The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-29
NORTHWESTERN BUSINESS GOSSIP
The Empire of Hard Wheat Flour Is WidenngThe North
ern Pacific May Again Build Into Manitoba Mime
apois Wheat Receipts Growing Rapidly.
been built in Minneapolis will wonder

been built in Minneapolis will wonder
why they said it.
The Northern Pacific may decide to push
it's lines into Manitoba again. Business
men of the province are bringing much
pressure to bear in this direction on the
Northern Pacific officials, and 1t Is stated
on good authority that President Mellen
bis favorably disposed toward again build
ing into the province. The people OF Man
itobaA are not pleased with the recent rail-
road venture made by the provincial gov
eminent in leasing the lines Of the Nor
thern Pacific and releasing to the Ca
madam Northern for fifty years. The
Canadian Northern has the advantage of
this additional mileage, but the shippers
of the province are not getting the rates
they expected as a result OF the deal.
There has been much gossip at Winnipeg
that the Northern Pacific not bound by
any agreement to keep out of Manitoba,
would again build lines from Pembina to
Winnipeg and to other points in the
province. Much Of this has been guess
work. but men who have been on the
inside Of the movement say they have
much to encourage them into the belief
that President Mellen will finally decide
to build .s.-.
The bright prospects for traffic in Mani
toba are an attraction to the Northern
Pacific officials. The 400 miles which
President Mellen leased to Premier Rob-
lin were showing satisfactory returns in
earnings, but the Manitoba government
offered big compensation, and the lines
were leased. Even with the good price
paid the sale is now considerable mistake,
and the big crop produced by Manitoba
last year has shown several Of the big
traffic men that they underestimated the
prospects Of the region
Since the last session of the provincial
parliament, Manitoba business men and
producers have been we'll represented in
the various delegations calling at the
Northern Pacific general offices. 1t is
given out that the coming session of the
parliament will be fayorably disposed
toward a proposition to secure again the
Northern Pacific lines for the province.
Charters for railroads are rarely turned
down by the Manitoba lawmakers. The
corporation seeking opportunity to build
railroads in the province is usually given
permission and the ordinary privileges.
At the last session an innocent-looking
request for a railroad charter came up
and there was some surprise when the
request was beaten by majority Of one
vote. 1t was afterwards explained that
Canadian Northern interests used their
/ influence against it, fearing that it was
| really an attempt Of the Northern Pacific
to get back into the province. Whether
President Meflen had made up his mind
, at Inat time again to Du1lQ INTO MANITOBA
or not, it is reasonably certain that the
railroads of the province believed there
was an opportunity to make such extern
sions profitable. 49,. -
minneapolis Wheat Receipts.
|. Minneapolis has received about 60 ,000,-
600 bushels of wheat in the crop year
beginning Sept. l. Duluth's receipts for
the same period will be in the neighbor-
hood of Sc, 600, 900 bushels. The movement
Of wheat in February this year was small
er than the usual average for that month,
and kept the total receipts at the two
points from touching the 100, 100000 mark
for .the first seven months of the crop
year. Grain men estimate that farmers
will carry over into the next year Is ,000,-
900 bushels Of the present crop. OF the
25 per cent estimated to be held by farm
ers about 100000 will be required for
seed. In making UP this estimate of
wheat in farmers bins the grain men have
found that there is wide difference in
various sections of the northwest. Most
sections of South Dakota are credited with
but Is per cent, while sections Of South
Dakota and Minnesota make up the diff
ference. Chamber Of Commerce authori-
ties estimate that as much wheat comes
into the Minneapolis market from other
states as is taken out of the three north
western states by other routes than those
through Minneapolis and Duluth. The
amount annually consumed by the country
mills aggregates about 80, 600 900 bushels
Several Of the large grain men believe
that with fair crop in the northwest this
year Minneapolis receipts for 1902 will
touch 100, 900 900 bushels.