Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-03-15
A Farmers Protest Against
Railroad Shipping Facil-
tiles.
The Interests CT the Farmer
Neglected for Foreign
Shippers.
Stock Losses by Shrinkage
Too Great Dis
CuSSeO.

Editor Aler,:-I see by a late issue
that you will publish articles relative to
the condition and prosperity OF this To-
cality, providing the writer will sign his
cognomen thereto; and while others are
making complaints, and giving cause
and effect, and thinking our railway SER
vice might be improved by IL vigorous
kick, l venture to pen my experience.
my object beng to teach the farmers
what they may expect If they take the
gratuitous advice offered by bankers.
newspapers, lawyers, merchants and pub
lie advisors generally, many OF whom
hare had no practical experience in thu
business.
There is great deal being said aud
written just now as to what the farmer
should do, what they should raise and
what they should feed, and how they
should diversity the products Of the
farm. There are many Of US who have
found that it was not founded on facts.
and we know now that facts are para
mount in our affairs; that intentions
don't count for consequences and results.
There are very few of us who have real
lzed our expectations in this locality, be-
caust most of us we're brought up under
other than the conditions that exist
here, and have not yet mastered the ob-
stacles which hold sway. The advent of
improved farm machinery, which has ad-
| ded many times to the product OF sea.
sons labor on the farm, was very enconr-
| aging during the early eighties, but since
then improved machinery has developed
the wheat growing area OF the world to
an unexpected degree, until the markets
of the world are supplied at about the
cost of production, and farmers can no
longer depend on wheat alone and ex-
pect to gather ennngh from Dame For
tune" to make them independent. l am
very glad to be able to state that my
grain paid me very we'll for the tin e /
was engaged in producing it during the
season OF 1893, but would not amount to
much as years salary; will pay the cost
OF producing it and support my family,
leaving me my improvements go acres
of breaking, 100 acres summer fallowing
and fall plowlne for this years crop, and
the increase in young stock, colts and
calves) for my own services, which is a
little better than Mr.. Carley's figures. he
having Sl9.9l pec month to pay his house
hold expenses for the entire year. which
proves that TIE North Dakota farmer is
sure of living without diversifyln9 at
all; that is. without raising more stock
than would require additional labor.
But living does not satisfy the
farmer of today, and is not what we
located here for. Just making living
would not make the community pros
porous and happy, would not build up a
reputation for prosperity by which
states and localities are judged today.
The North Dakota farmer would like to
fully develope the resources OF the state,
but find snany obstacles when they come,
| to compete with more forward localities.
l was fortunate in having a car load of
cattle and sheep to market last fall. as
the result of diversified farming as
poplarly understood and my complaint,
in regard to this branch Of the business.
is the heavy shrinkage sustained IN
marketing them. My cattle were 80
hours in transit to South st. Paul, were
transferred from the car to a muddy yard
in the night, and before | could get them
fed they had Leen 40 hours without feed
and water. got them fed on poor hay
at $1,000 per ton. 1mnagine cattle 40
hours without food and water, with only
q couple OF hours to recruit before being
put up for sale! OF course there are cars
where food can be served aud stock
watered, but they are reserved for com
petltive trade during the fall season. If
our stock we're neglected for 40 hours
oe our farms we would think they were
ruined for all time. Imagine them in
competition with cattle which had only
been few hours on the way. OF which
there were many examples. l am GER
tain that the shrinkage caused by slow
transportation amounted to loss OF at
least IS per cent. This on 10000 pounds
ia a large item. No wonder the Armonrs.
Cudahas and Fairbanks write their
fortunes with seven figures when they
have dealt N stock that has lost over one
half the allotted shrinkage before they
bought 1t.
A little later | shipped a carload OF