The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-30


aggregate enormously. In Oklahoma
alone farm land and buildings in 1910
amounted to 1867, 900. an increase
Of $685., ess,000 in ten years, sS1 per
cent.
Cannot 60 on Always.
1t stands to reason that expenditures
and proportionate increase in values
cannot so on indefinitely. While gem
eral prices have advanced steadily
every material advance in staple food
products has been resisted strenuously,
until today flax seed Is the only pro-
duct of the farm bringing an abnormal
price.
Money has been the cheapest thing
In the nation on an average through
the period of imitation.
Even with our failure OF crops last
season in North Dakota involving
shortage Of $4,000, 900 or more as COM
pared with what would have been
available with a normal crop money
rates at the financial centers have been
reasonable for those who have credit
and collateral to command the funds.
FIRE insurance companies have been
most diligent In taking advantage of
prosperity and not only assimilated The
enormous losses of San Francisco but
reports based on twenty eight com
panies in New York showed 20 per
cent annual net earnings for ten years
Net earnings on their capital for 1903
was reported at n per cent by circular
In June and 81 per cent by similar
circular Of October, 1910, for 1909.
The railroad managers were so busy
during the period of imitation trying
to care for their traffic and providing
Facilities for the continuance that they
forgot to raise their rates Everyone
else put on all the traffic would bear.
The frenzied traffic of the congested
period could have been modified within
reasonable bounds by slight advances
the same as loans are restricted by adj
vance OF the rate of interest.
The good managers were rewarded
Tor their forbearance by a reduction Of
SS per cent in passenger rates, and
nave been beset in other directions by
repressive measures until today rail-
way construction is practically sus-
pended In this country excepting pros
pectiye resumption Of some deferred
work in North Dakota.
Railroads, when actively operating
consume about one-third of the pro-
duct of lumber mills. When out of the
market that, and other interests. suffer
accordingly.
According to the statement of the
president of the railroad trainmen. The
wages Of trainmen in the United States
and Canada have been increased $751;
100000 in year.
That dnng y,1k
vances for enginemen and other en-
ployees.
In recent report of the British
board of trade, food and rent combined
Is 81 per cent greater in the United
States than in England and Wales, but
wages in this country were as 230 to
100 or two and one-fourth times great
er than wages paid in England and
Wales.
While our Industrial interests are
hesitating to find out what they can
do and our financial interests are try
Ing to devise a way to insure stability.
our Canadian netghbor is fostering it's
railroads The Grand Trunk Pacific
continues to build through a new coun-
try, opening up millions of acres of
new land. and as / understand IT. the
Canadian Northern line through east
ern Canada will have a government
guarantee for fixed charges on it's
bonds of $4,000 per mile for 1000
miles.
Similar encouragement is given the
settlers in Canadian farming communi-
ties.
In Australia. under the closer settle
ment act, money Is advanced to set
tiers at ~ per cent with which to
buy land at SIS to $50 per acre, with
thirty years in which to pay it.
In western Australia there lis an
available area of 600,000,0O0 acres Of
land. Under the conditional purchase
act, tracts of this land can be pur-
chased on twenty years time without
interest. From 10000 to 10000 acres
under such conditions are being opened
for selection almost weekly.
In addition, the State Agricultural
bank advances to new settlers sums to
the amount of $3.50 at per cent.
payable in thirty years.
Under such conditions the details of
which are further elaborated in a re-
cent issue of Harpers' Weekly by Ed
ward Moss, one can realize that such
colonies taking up and successfully
carrying out ideas Of cooperation with
the minimum burden, coupled with the
greatest promise of success for the
worker that there will be rapid de-
velopment and greatly increased pro-
duction.
After continuous expansion OF in
dustry for over twelve years with such
prodigal public and private expendi-
ti1ran we hayn a hrnrhad rafIIfnv,n 70 -
migrants, principally in the large cities,
who are not yet assimilated With
last years experience of crop failures
yet so much grain In sight in the
worlds market that Europe has been
practically independent OF this coun-
try's offerings. cannot help feeling
that public men who take advantage
OF a midnight agreement to do vio-
lence to industrial conditions by sud-
den reversal OF economic conditions are
not only academic and visionary, but
lacking in the elements OF wisdom. The
principal reason for such violence be-
ing an effort to feed more cheaply peo-
Pile on a basis OF European markets
who are now two and one-quarter
times better paid than their kindred In
foreign countries.
With vision for the future in the
light of thirty years experience in a
developing country, / cannot help feel
ing that one Of the most hazardous
mistakes of our time Is being fostered
when all the products of our farms are
placed on the free list and their earn
ing power jeopardized In being placed
In unrestricted competition with sub
rfdfvnd rivals