The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-01-27
WAHPBTON IN GIGANTIC FIGHT
FOR The PACKING PLANT

i VxN
Whether this snow storm which
is raging at this time of writing
continues or not, everybody in q
radius of 90 miles of this city is
going to be seen, and everybody
should wake up to the fact that
there is going to be something do
ing all the while for the next two
or three weeks.
The proposition Of bringing the
State Equity Packing Plant TO
Wahpeton was thoroughly thrash
ed out at the Mass Meeting held
in the city hall, Monday afternoon
1t being the concensus Of
opinion that everybody at the
meeting was enthusiastic for the
bringing of this plant to this city,
and that it would be worth the
time and effort to bring this
this about. That a cash bonus of
fifty thousand dollars would he
about the least sum that we
should offer i'm the way of bon
us to the Equity Society. Another
thing was clearly featured at this
meeting that the farmers present
were in close harmony with the
citizens on this proposition. Also
that they are willing to dig down
in their pockets and make up any
amount that the citizens Of Wah-
peton raise by popular subscrip-
ton.
1t was brought out by the diff
erent speakers that with this an
nouncement, should Wahpeton
get this packing plant, land values
in Richland county would raise at
least five dollars an acre. That
another town as large as Wahpc-
ton itself would be in our midst
when the plant got up to its full
capacity.
Among the benefits that Wah-
peton would derive is that she
would have to make arrange
ments to care for another town as
large as this city is at present.
What is that worth to the citizens
of Wahpeton? 1t is worth % prop
erty owners at least half again
their property valuation. Thus it
is easily seen that property own
ers could easily give twenty five
dollars apiece and still be ia.
ahead of the amount of valuation
OF their present holdings. II
means that every business man
in the town could give ten times
as much and Il few q great deal
more. 1t is worth many thousands
of dollars To the city in general.
More water consumers would c.lt
down the water rate and then il,
two or three years time you ha> :.
made up at least twenty five dol
lars in actual expense. 1t means
That the street car line would have
to b" extended out to- the plant. Ii
means thai the taxes would luwr..'
as tn" valuation would increase
several times as fast as taHH'iun
expenses increased. II would bring
hundreds of labOrrrs into the city.
Lumber yards would be doing 1t
Government land office business
1t means that stock shippers
would hav" 1" spend at least som"
money in This town. Will. III
transit here. Probably and Wilt
out a doubt il terminal elevator
would be located here. Ii would
mean that grain. such as wheat
screenings would find an ample
market here. Now breckenridge
our sister twin would receive the
same benefits. and he hay lands
north of her would be- regular
gold mines for The uwuer>. 1t
means as much t" the farmers OF
Wilkin County as il practically
does to Richland County. II means
as much to the business men Of
breckenridge as it does to the
business men Of this city. We
should all get together and talk
this thing over. a mass meeting
could be held jointly on Monday
evening. as the time is getting
short. II breckenridge has Il suil-
able ilalI. then let all of us join
i'm with our fellow business men
and farmers and give this thing a
thorough going over again. VI
this meeting IA small donation
could be- given by each individual
to raise enough money SO that the
roInmittees appointed to make the
the rounds would be amply paid
for their trouble, as their time is
worth something to them, 10 mat
ter what they receive i'm cOmpen-
sation. Let the live ones Of this
city take hold of this proposition
and see the live ones in Brecken-
ridge. and hold this meeting Mon
day night. The committees ap-
pointed on this side of the river
be- there and make a state
ment as to- how much is needed t."
carry on this work. and then dou-
f,l" this amount and appoint just
aS large a rnmmitte" nn the Mill i
n"S"ta side. and see that they are
for their labors. u
is going to take lots Of hard work,
but We are equal to the task, and
let not a man SlDirk. The making