The DM&E Controversy as a Larger Lesson

Applying the Hippocratic Oath

The Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) railroad expansion and loan issue has been brought up in these pages time and time again. Many Minnesota Monitor readers may say, “Who cares about some railroad that runs mainly in South Dakota, southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, if you include its subsidiary, the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern railroad? How does it affect me?”

First of all, railroads are very important to this country in shipping large quantities of goods and materials great distances. For such hauling they are far more efficient than trucks. Railroads helped this country grow, and today they are an indispensable part of this country’s economic engine.

The DM&E plays not just an important, but a vital role in shipping agricultural-based products through the region it serves. Without it and other railroads in this area, commodity prices would soar, and with them the prices of many agricultural products we use, particularly those based on corn and soybeans. These include not just food but also oils, livestock feed and plastics, among many others.

more insideIn supporting railroads or any other transportation system