The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-01-28

tnOuRnt that with the coming OF the
new railway (the Soo) to Bemidii,
the question of securing better rates
for shipment from points north of
Bemidji was very vital. He also
believed that the prices of wood
could be reduced to considerable
less. He believed that the M. & I.
Railway company had dealt literally
with the north-county shippers when
it had established the rate of 1Hc.
per cwt. for cordwood and he believed
that rate should be continued. This
rate of Hc. per cwt. amounted to
about soc. per cord on cordwood.
With a car holding fourteen cords OF
birch wood the matter of a lower
rate amounted to much.
J. G.. Thompson of Blackjack said
that the organization was timely;
that the producer of cordwood was
up against the rate proposition,
which was running the cordwood
business. He had 700 cords of wood
which he held over last winter and
which he had yet, and which he
will probably have to retain because
of the high rate of shipment, as
other parties could give better prices
to the consumers in North Dakota.
V. M. Owen of Hines stated that
he had been in North Dakota last
year and was shown quotations on
prices for wood which he was un.
able to meet since the joint rates
had been discontinued by the M. &
I. Railway company!s He believed
that this joint rate had been with
drawn with but little notice being
given to the shippers. He thought
that the rate of SOC per cwt. less
than at present would be but fair
for shipping from points north of
Bemidji to Bemidji; if it was a joint
rate the same as charged for logs
he could again compete with other
dealers in selling wood in the
Dakotas.
j.. Opsahl and several others
spoke along the same lines, it being
the general sentiment of all that the
officials of the M. & I. company de.
sired to do nothing but what they
thought was fair, and were also de-
sirous of assisting in every way pos
sible in developing the country
north of Bemidji, where most of the
business of the company comes from.
1t was the sentiment that the
farmers and others living north of
Bemidji would not want to be
forced, because of high shipping
rates, to pile their timber when
clearing land and burn it, when with
a fair rate for shipping they could
sell their wood and realize a profit.
1t appeared from the discussion
that the Great Northern had never
done anything in the way of reduc-
ing rates in conjunction with the
M. & L. company; the M. & I.
had alone given the reduced rates,
"The North Central Minnesota
Shippers Association" was adopted
as the name of the new associa-
ton. President Carter appointed
J. J. Opsahl, S. E. Thompson and
Charles Hayden as a committee to
draft by laws, the committee to be
given week or more to prepare
their report.
President Carter, speaking
before the delegates at the meet
ing, said that the scope of the new
association would not be limited
to considering shipping rates.
CHOW is the time to inject new
life into the agitation of the
development Of this section" said
Mr.. Carter. Cali people living
north of Bemidji should cooperate
with Bemidji in Der efforts to
induce manufacturing industries
to locate in this city, as the loca-
ton of factories using small tim.
Der products would innure greatly
to the benefit of every person liv-
north of Bemidji.
Mr.. Carter asserted that Bemidii,
because of its splendid railroad
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