Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, January 28, 1910, Page 1

THE BEMIDJI DAILY PION EEH) e ———— TORICAL | OCIETY. VOLUME 7. NUMBER 240. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, FRIDAY EVENING. JANUARY 28, 1910 TEN CENTS PER WEEK. SHIPPERS’ ASSOCIATION CONSUMATED YESTERDAY Meeting of Dealers in and Shippers of Timber Products Met and Discussed Many Matters of Importance “Cordwood Folks.” With Charles S. Carter of Hines as president, J. J. Opsahl of Be- midji as secretary, and S. E. Thomp- son of Tenstrike as treasurer, the North-Central Minnesota Shippers’ association is the new association which was organized in this city yesterday and which will have a CHARLES S. CARTER, Elected President of the New North-Central Minnesota Shippers' Association wide scope in securing a better shipping rate and co-operating with other associations for the betterment of conditions generally in this section of the state. The meeting was an enthuiastic one and was attended by some fifty persons living mostly north of Be- midji who are interested in small timber products and who are doing considerable shipping of wood, cedar and other class of timber from “up- country” points to Bemidji and other placesin northern Minnesota and North Dakota. “AL” H. Jester, secretary of the Bemidji Commercial club, called the meeting to order and Charles S. Carter of Hines was chosen as the chairman of the meeting. Mr. Carter issued the call for the meeting, and he made a brief address, stating what matters would be considered. Mr. Carter said that he had recently received a copy of a tariff which had been issued by the M. & I. Railway company which showed the rate of $1.25 per thousand for the shipment of logs from either Blackduck, Hines or Tenstrike to Bemidji, which was much less than the rate for cordwood. Mr. Carter urged a full considera- tion of shipping charges, and stated that some two years ago the Black- duck Commercial club had secured a joint rate from the M. & I. railway company for the shipment of cord- wood from Blackduck, Hines and Tenstrike over the M. & I.and G. N. railways to points west of Bemidji. This rate was continued uutil September, 1908, when, for some unknown reason, the rate was dis- continued without giving due notice to shippers; that the old rate had been 1%c. per cwt. for cordwood, but was now 3c. per cwt, i Mr. Carter stated that the object of calling the meeting was to form an organization of shippers and merchants in the north coun-| try to take cognizance of all mat- ters relating to the shipping of timber products, etc. Mr, Jester called attention to the development and reapportion- ment meeting which will be held in Bemidji on February 17-18. He suggested the appointment of a committee from the shippers to attend the development meeting, as the delegates to that meeting would be glad to consider any suggestions of the character which had been mentioned and would be pleased to co-operate with the association and render any help possible, S. E. Thompson of Tenstrike thought that the time was opportune for action in securing fair rates and also to regulate shipments of cord. wood when green, so that the receivers, in North Dakota or else- where, would take the responsibility of destruction by fire, etc. He thought that with the coming of the new railway (the Soo) to Bemidii, the question of securing better rates for shipment from points north of Bemidji was very vital. He also believed that the prices of wood could be reduced to conssderable less. He believed that the M. & I. Railway company had dealt liberally with the north-county shippers when it had established the rate of 1%c. per cwt. for cordwood and he believed that rate should be continued. This rate of 174c. per cwt. amounted to about 50c. per cord on cordwood. With a car holding fourteen cords of birch wood the matter of a lower rate amounted to much. J. G. Thompson of Blackduck said that the organization was timely; that the producer of cordwood was up against the rate proposition, which was ruining the cordwood business. He had 700 cords of wood which he held over last winter and which he bad yet, and which he will probably have to retain because of the high rate of shipment, as other parties could give better prices to the consumers in North Dakota. V. M.Owen of Hines stated that he had been in North Dakota last year and was shown quotations on prices for wood which he was un. able to meet since the )omt rates | had been discontinued by the M. & | I. Railway company® He believed that this joint rate had been with- drawn with but little notice being given to the shippers. He thought that the rate of 50c per cwt. less than at present would be but fair for shipping from points north of Bemidji to Bemidji; if it was a joint rate the same as charged for logs he could again compete with other dealers in selling wood in the Dakotas. J. J. Opsahl and several others spoke along the same lines, it being the general sentiment of all that the officials of the M. & I. company de- sired to do nothing but what they thought was fair, and were also de- sirous of assisting in every way pos- sible in developing the country north of Bemidji, where most of the business of the company comes from. It was the sentiment that the farmers and others living north of Bemidji would not want to be forced, because of high shipping rates, to pile their timber when clearing land and burnit, when with a fair rate for shipping they could sell their wood and realize a profit. It appeared from the discussion that