The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-04-20

sent to us by prospective settlers
To guard against the errors in set
Element | have just mentioned in
vestigations are being made by the
railroad before any of these fami-
lies will be invited II encouraged
to come here. For several years
the movement of farmers have
been toward the southwest but the
tide is now turning toward the
northwest.
Well Balanced
Montana presents a self con-
tanned balance toward the develop
ment of the highest type of civil.
zation in the United States. There
is such a diversity of interests
here. The very hub and center of
diversified farming in Montana is
the livestock industry. Livestock
growing of the future is going to
be on a more scientific basis and
livestock will be brought to a fin
ished condition ready for slaugh-
ter before going out of the state
because the farmers in the irrigat-
ed valleys are going to produce
the feed for fattening and finish
ing the animals ready for slaugh-
ter.
"The railroads serving Montana,
and through them the people here
enjoy a business in the state two
or three times that of the quantity
that originates here. This is
business that merely passes
through Montana and helps the
state in supporting its through
lines.
more and more freight is NOV
ing from rail haul to the motor
truck. But in Montana your dis
tances + so great that a greater
proportion of your business will
be handled by railroads than in
any other state on the Great Nor
thern.
I'VE have been putting large
sums into improvements which
has enabled us to improve the
transportation service as lower
operating costs in spite of the
greatly increased cost of mater
ials we are now selling transpor-
tation at an increase of only 40
per cent above prewar rates. This
is due to these beterments and to
the aid and cooperation Of our
employees.
Vast Economics
"On the Great Northern theirs
has been spent in the last seven
years 500, 900, 900 in improvements
We have, as a result been able to
increase by so per cent out net
ton miles per employee. Last year
we handled 500, 900 tons of freight
for every mar and woman work
ing on the system, compared with
about 100000 tons in 1920. When
ever by dint of effort and invest
ing money in improvements and
creating better operating condi-
lions, expense can be reduced to
prewar levels your rates will
come down accordingly.
I'VE are suggesting a way in
Montana whereby there can be
saved S10,0 0O, 900 a year. That is
by putting together the Great Nor
thern and the Northern Pacific
railroad. Ninety-eight per cent of
all the agricultural and livestock
tonnage loaded on these two lines
in Montana is loaded at points
served by only n or the other of
these two lines and not by both.
Savings Shown
Ample proof has been offered
the interstate commerce commits
sion to show where these savings
could be made. They have never
been assailed. Personally, I be-
lieve the saving is more likely to
be $4,000 1000. The great question
raised was if these savings would
be passed on to the pepole. 1 say
to you that this plan will result in
a saving to the people along the
Great Northern and Northern Pa
cific lines of ST. 900 a year dur
ing the period of %unification, and