The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-09-27
THE FREIGHT.
PLAIN FACTS FOR OUR YIN.
CONVERTED READERS.
Tho Railroad Corporations ResponsiblS
for High Prices-Producers and Com
sumers Get Left wanted: Govern
mont Ownership.

tAc producers, ana II VIII reaQlly un-
derstand and be inclined to approve
the demand in the Omaha platform for
cheaper transportation facilities.
The fruit crops of California and
Florida are loaded on cars in the vi
clnlty OF the orchard and vineyard Mt
rldiculously low figures, but before thI:y
reach the eastern or northern markets
they have been subjected to the touch
of so many middle men that the con-
sumner has to pay for the product an
~exorbitant price.
A few days ago a merchant Of Wis
consin bought a load of Georgia water
melons which the Georgia dealer said
for six cents each. The railroads
charged seventeen cents each for trans
portation and they were sold in Wis
consin at twenty-five cents each, yield
ing the Wisconsin dealer a profit Of two
cents each, provided there was no loss
in handling.
"A little over a year ago a Georgia
man shipped a box OF green peas to a
chicago commission merchant, and by
mistake sent them by express. Tho
expressage was S1.25, and the peas
were sold for less than ST.
The writer once saw a car load OF
coal started from a Pennsylvania mine
to a dealer in Nebraska, who thought
by purchasing of the producer direct to
serve his customers at a lower rate. The
Nebraska man wasn't in the "coh-
bine," and his car load of coal had to
be sold in Nebraska at $3.50 per ton
to realize the usual dealers profit.
Everybody knows how a bushel Of
wheat or a pound of pork or beef in
creases in price while being railroaded
from he farm to the city retail shop.
And what is true Of staple products is
also true of vegetables, small fruits.
and everything that the farmer has to
sell.
Short distances count for very little.
either, the Interstate IN COM
mission supposedly to the contrary not.
w~ithstanding.
Two years ago a Chicago man pur-
chased a small farm about fifty miles
out from Chicago, for the purpose Of
growing green corn or roasting ears
for the Chicago market. He reasoned
that as an early crop sold readily In
Chicago at Is cents to 20 cents per
dozen, there was a large margin OF
profit in the enterprise. So there was
for the railroads. And the enterprise
ing raiser of roasting ears went out o.
the business after one years expert
menting, much poorer in pocket, but
richer in political principles, as he is
now a shouting Populist-shouting for
the entire Omaha platform aud the
transportation plank in particular.
The people pay the freight-'all the
traffic will bear" And whatever loss
has to be sustained by the buyer or
seller, the producer or consumer, the
freight always has to be forthcoming
the middle man takes out his profit
in the transaction, though there be
nothing left besides.
In this exciting discussion owe the
money questionable most important,
it must be admitted, Of all economic
questions-we are apt to lose sight Of
the transportation question, and the
urgent demand for governmental own
ership and control of railroads especial
ly.
Watermelons can be carried from
Georgia to Wisconsin by the car load
for three cents each, and the fourteen
cents thus saved divided between the
Georgia farmer and the Wisconsin cOn-
sumner !
California and Florida fruit cam
laid down in the eastern market a
way that will cheaper 1t at least a.
fourth in price at retail, and fs9A 4
much to the selling price when r1fE1s
the hands of the producer. slM1
Pennsylvania and Ohio coal az Z
made to flood the western prai1Tsaa
| times when most needed and I'ates
far below the prices usually ext
But to accomplish these IN oele
people must lay a strong and a. d
hand upon the Threats of the F6asber
combines and trusts that are fattening
upon the fruits of honest industry and
legitimate trade.
To do this requires that the trans
portation plank of the Omaha platform
shall be enacted into law-the people
must own the railroads and other
means of transportation.
Every e~nterprising merchant owns
and operates his own express and
freight teams. Uncle Sam has paid a
monopoly cut-throat gang to do his
hauling long enough.
The people pay the freight, and they
have the right to run their own con-