The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-01
LABOR OUTLOOK
IN STATE BRIGHT
WITH GOOD CROP IN SIGHT, EN-
PLoYMENT BUREAU MANAGERS
SAY THERE WILL BE JOBS AT
GOOD WAGES FOR ALL THIS
SEASON IN NORTH DAKOTA.

There will be no shortage Of la
oorers to harvest the record crop
North Dakota expects this year, for
the annual summer influx Of men into
the arv fields is in full swing, even
though harvest time is several weeks
distant. Men who reached the city
today by the. box car route say they
estimate there are at least 10000 men
in the jungles and on the road between
endlVe Mont, and Fargo. Laborers
VINO peat" their way in search Of
work are usually competent judges,
too.
Although there are enough laborers
now to take care Of the work offered
IN hay1ng, railroad construction work
Is opening up and the harvest is not
many weeks off. There Is no prospect
CT a drop in the running wages of $35
a month n board for. farm work, or
$l.25 and board by the day. Rather,
wages promise to go VI.
Ihus far this season there has been
little railroad construction work and
practically no call for railroad Ia
borers, except section hands. Yester-
day the Western Employment agency
received an order for thirty men for
actual construction work at James
town. Orders for more men for this
sort of work are expected, according
to K. Knudson, the manager.
The general opinion Of managers
Of labor agencies and others in touch
with the situation, is that the men
who are in the state now and who
want work can find it at good wages;
that the normal influx of men added to
the supply already here will be enough
to take care of the record crop that
Will be harvested if present fine wealth
er conditions continue, and that wages
Will be as good as in former gears al
even though there is very little rail-
road construction work."
e. E.. Olson, manager Of the Nation
al Employment agency, speaking Of,
the situation today, said, "There are
a great many men coming into the
city and some men are going out. It
is hard to say what the situation will
be In harvest time. If nothing hap
pens to the crop between now and
then, from what reports l get over the
state, 1t is my opinion that it will
take more men than ever to harvest
the crop. Wages promise to be good,
even though there is very little con-
struction work"
I'VE have jobs now for men will
ing to work." said H. E. Larson, who
operates a large employment agency.
Because Of the fact that a lot Of fac
tories In some or the larger cities nave
shut down. and these men have come
west to work in the fields, there are
many men in town unfit for farm
work. The going wages are good and
will not drop, although there will be
no shortage of men to handle the crop
when the later arrivals reach here"
There are enough men in he state
right now to harvest and thresh the
states whole cror," is the way VIM.
Johnson, who runs an employment Of
fee, sizes up the situation. wages
are good and promise to continue So"
he said.
L. King, who has charge of the Far
go Employment agency, thinks the fu-
ture of the labor situation looks bright.
Although there are plenty Of men
on hand, yet there are lots Of jobs
and wages are good. Here men can
get $35 a month and board, but far
Their west the pay is more" Mr.. King
said.
L. H. OLSON, who operates an en-
ployment bureau on Northern Pacific
avenue, said today, I'VE are offering
men good wages by the day or by the
month. In haying and harvest the
wages will go up. I expect, but not
so high as would be the case If there
was more railroad construction work
to do. Men are beginning to come in
for the threshing now, but we usually
need two crews, as half of the men
won't work or will work only for a
short time"