The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-03
CROP BLOCKADE DUE
TORAILROADPOLICY
Continued From First Page.

as could be pulled thru were taken.
traffic would move along normally, but
this must net be. Forty cars, HOLDING
about fourteen hundred tons Of grain.
may be seen at Larimore, destined for
Minneapolis. These must not be
moved-no one dares move them-un.
the minimum and It viii not y move % @ ease
then. if by holding it another day 100
tons additional can be added. 4
In the territory from Grand Forks to
Mlnot and from Kenmare to Conway.
and on the branch lines as far east as
the line from Conway to Hannah, there
Is in elevators, temporary storage on
the ground or in farmers wagons,
SO,OOO,O00 bushels Of grain waiting to
be moved.
How the People Pay.
It is predicted up here by bankers,
merchants and leading men, who read
the financial papers and are well in
formed, that the cost Of operation on
the Great Northern, already extremely
low, is this year to be forced under SO
per cent, there to stay, and that As per
cent Is the desired mark, attainment of
which is to astonish the world, pile up
net earnings in greater sums, create
new profits, grow new melons for later
sllclng, and add a brighter star to the
galaxy that studs the heaven Of achieve
ment OF the greatest railroad operating
mind OF the country. .E
The thing may defeat itself, for
wrecks In this country due to spread
ing rails, broken.down9 engines and
overworked train crews are now 50
numerous that people pay little atten-
ton to such reports and take them as a
matter Of course. Expense for ruined
equipment and damages may make
sum large enough materially to effect
the total. Or, in spite of this, the de-
sired minimum percentage may be
made and If it is it will represent
money taken away from the country,
earnings wrung out, in manner direct
or indirect, from all the people Of
North Dakota In view Of which the
regular railroad stock talk of railroad
farmer and Of railroad desire to in
crease this prosperity is like man
hammering on a board with stone-a
meaningless noise.
Some of the Results.
Here is the cause. What of the ef-
j.: Frank Tibbs of Tibbs & Munson
OF Rugby says farmers are sound and
safs, but have to be carried along
while. interest charges are eating in
steadily. 2, How indeed, can the farmer
pay up when, as was the case one day
last week at the little station Of
Barton l22 wagons Of grain were
counted and the elevator being full,
the farmers had either to sell at a
loss or haul the grain back homeg The
whole country north Of the Great
Northern main line is choked with
grain, and along the 500 wheat line it
IS the same, except at stations like
Lansford, Omemee, McCumber, or Bis
bee, Egeland and Olmstead, where
there is competition. Thru this coun-
try there is a gorge of wheat, fax and
grain of all kinds, is elevators, new ex-
tensions, outside bins, or in farmers
wagons, awaiting Shipment.
< At Wolford it is the same. In fact,
one may go to any point thru this
stretch Of country, other than those
entered by both the Great Northern
and the 500, and find a condition of
affairs working hardship upon the com
munity.
w. F., Hanks of Pleasant Lake has
the same report. Grain elevators are
blocked and no, cars, coal in transit
from Duluth since Nov. IA and urgent
inquiries to division heads at Minot, to
higher officials at Duluth, and to St.
Paul receiving no response.