Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-03-31
willing to pay. Last fall after l re-
turned from the coast there was a re-
ception, and was asked to say q few

turned from the coast there was re-
ception, and was asked to say q few
words. was flied with indignation
for, on the Pacific coast, I had seen
mills idle, grain stored, and practically
no shipments to the Orient. Some
time ago we secured q Japanese from
Puget Sound to make q reasonable
rate on flour to Asia. Twelve months
passed, and the Japs doubled the
price, next it went to rs, and finally to
g per ton. With proper ships this
should be carried for $3.50. Instead
Of bringing wheat all the way around
Cape Horn to send to the European
markets to compete with our wheat.
it should 60 to China an! japan, where
there is market for every bushel Of
grain raised In the United States. II
you gave them bushel per capita it
would take your entire crop. There
is no danger Of OVERRIDING that market,
and If the Pacific crop is taken out of
competition with that east Of the
mountains it would do more toward
raising the price of grain than the
withdrawal of 60 100000 from the
market. made suggestion at the
time of this banquet that if the general
government would pay q small bonus
for grain carried from the Pacific coast
the benefit would be almost inestim-
able. The total cost would not be
more than million and half of dol.
lars to carry the whole crop, and it
would increase yours In value $4,000.
600. The result of that suggestion was
bill introduced in congress, but its
own mother wouldn't know it. The
principal bonus offered was for ships
with sailing capacity of twenty knots.
Now that kind of ship could not
afford to carry wheat at any price, It
would be about as useful as q bicycle
behind breaking plow. Six thousand
ton ships are not large at present, and
the sending Of one ship day for 800
days would carry away l, l,8OO,OOO bushels.
Now suppose the general government
paid 81 ton on agricultural products
and iu order to secure the support
Of the iron and steel men, without
which you could not succeed you
might include mineral products the
whole would not cost to exceed 42,7OO.-
600. I am strongly of the opinion that
we could bring the carrying Of that
grain as far east as Devils Lake. II we
could 60 as far as to divide your crop,
it must be clear to you that the result
would be an advance in price. 1t all
rests with the people. Make q move.
see your representatives and impress
upon them your wants. Here is an
appropriation Of Sl,OOO(OO to improve
navigation on the Mississippi, between
st. Paul and Minneapolis. What
practical benefit is to sccrueS None.
The best that can be hoped for is a
good place for the university students
to have few boat races. Here is
another Of el,s00O0O for q new Gus.
tom building In st. Paul. We had a
good one, but it wasn't large enough.
And not q single cent Tor agriculture.
the foundation Of all our wealth,
have always felt that whatever pros.
perity this section of the country
might enjoy must come from the
ground. Our forests are nearly OK.
hausted. We have some pine, but in q
few years Minnesota will not furnish
as much pine lumber as she uses.
When first saw North Dakota there
was nothing but sod section corners,
and for a few moments didn't realize
what they were. Outside Of the soil
and the climate Dakota has nothing
but this will give q great deal If prop
erly cultivated. I feel discouraged
sometimes. II was younger should
undertake to place line Of ships on
the Pacific coast, but am too IA,
along in years. Further that it il
practically impossible to sail upde,
the American flag In competition with
those other nations. The government
seems to study how not to assist it,
mercha ut marine.
"People are talking Of the gooi
times, aud the country has never beer
in more prosperous condition. Wher
} in 1880 the great English banking
house failed there was general tinan
cial shrinking throughout the world
This Sas at time when many Of tn
large enterprises Of the country wer
, ain. Collapse Of colonial booms fol
loved one another, and the Engllsl
nAnitalisfs heQan To sand aacnrifia