the Great Northern had never done anything in the way of reduc- ing rates in conjunction with the M. & I. company; the M. & I had alone given the reduced rates, “The North-Central Minnesota Shippers Association” was adopted as the name of the new associa- tion, President Carter appointed J. J. Opsahl, S, E. Thompson and Charles Hayden as a committee to draft by laws, the committee to be given a week or more to prepare their report, President Carter, speaking before the delegates at the meet ing, said that the scope of the new association would not be limited to considering shipping rates. “Now is the time to inject new life into the -agitation of the development of this section,” said Mr. Carter. “‘All people living north of Bemidji should co-operate with Bemidji in her efforts to induce manufacturing industries to locate in this city, as the loca- tion of factories using small tim- ber products would innure greatly to the benefit of every person liv- north of Bemidji. Mr. Carter asserted that Bemidji, because of its splendid railroad facilities and great waterpower which would give cheap power for plants, was destined to become a great manufactoring center. The north- country people could be depended upon to work in harmony with any commercial body in Bemidii. Secretary Opsahl was instructed to take up with the officials of the M. & I. Railway company and the G. N. Railway company the matter of securing new joint rates for ship- ping cordwood from Northome, Blackduck and other towns along the M. & I. railway to Bemidji and points west of this city over the G. N. railroad. F. S. Lycan, a member of the board of directors of the Bemidji Commercial club, assured those par- ticipating in the meeting that the Bemidji Commercial club would co- operate with the new association and would do everything in its power : to procure the rates desired by the association. The association discussedsome other matters informally, and will meet again in the near future 'to further perfect the organization. Sustained Broken Leg. Louis LaJaeunesse, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. LaJaeunesse, sustained a broken leg yesterday, while at school. Young LaJaeunesse. was playing with some of his companions during the noon hour when he in some manner slipped and broke his left leg. The boy was carried into the school room presided over by Miss Wessberg, and Dr. Shannon was sommoned to attend him. The doctor set the broken limb and the boy was removed to his home, where he is getting along very nicely. 00 ‘AUDITOR WOULD. ASSESS STATE LAND Believes Land on Which Grass Stump- age Is Sold Should Be Subject to Tax. ASSESSMENTS COULD BE MADE AND TESTED IN THE COURTS Should the Assessment ‘‘Stick,” It Would Mean Large Income for the County. “Whether state lands, on which grass stumpage has been sold and harvested, are not subject to a levy for county taxes is a matter which I am giving considerable thought and study, with the end in view of secur- ing for the county large sums of money because of this taxaton,” says County Auditor Hayner, speak- ing of taxation matters in this county. “Between one-fourth and one- third of the lands in Beltrami county are owned by the state, and are popularly supposed to be exempt from county taxation for any pur- poses whatsoever, because of the constitution which says ‘All public property- used ‘exclusively for any public purpose’ should be exempt from taxation. “Through the building of public highways leading to or through these lands they have greatly increased in value, and the state pays not one cent of taxes to the county. ““The state is selling grass - stump- age on some of these lands, and the question naturally arises if the lands are ‘used exclusively for public pur- poses.” 1 am of the opinion tkat they are not; and I have asked for opinions from attorneys on the sub- ject, with the intention of making an auditor’s assessment on the lands, so that the matter be tested in the courts by the state resisting the pay- ment of the taxes levied for county purposes; and the result - would finally determine whether or not these state lands are subject to taxa- tion for any purpose whatsoever. “Should the decision of the courts be against the legality of levying this assessment, the mat- ter would be brought before the public in such'a way as to show the gross injustice done Beltrami county in the state not. paying its just share of the expense of con structing roads and maintaining schools in the county, and may possibly result in constitutional amendment and other legislation whereby the' state can ‘come in’ on 1ts share of our burdens, «Should these state -lands, ever become assessable, it should mean somewhere near- $60,000 for the county, and would, in probably five years, eat up our big debt.” Will Officiate in Presbyterian Pulpit. Rev. S. E.P. White, pastor of the local Presbyterean church, writes the Pioneer from East Grand Forks that he will not be in the city Sun- day and that Rev. H. 