The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-21
\ Railroad News
RAILROADS
and PEOPLE
Pres. Elliott Of N. P. Made
Exhaustive Address
History and Resources Of the
Northwest

AhO NoElbsEn racine lines. Mention
was made of 8 number Of the pronni-
nent and early builders OF the road n
heads and the work they had done FOR
humanity, in opening the great north
west to settlement and the homeseek-
ers.
He referred to Minnesota as the
north star state when giving 4 brief
outline OF its history, tracing it from
the time when it was under SPANISH
control in 1912 as q part OF Florida
down through it's French influence "a
the present time. Extensive reference
was made to North Dakota ana the
Lewis and Clark expedition. In hts
remarks concerning North Dakota
President Elliott said:
Lewis and Clark, the intrepid ex-
piorers, spent the winter of 1sO4-5 on
the Missouri River above the present
cities of Bismarck and Mandan. where
the Northern Pacific main lines crosses
the river.
The state was admitted to the Union
In 1889 and now has 557.O5e neonle IT,
area of 45,335,680 acres is large enough
20 include New York and PennsyI-
wanna. 1t Is sometimes thought of as
bleak, cold. country. producing wheat
ana nothing else. While its wheat
crop In q normal year is nearly 1OO.-
100000 bushels, 1t produces q large
amount of flax, oats, barley, rye and
corn, a goodly number of hogs and cat
Tie and extremely good fruit and vege-
tables. The dairy industry has gained
an excellent foothold and il rapidly de-
veloping. Much of the state II UNDER
laid with Ignite coal of good quality.
furnishing cheap fuel for heat and
power, and in 1910 400, 900 tons were
mined. There are excellent deposits
or clay suitable for fine brick and pot
terry, Of which 1t has extensive manu-
ractures. During the census tSariod the
advance OF agriculture is reflected ia
the fact that the value Of farms and
buildings advanced S14 per cent. and
reached total Of $685., 035,O00."
Montana and the Other States.
After his remarks about North Da.
kota, Mr.. Elliott talked of Montana and
the other western states, touching upon
the resources Of Idaho and Washing
ton and Oregon. expatiating on that
region known as the inland empire. He
spoke or Alaska, the Canadian north
west and then took up the RESPONSE
bility of the railroad man.
II was a valuable effort in all par
ticulars and Mr.. Elliott dilated much
on the proper conduct OF the railroad
business. Regarding this he said in
part:
The railroads are a big target and
II has been popular to attack them.
Out Of 100000 people, relatively few
come closely enough into touch with
railroads in the regular course of their
lives and business to know railroad
offlcers or understand the business.
Those who do not, must depend upon
casual information--what politicians
say, what magazines print, what ap-
pears in the daily press-for their
knowledge about railroads. The arru-
ments hurled at railroads by some OF
the magazines are often more calcu-
lated 70 Increase circulation than to
educate the American people as to
the actual facts. Many OF the charges
which have been believed by thousands
OF people are not based on accurate
knowledge.
Railroad officers have been less
active than they should have been in
keeping in touch with the public The
railroad stockholders have not real
lied how strong the forces AFFECTING
their properties are. This condition
has changed and the modern railroad
owner, officers and employees. should
and do realize that it fs necessary
to maintain cordial and friendly rela.
lions with the public and by their per-
sonal efforts and example to give fun
information about the business. and TO
build up q constantly better feeling
towards the transportation machine of
the United States.
1t Is no doubt true that little things
1.-The abruptness of an agent Or a
trainman, lack of proper courtesy.
inattention to complaints of the public
dllatoriness-ofte caused quite as
much criticism from the public as
things OF greater Importance.
This irritation and criticism can be |
reduced by adjusting the relations be-
tween the railroads and the public III |
the point OF contact. The passenger /
men and their representatives III 1908 |
came in contact with each one az mar
" 000.00O.000 users OF RAILROADS. IN
each of 900,000,000 instances some /
1AA~NAA A~A q Sh1uLc ~ MAKE or mar the l
reputation of his line and to afgect |
Just q little the attitude or the people /
toward the transportation business.
Nine hundred million instances OF corr.
tesy and attention, or 100000. 900 pas /
sengers completing b Journey with 4 /
feeling that the railroad was interest /
ed In their comfort and pleasure, would |
constitute a great leverage, moving /
public sentiment into better channels. |
The passenger man can not only |
build up cordial relations in the best |
way--and that II through pleasant |
contact OF the individual with the In
dividual-but has an opportunity 10 /
do an increasing amount OF work Ia |
placing before the people the real facts
about the railroad business Or this
country, and can have q growing In
fuence In showing d majority 81 the |
American people, who are only IN
cannot indefinitely provide increasingly
stand this question. that the railroads |
cannot indefinitely provide increasingly
good service at rising costs, which the
public demands and should have. ana
survive. unless there III more reason /
III directing and controlling the four
forcea I hare mentioned