It therefore appears that in the legislature of the states of Illinois and New York the power exists, under constitutional restrictions substantially the same as those existing in North Dakota, to control the business transacted in elevators and grain warehouses, to the extent, at least, of prescribing the maximum charges for storing and elevating grain. It follows that the same power exists and may be exercised in North Dakota, if like or similar conditions to those found in the other states mentioned exist here. Nor are the same or similar conditions here indispensable to the existence or to the exercise of legislative control over the warehouses and grain elevators of this state. The police power inheres in our state government, and may be put forth by the legislature, within the limitations of the constitution; nor does the exercise of such power at all depend upon whether the police power has been previously asserted in a similar manner, and over the same conditions and subject matter in other states. It may, indeed, become vitally important in the progressive development of our peculiar local industries to assert the legislative authority over departments of business which never before have been subject to legislative control. Should a new exigency arise in North Dakota, the power to meet it by appropriate legislation will be found in our state government as it has been found in other states. But in the case at bar we think no new departure is necessary. In our judgment, this case falls clearly within the reasoning of the two leading warehouse cases arising in the states of Illinois and New York, already cited. While the conditions in the other states differed somewhat in details, we think they were substantially similar to the conditions existing in North Dakota, which led to the enactment of chapter 126 of the Laws of 1891, and we are clear that the principle which has justified the legislation in the other states can be invoked here: The appellant’s grain elevator may be taken as fairly representative of the “600 grain elevators, flathouses, and warehouses” which it appears by the answer exist in North Dakota. It stands at a railroad station, adjoining the track, which track leads to a market within and without the state. Its uses are numerous and variant, and all of its uses are closely connected with the principal productive