'W. George of East Grand Forks will officiate in his place. MUCH INTEREST IS SHOWN IN ASUGAR BEET FACTORY At Meeting Yesterday, Information Was Given Concerning Possibilities of Beet Raising by Local Farmers and Efforts to Secure Factory. ““The sugar beet and the dairy cow, co-operating together for the upbuild- ing of the agricultural interests of northern Minnesota, will be the sal- vation of this section, when the log- ging and lumbering industry has waned and the sound of the sawmill whistle is no more heard in the land,” asserted “Al” H. Jester, at the meeting of north-country dele- gates who had gathered in the city yesterday to form a shippers’ associa- tion and talk over other matters of vital importance to every person living hereabouts. The question of whether a sugar beet factory would not be a feasible enterprise to establish in the city of Bemidji, providing the farmers would co-operate by raising the re- quired amount of sugar beets, has been under consideration by the Be- midji Commercial club, at the sug- gestion of Mr. Jester, for several weeks past; and the club and its secretary, together with Representa- tive J. J. Opsahl of Bemidji, S. E. Thompson. of Tenstrike and others, have been gathering data as to the operation of these factories and the raising of the sugar beets, with the result that there is an agitation that will likely ultimately result in the Fabrics. line. Dress Etc. Spring Goods. Goods, Muslin " JUDGE OUR DRESS GOODS DEPARTMENT BY THE QUALITY OF ITS BL It Is the Fairest Test That We Can Think Of This store has built up the largest Dress Goods business in the City. It is still growing. It is growing because Bemidji women have learned to depend upon the quality of La Port They have learned to appreciate the money back guarantee of satis- tion under which all-dress materials---Blacks included, are sold. The fact that the quality in Black is more apparent to the average dress buyer than any other color prompts us to specialize on this one In fact this is not only the best place to buy Dress Goods, but everything in our lines. Our Spring Goods are arriving daily. : Underwear, 'Trlmmmgs, Gmghams, Wash Goods, Corsets, & And lots more to come. We want every lady to visit Our Store and see our r selection of Bem|d||, Minn. OKS Hoisery, .eary-Bowser Co. establishment of 1 sugar beet factory in Bemidii, and a prospect of the farmers of Beltrami and adjoining counties engaging in raising sugar beets, with resultant large profits. Samples of sugar beets which have been raised in this county have been shipped to the refinery of the sugar beet factory at Carver, and the result of the test of these beets is awaited with interest. Some which have already been tested have given the finest kind of results—very encouraging for the successful rais. ing of a high grade of sugar beets in this county. In further speaking of the possi- bilities of sugar beet raising and the prospect of securing a factory for Bemidji, Mr. Jester says: ““The raising of sugar beets is the principal question. which is being agitated by the farmers of the surrounding country at the present time, as being the answer to the question as to what todo to make small tracts of land which have been cleared produce profitable crops. “We have been investigating the ‘sugar beet question for some time, as to its adaptability for this section, and the feasibility of getting a sugar beet factory for Bemidji; and we have every hope that, with the hearty co-operation of the farmers in the raising of the beets to inaugur- ate a permanent, paying industry for every owner of an acre of land in Nonhern Minnesota. *“We are informed by the people who operate the sugar beet factory at Carver that the light soil of this section should be ideal for the raising of the finest kind of sugar - beets; and those who will work intelligently and diligently in cultivating the beets will have large returns. *“A fair crop of beets will give an average of from five to ten tons of beets to the acre, which, at $5 per ton at the factory, nets the {armer $25 to $50 tper acre. The minimum yield is five to ten tons per acre, and with the intensive cultivation that is given to raise other crops in this section, the yield should be from twenty-five to thirty tons per acre. «It is necessary that 5,000 acres of land be grown to sugar beets in order to provide the beets for the factory, and 10,000 acres are better. The factory furnishes a specified variety of seed. “And in connection with the rais- ing of the sugar beets, the tcps and the pulp of the beet left from the manufacture makes the finest kind of feed for the dairy cows which are being raised in large numbers by the farmers who are starting dairying in this section.” Representative J. J. Opsahl stated that in 1906, accorning to the gov- ernment statistics, there were 64 sugar beet factories in the U. S., and hat last year there were between 80-and 90 in operation. The statis- tics showed that the land adjacent to the factories had increased in value tenfold, after the installation and operation of a sugar beet factory and the raising of sugar beets on the lands. Mr. Opsahl quoted from a letter written by Prof. Bull, of the State Agricultural College, in which "the latter stated that there was about $600,000 invested in the plant at Carver, and that it took 4,000 to 5,000 acres of sugar beets elch season to keep the plant in ‘‘raw material,” as it were. The average yield from these 5,000 acres was about five to ten tons of beets, but, | by intelligent cultivation, thirty tons have been raised from an acre. One hundred and fifty men are necessary to operate the factory. It was stated that the sugar beet was an innovation in this section, by reason of the fact that frost does not injure the beet for sugar purposes; but once it is frozen, it should be kept in that state. The commercial club will con- tinue the agitation for the estab- lishment of a plant in Bemidji; and agreements will be secured from farmers as to the number of acres they will grow to beets, in order that the necessary 5,000 acres are devoted to beet raising. [} e —