The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-06

" a. IA
yesterday. Mr.. Kirk is president of
Farwell, OZmun Kirk 81 Co.
which concern is one of the leading
hardware companies in the country
Continuing. Mr.. Kirk said:
1t is because we wish to protect our
interests that we object to Hartman
and Hartman control Of the Northern
Pacific Railway company. Hartman
has no interest in the Northwest: his
interests are in the Southwest and in
the country adjacent to the Union Pa
clflc. He will build up that country at
the expense of all other sections, and
II he we're to acquire foothold in the
Northwest the business interests here
Will surely be forced to pay tribute to
the territory to the south of us.
Let me call your attention to one
phase of the question. which so far
| has not been brought forward. The
prosperity of the Twin Cities and their
| great growth is due to the settlement
of the immense farming country to the
west of us. 1t is from that country
that the two cities, st. Paul and Min
neapolis, receive their support. Those
lands have been settled through the
energetic policy of immigration inSti-
gated by the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railroads. Every set
tier that takes up a homestead in the
Northwest adds to the wealth of our
cities.
Twin Cities Supply Northwest
"The result of the Hill campaign for
the settlement of the Northwest has
amazed the world. He is known both
in America and Europe as an empire
! builder. Yearly thousands of immi-
grants pour into the Northwestern
states to find homes. Those settlers
| must buy food and clothing, and their
wants are now supplied by Twin City
merchants.
There is still much land in the
Northwest unsettled, and immigrants
must be induced to take UP that land
It's settlement means increased pros
per1ty for u.s. If the Northern Pacific
remains in the control of it's present
owners, the settlement of the land is
assured, for we know we'll the policy of
that line under the management which
now holds the reins.
However, if the control of the
Northern Pacific property should be
transferred to the Hartman interest
settlement of our Northwest farming
lands is sure to cease. The failure of
the Union and Southern Pacific to set
tie the farming country adjacent to
those lines is we'll known fact. Har-
rlman as cOloniZer is a failure. He
begun his campaign for the settlement
OF the Southwest long before the tide
OF immigration began to move north
ward. Although the Northern lines
were late In starting, they have great
~ outstrtpped the Southern routes
Today the Northwest is q farming
paradise, while the Southwest is still
wilderness. The cause for this state
OF affairs is the difference in the
men behind the movement. Hill is a
railroad builder, Hartman is a rail-
road Spectator.
Hartman Would Sacrifice Northwest.
Should Hartman gain control Of
the Northern Pacific he will do his ut
most to divert settlers from the North
ern states to the desolate Southwest.
He will, as he is now doing, make the
attempt Of his life to build up the
Southwestern country at the expense
of the Northwest. His interests are
not in this section, they are in the land
south of us.
Another way in which business in
dustries of the Northwest would be
effected by Hartman control of the
Northern Pacific is in rates made on
commodities from Chicago. Harri-
man has always favored the Windy
City. 1t is not likely that he will now
change his tactics. If he secured the
Northern Pacific, Chicago jobbers
would be given the same freight rates
as Twin Cities jobbers despite the
difference in the length Of the haul
1t is the policy of the Hartman lines
ways for distribution, and the interests
of other cities have been sacrificed to
further business of those cities
Make Chicago and Omaha Gateways.
LAS freight rates are the controlling
factor In business, it can be plainly
seen the disaster that would be Wis
tied upon Twin City jobbers and man
ufactures by granting the same rates
to Chicago shippers as are given to
st. Paul merchants. 1t seems that the
Chicago merchant would be able to !
undersel us In our own territory. The
favorable freight rates would make 1t
possible for him to do business at a
greater profit that the st. Paul houses
can conduct their trade. 1t means
that the Twin City jobbers would be
eventually driven out Of their own
field because the outside house could
sell the same goods cheaper.
From Butte to the coast the North
ern Pacific and Union Pacifics lines are
parallel. That territory is now tribu-
tary to the Twin Cities. Our jobbing
houses sell their products there. We
have now better freight rates to points
in that territory than have the Chicago
and Omaha houses, and this is because
of the favorable tariffs granted by the
Northern transcontinental lines and the |
competition at the points reached by |
the two roads.
IF the Hartman interest gain their
coveted control of the Northern Pacific, |
competition will be done away with. |
Freight tariffs favorable to ST. Paul
and Minneapolis will be Cancelled and
the trade of that rich Western country, |
which is now handled by Twin City
merchants will be diverted to Chicago
and Omaha, because by diverting the
business to these two cities Hartman
is furthering his own interests. He will
gain the long haul for the commodities
at maximum freight rate.
Puget Sound Ports Threatened.
while not SO much as in other lines,
we have felt to some extent the in
crease in the Oriental trade, caused by
making Seattle the shipping point for
the far Eastern commerce. Hartman
has fought the growth of the Puget
sound ports. His interest has been at
San Francisco. If he becomes the
dominating power in the Northern Pa
cific he is sure to sacrifice the Northern
Pacific ports in his efforts to divert all
the Oriental trade to San Francisco.
1.-THE taking away of any part of the
Eastern commerce from Tacoma or
Seattle is bound to hurt ST. Paul and
Minneapolis, for more than II per cent
of the Asiatic shipments now pass
through the Twin Cities en- route to
Seattle for shipment.
I'm conclusion l will say that these