Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-07
.csunereial Club Traffic
Csmmittee Gives Tangible
Evidence OF What Potato
Men In Thi. Territory
Have Had To Contend
With Thi, Year.

Comparative Statistics on the move"
mont Of the 1921 and 1922 potato
crops from the large producing states
of the north. which would end to
show that North Dakota Ia been dis
eliminated against this year in the
distribution Of cars. have been re-
leased by J. W. Goodman. traffic COM
missioner for the Commercial club.
Among the pertinent points
brought out in the statistics is the fac
that while the government forecasts
for 1921 and 1922 show this years
North Dakota production to be twice
that Of a year ago. only SO per cent OF
the cars available in 1921 have been
secured here.
Cars Go Elsewhere.
For the handling Of this yearsk po-
tato crop In the whole United States
there has been 2,543 cars less than in
1921. In North Dakota the a short
words, North Dakota alone suffered a
shortage of 1925 more cars than was
suffered by the entire country. This.
It would seem, would indicate that not
only was North Dakota's increased
1922 production ignored, but some of
h carA. about half OF them, which
she had with her smaller production
last year, were this veal given to other
states.
In Wisconsin. for instance, where
freezing temperature much
later than in North Dakota. potato
shippers up to November 2 had re-
ceived ia per cent Of the car they
received last year. Nor is this due en-
tiFely to shipments having been made
before the North Dakota crop was
ready to move. for just last week the
Wisconsin shippers received $50 po-
tato cars while only 372 cars were re-
ceived in North Dakota. Minnesota,
during the same week. obtained L.
~ cars. and to date has received 49,
OFT cars compared with 1870 in the
case Of North Dakota, more than
three times az many.
Oregon Gets Many.
Oregon this year has received 21s
Per cent of the number of cars re-
ceived in 1921. which. according to the
comparative figures. Is more than four
times what North Dakota has receiy-
ed. This IL despite the fact that Ore
o Is much further from the big DO
tato markets. and therefore must
Keep her cars in service for q greater
length Of time. =
The percentage Of last years cars
received this year by the various
1919 80 80 AOA4OWos SOlOTaQO. TX.
Idaho. IS; Maine. So: Minnesota. 90:
New York. 81; North Dakota, SO; Ore
gon. 21s: Washington, S.; WISCONSIN.
ia: others, 121.
IhesU. g. governments forecast of
October. 1921. for North Dakota. was
S~.e1S,00O bushels. This was later re-
vised to read ~11,52o.o00 bushels. The
forecast Of October this year was ~
1ss,ooo. or 7.96s.ooo bushels more
tnan he revised figure for 1921 The
Lotal additional freight a r needed to
Dakota. Mr.. Goodman said. would
number 11.3s3 cars Of the 700 bushe]
capacity. At the present time It Is
believed that there are at least ten
cars OF potatoes in North
Dakota, with storage capacity Of less
tnan ten per cent Of that amount.
Inconsistency CHARGED.
The matter has been taken up with
practically every government and
railroad agency, and some relief has
been obtained. but nothing COMPARED
WITH what the situation is believed to
warrant. The department Of aericul-
1nre's attention has repeatedly been
easied TO the situation, and empha-
ss placed on the Inconsistency of
the department through permitting
one branch to advocate dfversi1cation
OF agriculture. including the growing
of potatoes, while another govern
mental agency, the car service section
the Interstate Commerce commits
has penalized those who follow
At advice by failing to supply
with a means Of moving their
I, in time to prevent huge and dis
raging financial losses.
The traffic department Of the
/rand Forks Commercial clubs, Mr.,
Goodman said, feels that an injustice
fhas been done this territory. and in
tends, he said, to continue bringing
that belief to the attention of govern
mental officials. Further action along
this line Is understood to be now un-
der consideration for pressing during
tho winter ~