Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-12-13

49,
sheep sold In North Dakota from IS
cents to $1.25 per head. There was
practically no market for wool at any
price. y ...
Z The free-wool value on the farm to-
day for the leading grade Of wool in
North Dakota is ~ cents per pound,
while the minimum price for the same
previous to March, 1898, which was
before, the Mckinley law was assailed
and, before the effects of its repeal had
been discounted, was 16 cents per
pound on the farm.
Mr.. President, the great immediate
benefit to the northwestern farmer of
a duty on wheat is in keeping out the
Canadian article, and to be of posi-
tive good the duty should be prohibit
tory. A moderate duty that will let in
Canadian wheat a revenue duty, for
Observation-Disclosures no protection.
What our farmers want is to be pro-
tected against Canadian wheat itself,
more than against the low prices of
Canadian wheat. In 1891 the states of
Minnesota, North and South Dakota
produced 150,000,0O0 bushels of wheat,
the greatest crop on record. The. IA
cilities for handling this great guam.
tity Of grain were very much over
taxed. I have seen in North Dakota
during. the marketing season-Sep-
TENDER, October and November
thousands of bushels of wheat piled
up on the. open prairie after every bin
and elevator on the farms and at the
railway stations and every grain car
had been filled; in fact. what may be
termed a wheat gorge, with farmers
wagons standing in line waiting for
space or elevator room. -
Under. these conditions the local
market price, is naturally affected.
The temporary oversupply depresses
values, and the Cutting of the market,
the engagement OF the elevators, the
wheat blockade, bring stagnation to
trade Everything Is stopped. When
the farmer cannot find a place to put
his wheat the market is closed. When
the market is closed trade in other
lines is suspended. Under these con-
ditions, If this bill becomes a law
when elevators, cars and vehicles are
filled with the wheat produced by our
farmers-the Canadian wheat raiser
As given the privilege of bringing his
surplus to OUR local / 1 markets. and
dumping It on top Of Sours, thus In
tensifying local conditions, and pro-
longing the period Of depression and
anxiety. !. Z \ s.. =.:, \ q. rs.
IfSs one hundred domestic, grain
wagons are in, lina at the station wait.
ingsto unload, bysthis bill sayEthat
any number Of foreign grain wagons
may come in unhamp ered, take their
places In the line ana share In such
rights and privileges as our farmers
mag possibly think are o. should DO
exclusiv ely their own. Il one hun.
brad freight trains, the total number
available, are engagedFin transporting
our dpmestic wheat from local TO CEN
tra markets sby this bill yeuEmake III
possih for the Cams Han shipp Of
wheat 20 aemploy an numb Der of those
trains To transp port. his grain into this
cpuntrg tree of duty, while ! the wheat
ID the domestic elevator must walt.
One o. the great drawbacks toI the
farmer ID the northwest Is scarcity of
cars to move his crop, Under exist
Ing condit lions, with q duty upon Cana
dian wheat 40 high that II cannot he
sold here at q profit the Canadian
shipper must find q market elsewhere
for his surplus. do not yfant It'll
We cannot take care Of our own sur
plus.