The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-07-30
Fargo Conference Takes Posi-
tion That Strong Influence
Must be Exerted
SEEKING PRIORITY, ORDERS
A Large Part of Northwest's
Wheat Crop Must be Stored,
According to Officials
Especial to the Tribune)


commerce commission at Washing
ton.
This decision was reached at i
meeting of officials, grain men, bank
ers, farmers and businessmen OF the
northwest at the Fargo Commerclal;
club today. 1t was declared that q
strenuous effort must be made WITH
out delay on the part of the nortn-
west business interests for the spec
DIV movement of freight cars to THIS
section if disaster is to be avolded.
This afternoon a definite organl-
cation was to be perfected. This or
ganization will be composed OF raj
road and warehouse commissioners
of the four northwest states, and re-
representatives. of all the larger snip
ping, grain, farm and livestock or
ganizations of the district, The. com.
mittee, will 90 to Washington and
appear before the interstate COM
merce commission with SPECIFIC dc'
mand that cars be kept moving TO
and from the northwest for the haul
ing of grain, potatoes, livestock anu
corn during the fall months.
u, Present Data
Data on the car shortage question
was presented at the meeting o!
Frank Milhollan, member OF the
North Dakota railroad and warehouse
commission who acted as chairman;
o.. p, B. Jacobson, state railroad ana
warehouse commissioner for Mime
sota. T I'M Anderson, president Of
the Equity Cooperative exchange
Congressman George M. Young ant:'
John M. Baer, Curtis L.. Moshier OF
the Federal Reserve bank and n. "
Peterson, of the department OF agrl-
culture ard labor. 1t was the unanlhl.
GUS opinion of these men, all Or
whom have given considerable time
recently to the study of the car SIT
nation. that drastic means must ne
taken at once to remedy the present
shortage of freight cars.
sThe interstate commerce cOnlnlss- Is
sion mas the power to direct priority
movement Of cars to the northwest,
said Congressman Young. Ihey
have requests for similar acton at
the present time from every part OF
the United States and it is a hara
matter for them to decide which COM
munity is the most in need OF cars.
II we can send strong Delegation
to Washington and put the mater
clearly before the commission, l oe'
lieve we will get the results: lnele
IS a contest on for cars and 10 ge'
them we must show our cause IN the
proper light. E& ~,
Mr. Moshier, representing the Fed
eral Reserve bank, said that the pank
Yesterday in view of the present Sc
rious car shortage sent out pune
tin to all of its member banks, ex'
pressing the opinion that the car
shortage would not be greatly rem
edied and in time to handle tnls
years grain supply. 81,
ave have considered the isitna ton
one of the most serious ;in years,
he said. we advised all our mem
Der banks to instruct the farmers y
prepare to hold their grain. X he
has not proper storage on his 1ar!h
he should go to the elevator at MS
nearest town and see what arrange
ments he can make for the sale OF
his grain. He should clean out eV-
erv available place on his farm ana De
ready to store as much OF his gram
as possible.
Terminal Facilities Short =,
"There will be about 6oO,OOo,oo
bushels of grain produced in the fouS
northwest states this season me
northwest, including the large term-
inals in Minneapolis, st. Paui anu
uuluth. has only storage capaclty ~,
about 200 100000 bushels. The RESI-
will have to be taken care OF IN
some manner. Cars will have to be
proyided for the shipment tof the re-
mainder of this grain to eastern
markets. gs
During the past four years notll-
ing has been done by 5the roads ~
keen their equipment in repair or 10
even supply the normal amount ".
new yearly equipment, IN sonie
cases large grain companies nave az
piled for permission to repair 1reisH.
cars owned by the roads Tor theil
personal use. This was started once
on small scale but later ordered
stopped by the railroads because OF
requests from the unions. There IS
bound to be a car shortage until re-
nairs are made and new equipment
is provided for. If the northwest gers
cars for, the hauling of this years
grain crop, some other locality w;ll
be. robbed
Need Strong Delegation
Mr.. Jacobson, of the Minnesota
Railroad and Warehouse commission
who was chairman of the recent 81.
PAIL meeting of officials and gram
men which considered 'the situation, u,
said this morning that there is 'stlll
40 40 600 900 bushels of grain from last
Years crop still being held IN tne
northwest due to lack of cars. TINS
has to be shipped out as well as the
crop that is now soon ready 10 De
harvested he said. Mr.. Jacobsen
said that the northwest now has less
than, sixty percent of its norma! sup
ply of freight cars. He said thas tne
New England states have about l4'4