t made
the iHuiVluual farmer his own cnO0Ser 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
1885. anu pufpoi' VI Tue "o' u
The Republican legislature of 1887 passed
an act for the better regulation of common
carriers, and more clearly defining the dC-
hes 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
ley 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
ucular person, firm, corporation or local
lty, or to any particular description OF
traffic; also to provide all reasonable facili-
Ties for free and unrestricted traffic on their
several lines; to provide continuous car
l1age of freight from the place of shipment
to the place of destination without break of
DuIk OF 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
persons demand cars at the same time for
the shipment of grain, such cars shall be
divided equally among the applicants, each
TO receive one car and the balance of the
ears divided in proportion to the amount
station or sidetrack.
This gave the individual farmer an equal
ehance with the large shipper to send his
grain to market just when he pleased and
now he pleased and to whatsoever market
ne cnoSe 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
puDl1cans through the state commission and
Dy individual members.