The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-18
HAS BRILLIANT

50 cents at that time paid for the
transporting d barrel OF -four i6l miles
back from Minnesota.
Al bushel Of wheat sold for 81 in
Minneapolis In 1911, and that 81 paid
for transporting a barrel OF -four from
Minneapolis out into North Dakota 436
miles. In other words, the farmers
bushel of wheat in 1911 would buy
nearly 2 ga times as much -four
transportation as in 1895, although the
wages paid by the railroad and the
cost Of most materials used by it are
very much higher now than in 1895.
The present freight rate is very
small. How small IL is can be better
understood when one realizes that for
rs cents, what it costs according to
the United States department of agri-
cuItur~ for a farmer to move a one
ton load by wagon one mile, the North
ern Pacific railway, at'its average rate
last veal will move the one-ton load
27.2 miles. For the cost OF a 2-cent
postage stamp 1t will move a ton about
two and a quarter miles. For the cost
Of ten pounds of ten-penny nails 1t
will move a ton forty-four miles, for
the price of a No. 2 Ames shovel, 1865
miles, for the money it takes to buy
a good milk pail, 1876 miles, and for
the price Of an ordinary lantern globe,
sixteen miles.
Concluding, MI. Elliott said: You
cannot have a good railroad without
good track, good equipment and good
men to maintain and operate that
track and equipment. You cannot have
good farms without good soil, which
you have in these three states; good
farm equipment, which you can get
and should keep in good order; good
men who will use that soil and equip
ment by proper blowing and cultiva-
ton, by the selection of good clean
seed instead of poor, dirty seed, by in
telligent combination of various crops
and live stock.
Sound public opinion an help both
the farmer and the railroads in the
important work of the farmer and the
railroad. 1t is important that fairness
and consideration be shown to both; to
the farmer that he may have every en-
couragement and the assistance Of the
be agricultural education, scientific
research and extension work so as to
produce a larger food supply; and to
the railroad that il may help the gem
eral prosperity by being able to pro-
vide sufficient transportation when 1t
is needed.
The people a have good farming
and good railroading, but it means
hard work and plenty of it. Men who
stand off one side and find fault, crit
icise and embarrass those who are
really doing the constructive work in
the country, by numerous petty foolish
restrictions, are not helping but are
really hindering the work of better
farming and better railroading, and the
country will sooner or later wake up to
this fact.
The closing address Of the afternoon
session was given by Gov. Judson
Harmon Of Ohio who was invited to
speak in an impromptu manne before
the farmers on Tax Reform. Govern
or Harmon praised the assemblage and
mentioned the recent invasive trip OF
the western chief executives through
the east, and he stated that he felt
like getting up a trip of eastern gov
errors and coming out west to NORTH
and South Dakota and Minnesota anC
surprising the men of his part Of the
country with the wonders OF TIL:
country.
He paid a tribute to the farmer anc
then took up the question of Ta2
Reform in his own state. In no uncer.
tain terms he told of the graft that
had been perpetrated in Ohio and
what he had done to endeavor to stoI
it.
What would you think of the mar
who robs the contribution plate IL
the church," he asked. "The con,
tribution OF a free people is just a,
sacred as Gods money. We must hay,
distribution in taxation. Everyonl
should spend in proportion to what h,
has. Equality is the greatest reform
When the commission was created ii
Ohio there were all sorts Of prophe
eies Of dire evil. Everything was ap
praised at its full value and the farm
ers and industries were treated alike
Everyone got a square deal and al
are satisfied"
The governor was ent~husiasticall,
received by the farmers and was intro
duced by President Worst.