The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-06

The tale Of wheat rates on the re-
spect1ve branch railways Is at all dis
tances similarly and often still more
amazingly in favor Of the Canadian
farmer.
Eight Cents for 1000 Miles.
II all this goes to explain why the
Canadian west gains population from
the American west, how much more
Will the former gain when the Cana
dian Grand Trunk Pacific Transcon-
ttnental road shall have been com
pleted? Its construction is now un-
der contract. The specifications de-
mand road of the best character and
equipment, with rails OF ninety pounds
to the foot, grades Of twentyeone feet
or less to the mile, Mogul engines,
and cars OF, the largest capacity. It
has been credibly estimated that such
road can probably haul wheat over
1000 miles for about cents per 100
pounds. There can be little or no
doubt of Its ability to earn fair profit
In carrying wheat from Winnipeg to
Lake Superior for s cents per 100
pounds. It should cut. the present
Canadian, rates down one-half for all
distances over 400 miles. If that be
done the Canadian Pacific and Cana
dian Northern companies will be COM
PEELED to improve the standard OF
their roads and lower the rates to
meet the competition. If they fail
to do so. branch lines from the Grand
Trunk Pacific will surely be extended
into their territory to capture their
traffic. Foresight of this may be an
other reason why the Canadian west
Is booming at some cost to the Ameri-
can west.
Reply to Mr.. Thomson.
This article has attracted wide at
tention, and has greatly interested the
traffic officials Of the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific. Mr.: somers,
Northern, is gathering data with
which to answer Mr.. Thomson's an
parently conclusive showing that the
western Canadian farmer is greatly
favored over his American fellow in
the matter of wheat transportation
rates.
The general defense which tho Of
flcials of the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern make is:
First-The Canadian roads are sub
sidized in both money and land and
enjoy government assistance in other
forms. They can. therefore, afford
to make lower rates to the farmer, be-
cause the government really. tho In
directly, pays a part Of the cost OF
| transportation. In other words, the
Canadian farmer only has to pay part
! Of reasonable rate, because the gov.
eminent pays the rest.
! Second-Inasmuch as the agricul-
tural region Of western Canada is not
reached until some 120 miles further
has been travelled from Port Arthur
| or Fort William than would take one
from Duluth to the corresponding
longitude on the American side Of the
line, the mileage rate in Canada must
be lower to permit the Canadian
farmer to compete at all with the
+ American.
Third-The amount Of wheat made
Is insignificant On the other hand
much the larger portion Of Minnesota
and Dakota wheat Is milled at home
When the American roads have de-
ltvered their wheat at Minneapolis or
Duluth, their concern with 1t is over
What wheat Is not mtlled at home
goes out of the country by the great
lakes before navigation closes. The
| Canadian Pacific, on the other hand
must endeavoryto figure out rate
i clear thru to Montreal that will en-
able the Canadian farmer to realize
az good a net price for his grain as
the American. Consequently, com.
PARSONS between rates from Port
Arthur and Fort William to points ir
the Canadian Northwest, on the one
hand, and between Superior and Du.
| luth and North Dakota and Minnesota
points on the other hand, are not in.
structive. The Canadian Pacific has
not yet solved the problem Of a chear
rate for Canadian wheat after naviga.
ton closes. The result Is that ever
tho the Canadian railways reduce thei,
rates to Fort Arthur and Fort William
several cents about the time naviga.
ton closes, while American rates re.
main as they were, the price Of whea,
on the American side at once becomes
from &c to SC or even more higher
than on the Canadian side; tho, prior
to the closing Of navigation, the Ca.
place may have received as much OF
/ possibly a little more than his Ameri.
can neighbor in the same longitude.
i Land Values Not Affected.
4 The Hill railway officials laugh a