The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-28
Moving the Crop.

I In this matter of Ssmavih e 5the& grain
Crop, the size of the crop itself cuts
very little figure. The point is that
grain is offered in large quantities at
many places for which the railroads
sprovide no means Of transportation.
This inficts a serious hardship upon
both producer and dealer. When the
transportation companies fail to fur
inish. reasonable facilities feE marketing ing.
the crop which the producer wishes to
market. and >1uipof =. the marketing Of
swhicK lie is Defending fer money to
meet his, obligations and feed H. his fam
silyss It is vide OF, :thes mar5k.tof debate
whether the. northwest has. produced
!altogether' as mich wheat as theEFe&
'perts have estimated 1t has produced
mere sthan; sthe railroads are, hauling.
There can be no dispute about that
The%pffeial figures show a shortage of
over fourteen millions: Of bushels: Of
wheat, delivered TO the primary markets
of Minneapolis and Duluth as compared
with the same period last year, and a
shortage of approximately twenty mil
lion bushels of all grains handled dur
ing the same period. -, -.
q That this is not; due to lack Of wheat
raised is proved rs BY. the reports. re-
ceived of bullying elevators IN various
parts "a s the northwest, and in many
other places hundreds Of thousands Of
bushels piled up on the ground, ex-
posed to the weather and subject to loss
Of grade and price on that account.
That the producers wish to market
this grain is proved by it's delivery at
the stations and, as in case Recently
cited in TIL e ournal's reports, the
action Of the farmers who furnished
their teams and men to unload and haul
carloads of lumber and coal in order
that the SANG cars might be used in
carrying back their grain ta1mark et. g:
SSSo long as these millions, of bushels
Of. wheat remain In sight awaiting Ahfp4
ment and cars cannot be had for it's
transportation. t. t. is idle te. discuss an
aAfeature of the situation the size Of
the last crop and the reliability of ex-
perts in their forecasts. The shortage
in receipts applies to- :other CHOPS as
well. Flax, about which, there is no
question Of abundant yield, is Short a
million and a half bushels in delivery.
The state railroad commission has
been Informed that 10000 cars belong.
ing to one railroad are in the east and
south and that in the seath MANY OF
them are being used for hauling scrap
iron. That is small cons collation. for pro
dHcer or dealer who needs them, I'd
get his grain to market. - It.. doesns Il
help the matter to tell him that the
difficulty is due not to shortage Of cars
but to lack of motive power. Still less
s.he inclined %to:?be IMPRESSED with the
argument that cars. must not. be, sent
out empty for the shipment Of wheat
but must go onlyaas fast as they can DE
made to earn money both ways. He is
net concerned as to how to produce the
highest possible, earning power. from
railroad equipment. H e Simply knows
that he has accepted the assurance oil
the railroad that it will transport his
Products to Market has settled on its
liae in good faith, and expects, reason
able performance of the implied con
tract to transport, his produce when he
wishes to sell it, or within a reasonable
time; and the railroad, being ajspI;ublie
servant, is bound to recognize the jus
tice Of his claim and satisfy mis- de-
mands with reasonable SERVICE. ,.,s.
5That is the@core Of ;sthis present itula
ton in the NOR thwest- and the,$thinn1e
upon which attentionS:ha as been cent effssd