The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-24
HILL KNOCKS G. T.P. MANY CLOSE CALLS
6. N. Magnatc Tells Toronto News
paper Why. the Grand Trunk
Pacific Scheme Won't Do.
Canadian Wheat Wont Come to
Minneapolis and G. P. r. & G.
N. Can Haul It All.

In AN interview given to the Toronto
World, primarilyEto discuss the question
Pacific railway, President J. j. Fill of the
Great. Northern discussed some other
matters more, or less related to the main
question. Excerpts from the interview
are given below, and particular attention
is called to what he says about the, grain
trade; - !. 1855 ~ .. +:
~ III No Alliance. sa's,~~
'This talk of an agreement between my
interests and those Of Canadian lines by
which we will reach into the territory Of
each other is. of course. without founda-
ton. The Great Northern has numerous
branches right up to the Canadian border
to natural connections with the Canadian
railways, but natural conditions regulate
this traffic in the Canadian northwest.
Those unfamiliar with the facts would
say the Canadian grain trade does not
filter down through these channels. into
the states, because Of the tariff on the
entry of grain into the states. This is
not the reason. ? 1t is deeper than that.
There is no tariff on grain that is shipped
into this market to- be manufactured into
flour for export. Minneapolis, with its
cheap power, offers every inducement for
this class of traffic, yet it secures but a
very small percentage = 2<*>..-'- =, -
..."....* Through Canada. "
Canadian grain traffic, is through Cana
dian sources of transportation to the sea.
My judgment is that it's course will never
be diverted. The ultimate market, Of this
grain, Of course, Is England. It will flow
into that market via Canadian lines in
definitely, OF course, the great lakes will
always secure a share of. this, traffic, but
as railroads paralleling water courses in
the states have driven the traffic largely
by the rail routes, so will the transpor-
tation Of this grain in the future be con
fined chiefly to the, railroads as far as
the tide, water, This calls for the i'm
provement Of the railroad facilities of the
Dominion, but the problem must be
solved in a practical way. Canada has
practically two transcontinental lines. and
that is one for each two and a half mil
lion people, while the United States has
but one transcontinental line for each
$4,000, 900 of population. These are fig
ures that deserve careful thought.
Government for the, c. P. r.
l. "The estimated grain yield for next year
| for Manitoba, and the adjacent grain pro-
| ducing section Of the Canadian North
! west is 100000 900 bushels. The C. PR
| should transport this yield, AS vast as il
| is. The Great Northern last year trans
ported more than 100, 100000 bushels, Of
grain, in addition to- its other business
It is a one track line. as is the G.. P: r
|
| vantage because it is constructed on what
| is known as the high grade whereas to-
| day modern engineering calls for the low
! grade for economical purposes. This diff
| ference In construction requires the roaC
! to do almost as much work, as If 1t were
| twice as long: But, in addition, here Il
the Canadian Northern to help move til,
grain crop Of the Canadian Northwest
| II have no connection with any inter
t ests in Canada to-day We have /:
| branch into the Crows Nest coal region
+ but that is to get fuel for our own line!
! out of there. Even this: is seriously, In
terfered with by the tonnage tax. W.
what we do Of Canadian coal with NOR,
| practical regulations. I have no ambition
| to place a line east of Chicago, .. 80,
w when do L think Canada will hav'
reached such a stage of development a.
| to, warrant capital in. constructing an
| other through line across the Dominion
| Well. we are, early in the century, now
I should say it will be. we'll along in tn
century before: a. new system will be war
| ranted by the increase in business. Then
| too, the difficulties. of operating the pro
posed line as far, north as I understan,
| the Grand Trunk. Pacific is figured on
VIII; be a , serious problem from an eco
9 ,.:' Invasion DOGGY. 49, !.
This So called Invasion of Canada il
my Judgment has been 'overrated, in tina
it will make little difference in the gen
eral manner of doing business tn the Do
| ninion. The country Is 50 large that til
new settlers will be rapidly assimilated
OF course the Northwest Canadian farm
err is further from the ultimate marke
with his grain than any other producer
but he offsets this disadvantage by fer
| tilfty Of soil. cheapness Of land and gen
Q1prfnoaa "a q
compete successfully with the -Yanke
1 farmer in dom este or foreiern ma rl.ota.