The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-07
R, R. OFFICIALS
HAD AK TO GRIND
WHY HIGH RATE FOR FLOUR
WAS ESTABLISHED.
The Northwestern Miller Believes the
Eastern Managers We're Interested
in Elevators and, Therefore, Dis
eliminated Against Flour-What
the Effect Will Be.

A charge that the eastern railway
officials established the new rate for
the transportation of -four for export,
discriminating against the Minneap-
oils and other mills, because they
were heavily interested in elevators
in Buffalo and other points in the
east, is discussed in today's North
western Miller. The paper says that
the officials acted in disregard Of all
sense Of Justice, and asks all millers
to take up the fight for the protec-
ton Of their industry, which is threat
ened.
The new rate, says the Miller,
means that wheat will be hauled for
5 cents a hundred, while -four must
pay Sh cents. This, 1t says, is a dis
elimination against the manufactured
product of Z cents a barrel--"m ore
than sufficient to absolutely kill the
sale of export -four"
In considering the causes which
led to the act Of discrimination, the
Miller says:
It was not due to ignorance nor to q
desire to build up foreign mills. For
many years it has been limited that rail-
way officials Of great influence In making
rates at and east Of Buffalo were per-
sonally and unoffioially but none the less
heavily interested in Buffalo and other
eastern elevators. For this reason, it was
alleged. they favored the movement Of
wheat rather than flour.
The Northwestern Miller has been 10th
to believe that such could be the case. 1t
did not think it possible that any Amer
lean railway official could fall SO low
as to prostitute his position for private
gain or could deliberately and ruthlessly
destroy a great source Of national gain
as well as railway income in order to
build up his private fortune. Latterly,
however, since no other possible reason
can be assigned for these continued and
senseless Determinations; since even the
officials themselves can advance no argu-
nnent save their power to arbitrarily act
in defense Of their policy, it has come
| regretfully to the conclusion that there
may be-indeed, there must be-some
ground for these persistent rumors.
If such be the case, the power Of the
national government cannot be invoked
too soon and thoro investigation Of rail.
way methods applied to private business
interests should receiYe the immediate
/. attention Of congress.
Quotations are made from the Brit
| 1sh milling press showing that the
British mtllers are grateful for the
treatment the American millers are
speaking Of the export flour from
America as "a doomed trade"
TN the next few months" says
1 Milling of Liverpool, British miller:
ought to almost wipe out the Ameri,
can trade. The exporting miller can
not go on with odds against him. He
may continue sending small parcels
Of special fours, but clearly a large
bulk Of his trade here is doomed
IF this be true," says the North
western Miller, IF American flour b.
driven out entirely from the British
markets, the responsibility will lii
entirely and exclusively with the east
} ern railway managers. It will NEAR
a loss of more than forty million dol
lars annually to the United States
More; when the export -four trad
; dies, the export Of wheat will g,
J with it,