Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-06-06
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS,
General Feeling of Confidence
and Hope Discovered
Among Farmers.
Revival Of Stock interests
The Old Pioneer in
Good Repair.

panied by Secretary Phelan. have been
gathering considerable information on
their annual trip, not relating exclusively
to railroading and warehousing, but the
stock and agricultural interests of the
state. A report OF their trip over the
Fargo & Southwestern branch this week
shows that more general feeling of
confidence among the farmers is found
wherever they have gone, and this is also
true Of the business men.
The commissioners left Fargo June
3rd. A heavy rain all day Monday pre-
vented the commissioners from making
personal visit 70 the business men and
others in the towns between Fargo and
Cakes. The rain also prevented any
considerable number Of persons meeting
the commissioners at points along the
line OF route. The business men in all
the towns visited feel greatly encour-
aged over the prospects. and crops uni
formly are looking we'll.
At LaMoure there we're indications of
better times and feeling of security
among the business interests there. This
is the same in the smaller stations and
towns along the James river valley to
this city Oakes has an era of pros
perlty and confidence which may be due
to it's transportation privileges but is 9
feature OF the growing town just the
same.
Among the farmers also there is feel
ing OF confidence and hopefulness and 1t
is believed that they are so much en-
couraged over the outlook es to have
lost, in some measure, the spirit of CON-
plant There has been but one CON-
plant for loading platform on the
Northern Pacific, so far as the commits
sioners have gone, and that was at
LaMoure.
The elevators have been painted and
repaired generally along the line of this
road. No complaints have been fled
regarding elevator abuses. but with the
rush of a big crop aud heavy shipments
prevent complaint if they will.
On the jamestown & Northern branch,
north of New Rockford. there is an IN.
creased grain acreage. The crops are IN
good condition. Sykeston, west of Car
'rington, has had one, large. substantial
building erected this spring which will
be used for q machinery warehouse
This town is also holding its own.
The railroad commissioners found the
Northern Pacific road bed in good shape.
There have been a great many tie re-
newals and the road is in excellent re-
pair generally, except east of the MIS-
souri, river where the company's station
buildings lack paint.
At Mlnnewaukan William Plummer
has made application for an elevator site.
This is resisted by the elevators and the
railroad on the grounds that there is
plenty of capacity already for elevator
purposes In addition to Plummer's ap-
pllcation another has been considered
asking the same privileges. The pros
pect of good crops stimulates the indi-
vidual grain buyer and the big corpora
tions are naturally trying to prevent his
gaining foothold. 1t is probable that
these applications will have to go to the
courts for settlement. How long such
will take is unknown. 1t is stated that
the law gives applicants certain
rights for building elevators and ware
houses regardless of their size or capacity.
This feature of the law is disputed.
The commission has issued a pamphlet
giving digest of the laws relating to
the powers and duties of the railroad
commissioners. This is from the com
piled Jaws and the session laws OF 1895.
The commissioners expected to 60 as
far west as Sentinel Butte and return
today making the main line on the re-
turn trip.
It is learned that revival of stock
interests is found among the farmers in
this part of the state. The country is so
we'll adapted to stock growing that the
Northern Pacific should, in the opinion
of the railroad commissioners. take
more active interest in stimulating this
industry. General Freight Agent Moore
has already furnished considerable in
formation and offered certain induce
ments to shippers of pigs and has
discussed the raising OF potatoes and
other vegetables from practical stand
point OF mutual interest to the road and
the farmer. There are renewed inquiries
as to sheep and 1t is possible that the
railroad company will have it's attention
called to the desirability of attempting
to rehabllitate this industry that has
suffered considerably in recent years.