Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1903-03-13
the COUNTY FARMERS INSTITUTE
The Address OF Welcome by
Mayor III. f. Thayer of
r Canton. ..,.sN
An Interesting Paper on Grasses
BY A. j. Wimple OF
Brooklyn.
ADDRESS OF MAYOR H. E, THAYER,

ADDRESS OF MAYOR H. E, THAYER.
Gentlemen of the Lincoln County
Farmers Institute, want to congratu'
late you ON representing here, not only
one of the best counties in the state OF
South Dakota, but l believe one of the
most favorably situated of any county
in the state for financial prosperity.
will explain to you why am 80 con-
vinced. The prices of your lands in
this county demonstrates that we have
the most productive and best land tof
any county in the state. We have four
Of the great trunk railway lines that
have their terminus in Chicago, and we
have the Chicago Northwestern run.
ming across the south part of the coun-
ty, the B. c. R. & NJ, crossing the
northeast corner, the Great Northern
running across the county north and
south in the western part, and the Chi.
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul passes
through the county east and west and
also north and south, having its juno.
tion at this point,
Where is there county in the state,
with the exception of Minnehaha, that
has any better facilities for the trans
poration of it products, and I want to
say that we have not enough yet. You
will note that all the lines I have men
toned are transporting our products in
an essterly direction that finally arrive
at the Sea board for export at New
York. Boston or Baltimore. Now our
products have to be transported to Chi
cago distance of 588 miles, thence to
New York, we will say via the Pennsyl.
vinia line, which is one of the short
routes-the distance from Chicago to
New York via this line is 951 miles,
making total railway mileage from
Canton to New York of 1889 miles. It
is costing you farmers at the present
lime rs cents per 100 lbs or in other
words cents per 100 miles to trans.
port q bushel ofwheat to the Chicago
market and all other products in the
,ame ratio.
Here is what am coming at. When
he Panama Canal is opened for the
passage of ocean liners and transport
7essels. it is going to establish at Gal.
7eston and Port Arthur the terminal of
he Kansas City & Southern railway,
md direct connection with some of the
greatest markets Of the world. These
,oints are situated on q direct line
outh of us and all we need is q direct
ndependent railway line running from
,ere to Kansas City, distance Of $50
niles from Canton, and there connect
With the Kansas City & Southern rail-
way that is already built and operated
rom Port Arthur to Kansas City, q |
distance Of 1885 miles, making a total
distance of 1886 miles from Canton to
he gulf, making a gain in railway
Of 403 miles, as compared
With New York City. This distance in
at the rate you are pay
ng, cents per 100 miles for bushel
# wheat between here and Chicago,
would mean for the 400 miles IL cents
,er bushel saved to the farmer, and all
,ther products in the same ratio,
weights and price considered.
Nok let us see whore we are at when
ve get to the gulf of Mexico. We will
70 at least 1000 miles nearer our trade
with the Philippines. Japan and China
han New York City is, and it is pre-
iicted that our trade through the Canal
With these countries will grow to enor-
nous proportions We will receive in
'eturn our tea. coffee, spices. sugar and
ilks from the oriental countries at
Port Arthur and Galveston instead of
New York, Boston and Baltimore.
We will never have competition in
'ailway traffic 80 long as our railway
ines all lead to the same common cen.
or, but let us got an Independent trunk
inc from here to the gulf and see how
luick competition will set in for
he business. predict that q line of
Dad, such as I have mentioned, that
aps the principal cities along the Mis-
ouri river-Kansas City, Omaha, St. |
loo and Sioux City,-will make these |
titles, the great wholesale distributing
titles of the western states. We will
70 1000 miles nearer our Philippines
possessions and the Japan and orr
ntal trade than New York City is, and |
believe we are at the dawn of a great
uture for these western states.
This is an age of great combines of |
always and of manufactured products
+ every description. and it is time You
armers were combining for your own
mutual benefit. Let US see what others
re doing along this line.
Here is report of a conference of
armers held at Lincoln, Nebraska, re-.
emily to form farmers combine to
rotect themselves against the combines
which the farmer has 10 face. Here is
he report: l-
The organization of the first genuine
armers combine is the purpose of
difference of farmers begun in this
ity today.
"The movement has for its direct OBJ
ect the obtaining of better prices for
rain and live stock, and the unique
Ian by which it is supposed to accom-