The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-11-09
HELPS BOOST SIOUX FALLS.
Much Has Been Accomplished by the
Board Of Trade,

Board Of Trade.
w. B. Davenport, commissioner OF
the Sioux Falls board of trade, in a
recent report to that body, tells of the
good work that has been accomplished
in advancing the business interests OF
Sioux Falls. The report says in part:
The chief drawbacks to the devel-
opment of Sioux Falls as a manufac.
turing and commercial center are:
| 81. Cost Of power.
"2. Cost of transportation.
The competition in the develop
ment of the water power already exist.
ing has considerably reduced the cost
of power, and with the prospective fur.
ther development a still greater reduc.
| ton will follow.
I'm reference to the cost of transpcr
tation, considerable progress has beer
made in securing favorable freight
rates and better and more permanent
freight train service. To the jobbers,
/ freight rates are of paramount impor.
lance. From the geographical location
of Sioux Falls and it's position as the
chief distributing center Of South Da.
kota it is entitled to more considera-
ton In the matter of freight rates than
it has heretofore received. Efforts
are now being made to induce all the
railway companies to place Sioux
Falls on an equal footing with other
and competitive distributing centers.
With these important factors in the
development Of Sioux Falls satisfac.
torily adjusted, the manufacturer and
| jobber alike in search of a location in
the Northwest will give more favor.
able consideration to the advantages
of Sioux Falls as a manufacturing and
distributing center.
After many years of quiescence
this year has witnessed the waking UP
of the railroad companies, and from
present indications and on reliable in.
formation I believe that mex year not
only will the western extensions Of eX.
listing lines be vigorously prosecuted,
but existing lines will be built
! throughout the state to the benefit OF
Sioux Falls.
"As a result of a voluminous CORE
| spOndence with the general p~ostoffice
department the board of trade has
been successful in securing better mail
facilities between the northern and
western parts of the state and Sioux
Falls.
Several manufacturing establish
ments have been located through the
| efforts of the board of trade during
this period, the principal n of which
is the Sioux Falls Packing company.
with a capital of 500, 900, of which
| $4,000 is paid in. II is expected TO be
in operation by the first of December
and TO handle from 1000 to 1900 hogs
and from 100 to $50 cattle per week,
and to employ from so TO so men.
Another industry is the Sioux Falls
! Mattress company. which has been in
| operation for several months and EN-.
! ploys steadily five or six people. The
| Sioux Falls Plow company has among
its stockholders some of the directors
| and members of the board of trade and
is an important industry which cannot
fail to be of great value to the city.
The Alex. Stern Manufacturing COM
pany for the manufacture OF gloves and
mittens, now employing eight or ten
women. is another successful enter
prise brought into existence through
the efforts of the board and bids fair
to be of value in giving employment TO
| female labor. The o. X Shicker com.
pIIy also through the efforts of the
board has commenced the manufacture
Of grain shockers in this city under
favorable auspices and promises to be
a valuable addition 10 Sioux Falls in
dustries. These industries have all
been secured without the aid of a
bonus or other financial consideration.
The board has also been instrumental
in securing favorable sidetrack ar
| rangements for several industries.
THE work of the board of trade has
not been confined to the establishing
of new enterprises. 1t has extended a
helping hand financially and otherwise
in fostering struggling enterprises al
! ready in existence, believing as it does
that no legitimate industry establish
I'd on right lines is too insignificant or
unworthy of encouragement. The
board of trade nor its commissioner
claims exclusive credit for the estab-
lishment of any enterprise. 1t advises
and assists only. and has its reward in
the accomplishment of results.
Sioux Falls is to be congratulated
| for the real progress it has made dur
ing the past year. From all indications
This progress will be continued and
increased beyond the expectation of
the most %sanguine citizens"