The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-22
Fargo Made Harnesses Have Advertised the
Metropolis Throughout the Great Northwest

In the two horse collar and harness
factories of Fargo, 1000 dozens or as.
900 collars and $4,000 sets Of harness
are made annually. They employ 100
men the year round.
This, it must be understood, is for
the two large factories alone. When
1t is taken into consideration the har-
ness made by the various saddlery
shops in town the number of sets Of
harness will be increased by about
1000 more. These manufactured ar
ticles are distributed to all parts OF
North Dakota, western Minnesota
eastern Montana and northern South
Dakota each year. They supply the
larger part of such articles used in
this territory for Fargo made harness
has won q reputation.
Users OF these horse supplies have
found out that they are as good as the
best and can be purchased at a more
favorable price than eastern made
articles. A portion Of the raw material
comes from North Dakota and in this
way freight charges are reduced
There is also another advantage which
the retail harness shops of the terri
tory have learned is of value. This is
the short time in which the goods can
be shipped from Fargo in comparison
to eastern points.
These two factories are the North
Dakota Harness Co., and Bristol &
Sweet. Combined these two factories
occupy a floor space of $4,000 square
feet. In other words If all the floors
were put into one surface they would
cover an entire city block.
The North Dakota Harness Co.
The North Dakota Harness Co. is
entirely home corporation in which is
invested nothing but home capital. II
occupies a fine large three story and
full basement brick building at 627 and
629 N. P. avenue. This building is
owned by the corporation and was
built especially for the business which
1t shelters. ... ..... .. ......
The corporation is composed of c. o.
Smith, president, and w. w. Smith
secretary and treasurer. These
brothers are among the pioneer manu-
facturers Of Fargo, having started the
factory in 1887. That the business in
which they are engaged has been a
profitable one goes without saying
when it is noted that the fine build
ing which they now occupy was erect
ed in the summer of 1907 at a cost
Of many thousands of dollars. Both
these gentlemen have become factors
in the business circles Of Fargo. They
are members of the commercial club
and take an active part in municipal
and commercial affairs. For a num-
Der of years, until recently, Q. o. Smith
was president of the board Of educa-
tion and was, few days ago, elected
to the presidency Of the North Dakota
State Fair association.
TIE Harness Factory.
The harness and collar factory oc-
cupies over $4,000 square feet 1t en-
ploys sixty men the year around and
pays a large annual salary. OF these
employees a large per cent are men of
families having their own homes in the
city. AS the proprietors Of the in
stitution also own their own residences
in the city it is easy to see how it is
a factor in the welfare Of Fargo.
The department of the factory where
the harness is made is situated on the
third floor Of the building. 1t is equip
ped with the latest machinery. With
this equipment and the best workmen
to be found a superior quality of har-
ness is turned out. 1t is estimated
that during one year this department
OF the factory turned out complete sets
Of harness for 1000 horses. The stitch
ing is all done by machinery at the
approximate rate of 100 stitches per