Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1905-08-26
The Great Northern Railway Makes an
Announcement.
MUCH LOWER GRAIN RATES.
Means Much to the Farmers of North.
west = Immense Sections Greatly
Benefited by Act of Railway Off
Gals.
Gals.

st. Paul, Mimi, Aug 22.-Just as
the movement of the grain crop is
about to begin the Great Northern
Railway announced sweeping re-
duction in grain rates throughout its
eastern territory extending to the
boundary of Montana.
Three years ago the road made i'm
pOrtant reductions in the western
section. The new rates, it is claimed,
will add millions to the potential re-
sources of the farmers of the north
west. The reduction is not made, it
is claimed, in pursuance of any pres
sure, but as a voluntary profit shar-
ing policy of the road between the
road and the tillers of the soil of the
northwest that has been fundamental
in the management of the Great
Northern.
This reduction of rates ranged from
5 cents per hundred from the most
distant points near the Twin cities
and the head of navigation on the
great lakes. From Williston, N. D.,
distant from the head of the great
lakes GIG miles, the reduction is 5
cents per hundred. On the Granville
branch, the Towner branch. the line
from Rugyto Antler, the branch from
York to Thorene, the Lakota branch
to Sarles. the rates are cut cents
per hundred. This covers an immense
stretch Of country, much of it recent
ly brought under cultivation in North
Dakota. From Minot. N. D., to the
of
Fargo and Hillsboro, N. D., on the
line running from Larimore, the
Neche line and the st. Vincent line,
the reduction is 2 cents per hundred.
On the ST. Johns line running from
the Church Ferry and the Walhalla
line it is two and one-half cents and
from LarimOre it is one and One-half
cents per hundred.
Similarly in South Dakota there is
a reduction of four cents per hundred
from Huron, two cents from Aberdeen
and Yorktown and corresponding re-
auctions from other points to the
| Twin Cities In Minnesota the new
rates show similar concessions.
THE meaning of these reductions
| to the farmers of the northwest is
something more than the winning of
battle or the signing of some ad-
vantageous commercial treaty." said
one of the prominent railroad Off
Gals TT affects the entire grain pro-
duct of the northwest. For the same
rates have been met by the North
ern Pacific and must be met by every
line doing business in the same terri
| tory and tributary to it. You cannot
| tell how far movement like this will
reach It will mean a saving of more
than 100000 bushels to the ordinary
markets. This foots up from $4,000
| 900 to 100000. That will remain
in the pockets of the farmers of which
the Great Northern will contribute at
least one-half
This movement is not only volun-
| tary but the revenue thus RENTED
cannot be made good from any other
resource. There can be and is intend
ed to be no increase of rates else
where to correspond. Moreover, it is
made in the face of the fact that in
| the three years that have elapsed
since the last reduction of rates was
made the pay of employees in the
various departments of the system
has been materially advanced adding
that much to the cost of the opera
| ton.