The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-05
MiddIemen Done Away with and Ag-
ricuIturists and Railroad Mag
mates working Together.
POINTS FROM THE SPEECHES
INTERMEDIARY POLITICIANS RAP
PED BY PRESIDENT MELLEN.
mir. Hill of Opinion that Farmers
should Diversity Their Crops and
Go Into stock Raising.

SPOKANE, Wash, Aug. 4.-Grain rates
will be reduced from all points in eastern
Washington and the reduction will take
place in time to benefit the farmers on this
years crop. The amount OF reduction is
not determined. but conjecture ran from
one to two cents per bushel.
The Great Northern and the Central
Washington branch of the Northern Pa
cifc will be connected by a crossroad to
from the terminus of the Central
Washington in the Grand Coulee to Adrian
on the Great Northern. 1t will be built as
soon as the surveys can be completed and
contracts let. 1t may be completed before
Jan. l. AS a result of this arrangement,
the Northern Pacific will cease hauling
eastward to Spokane and thence westward
TO the coast and will move its share Of the
tonnage TO the terminus of the Central
Washington branch. There it will be taken
by the Great Northern and carried to
Seattle, instead OF to Tacoma, as here
tofore.
These announcements were made by
President Menen, of the Northern Pacific,
at Davenport, to-day. The occasion was
unique in the history of American railroad
ing. Three railway presidents, in response
\ 10 a petition from the leading farmers of
the Big Bend country, who may harvest
900 bushels of wheat this year. assemb-
d at the county seat of Lincoln county
hear their case, plead their own in
erests and render argument. They were
ames J. Hill, president of the Great
GyoTthern and Northern Securities Com
pany. a combination with securities rated
on Wall street at more than a billion dol
lars: President S. S. Mellen, of the North
ern Pacific, and President A. I. Mohler,
of the Oregon Railway and Navigation
lines OF the Hartman system. With them
were a group of lesser railroad notables.
Public addresses were delivered by the
three presidents. Then adjournment was
taken to the armory, where old
fashioned country dinner was served TO
the railway guests and visitors from the
surrounding country. The presidents en-
tered heartily into the spirit of the oeca-
sion. Mr.. Hill deposited his hat under his
chair, remarked that he had not enjoyed
himself so thoroughly in many a day and
rubbed elbows with wheat farmer from
the Egypt country and another from the
Cedar Canon camp.
HILL TALKED FARMING.
After dinner hundreds of people gathered
around the railway presidents. shaking
hands and listening to spirited discussions.
Mr.. Hill talked farming and stock raising.
Mr.. MeIlen elaborated on his previous
nouncement and Mr.. Mohler spoke of the
immigration plans Of the Hartman roads.
All this was preliminary TO the real con-
ference OF the day. Various counties and
districts had sent delegations to the con-
vention. and after dinner these delegates
reassembled in the convention hall and
through their spokesmen laid their wishes
before the railway presidents. The spec
tacle was impressive. The large hall was
packed to the doors and scores OF farmers
fruit growers and miners stood in the
aisles. Many sat on the carpeted floor.
Earnestness was stamped upon their
features and earnestness ran through all
their speeches.
Mr.. Hill was the only president speaking
at the conference. He answered many
questions from time to time, offered numer-
Gus voluntary explanations of matters that
seemed all wrong TO the farmers and re-
peatedly asked the farmers TO speak out
their beliefs and convictions. He was fire.
quently applauded. and the convention was
always alert 10 applaud any telling point,
whether made by delegates or by the presi-
dent. The entire proceedings were charac-
terized by good spirit. and there was much
good nature in the badinage
Mr. Hill told the farmers to-day: II am
getting to be an old man. 1 have not many
years to live. II l accomplish all 1 have
set out TO do things must move with
celerity.
The estimated cost OF the new railway
Is $780, coo. which President Hill declares is
gift 10 the people OF Big Bend. the
road goes through a barren country. 1t IS
thought the new line may be completed by
November, 1903 In his speech President
Melin said: The whole rate fabric is like
a cardhouse. We can do nothing here with
out doing something at other points. We
are all bound 10 gain something by the
spirit In which you called this conference,
coming 10 Us. not by intermediary poll
ticians, who work you and who try 10 work
US. but you work with us as ally. You thus
freeze out the middlemen."
In Ei- speech TO the farmers OF the Big
Bend. President Hill vigorously attacked
legislation on railway rates. saying: "As
we'll attempt 10 set "A broken limb bv stat
ute as 10 adjust rates. You can legislate
until the barndoors rot of. The best thing
10 do is 10 act as you have here with the
officials. We viii try 10 act In such a way
that you VIII realize that we are doing
something fair and In good faith What
you want is the highest price from any
store You want a new market You must
make more people use your stuff. States
men win tell Us how TO do this, but they
get a consideration for doing so. | cannot
lind in public acts one intelligent thing
that you have done 10 get new markets
] don't know any place where you have
not been left 10 shift for yourselves as
farmers. You have crops that keep you
busy for four mcnths in the year You
want 20 do something the rest OF the time
keg. What you should do is TO raise stock.
roots. forage. There is nothing better than
raising stock"
The special train bearing the railroad
tHrned 10 Spokane this evening. Later the