The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-03-17
1he Mitchell Capital
THURSDAY. MARCH II, 1910.
SOUTH DAKOTA FREIGHT RATES.
NO q.

SOUTH DAKOTA FREIGHT RATES.
NO q.
It is indeed true that it is of vastly
more Importance to South Dakota to
secure lower freight rates than to OBJ
tainSa reduction in passenger fares.
This ought to be realized by every
one. But 1t is not, for the reason
that the freight rate is an indirect tax
while the passenger fare is a direct
satax$on all who pay it. The American.
people are slow to discover levies on
their purses unless they see the actual
dollars go directly to those who make
the levy: For example, the American
public submits tamely to a tax of mil
Il lions upon millions OF dollars every
year for the benefit of manufactures,
simply because It is disguised by
tariffs instead Of being paid In hand
to the manufacturers.
Thus It is that in South Dakota
politicians have made a veritabsa
football out of the railroad rate sub
ject. They have sought to Guido
each other In an inane and more or
less ~insincere demand for lower pass
enger fares. while saying little or
nothing about freight rates. The one
freight rate that has become an issue
lin the state Is that on emigrant's
goods. Why? Because those coming
into the state were compelled to pay
inscash toathe railroads the amount
of this rate. But the people Of the
state make n complaint because in
the clothes and the provisions and the
machinery and the building materia
they buy. they pay freight rates.
which, measured by the standard fix
ed IN Iowa, are altogether too high.
II Is not reasonable of South Dakota
perhaps.t to expect as low freign.
rates 90 Iowa. Foraone thing. the
p0pulation;i IA Iowa issomething like
s260 to the railroad mile, while in
South Dakota 1t is, according to Com
missioner Rice. but 10. But even
that difference does not warrant a
discrimination of so per cent against.
South Dakota In the matter Of rates.
Thatssthe population cannot be
S@snrgedbt fh~eafailfoAd companies as
justification for existing South Da.
kota rates is apparent at a moment
from comparison Of state with inte
state rates. Any one shipping corn,
oats or barley 100 miles In South
Dakota from Canton, would pay. ac-
cording to the railroad commission s
schedule Of maximum rates. 121h
cents per hundred pounds. If the,
same party were to ship corn, rye.
oats r barley 500 miles from Canton
to Chicago. he would pay a rate OF
only II. 05 cents. The same proper
tion applies approximately to ship
ments from points anywhere else in
the state. Then the railroad com
pany receives for transporting corn,
rye. oats or barley 500 miles from
South Dakota points, approximately
one-fourth more than for hauling the
same 100 miles within the state. Not
all the technicians il the world
could convince q man of ordinary in
telligence that II one OF these rates
q reasonable, the other, also is.
This Just illustrates what we said
yesterday. that the railroad compan-
les are determined to require the
public to do business at long distance.
In@the light Of such rate as that
quoted to Canton, Sioux City cannot.
wonder at the failure of the grain
market attempted there. For South.
Dakota generally these rates have
Significance. For example, it is not
difficult to find within the state -four
Ing mills. Al modern as can be seen.
anywhere. standing idle. The reason
for the demise OF these home indus
tries ts to be found, usually, in.
freight rates. When It costs almost as
much to move grain "a hundred miles
inSouth Dakota as it does to send it
500 miles to Chicago. and actually
II much as It does to send this grain
from the edge Of South Dakota goa
miles to Minneapolis. is It surprising
that South Dakota cannot buy grain
mflled In south Dakota. even though
the grain has been raised he