The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-24
Fargo, N. D.

boring states, it has rapidly developed
of recent years into progressive
part Of the state. While mixed farm
ing is carried on mostly, it now
leans rather heavily to dairying, as
is quite evident from the black and
and Guernsey veals reaching the new
plant.
The Farmers operative Packing
company of wausau was organized in
September, 1914, and capitalized at
$250,00O. A reliable stock salesman
was given charge of the sale Of stock,
nearly $780, worth. The shares
were 800 each. The first 100000
was sold at par, the next $4,000 at
$106, and second $4,000 at $112 and
the last $4,000 at sis. This gave
a premium of $4,000 to Offset the
selling charges. Practically all the
money on the past due notes has
been paid this summer. Another sixty
days should see the last cleaned up.
There are 2,07S stockholders. None
hold less than one or more than ten
shares and each has only one vote
regardless Of the number Of shares
held. The manager and all heads Of
departments are stockholders. After
paying the stock salesman and all
expenses of the company up to the
time of letting the contract there was
left 100000. The land and building
cost $165,000, which left about $55 for
This is now found to be one Of the
greatest handicaps in the operation
Of the plant, and the directors are
considering increasing the capital
stock another 100000 to give great
er working capital, which will be
needed much worse when a heavier
season approaches in the fall or when
marketing conditions are not so fav-
orable as at present. This plant
should have at least $4,000 working
capital to carry meat in storage, to
take advantage of varying markets,
carry stock, etc. The present high
prices also make operation more diff
ficult from this standpoint.
The Management. s
The present manager, l.. G. Hoop
man, Of Milwaukee. was engaged be-
fore construction began and worked
with the engineers and contractor
directors, of which the manager is
one. They hold not over four meet
ings per year and receive So per day
and expense money for their meetings.
An executive made up of the presi-
dent, secretary-treasurer, manager and
one other carry on the business from
meeting to meeting, but the RESPONSE
bility falls practically altogether on
the manager. He is the only man who
knows the packing business and the
only man drawing a salary that could
be called such. He was formerly a
federal government meat inspector
and has spent his entire life in the
, packing business. He worked in TWEEN
ty-two different houses, from the
largest to the smallest and made a
special study of the business from the
consumers standpoint as well. That
he has gathered a wealth Of expert
ence is plainly evident. The difficulty
of securing managers knowing all
phases Of the packing business il
great, and since the small plant can
not pay high priced specialists in the
capacity Of assistants, the necessity
of getting an able manager Of wide
experience Is doubly important. The
plant is exceedingly economical in ar
Tangement, and everything from the
receiving yard to the fertilizer room
is maintained in q scrupulously neat,
clean condition. The writer cannot
recall having been in a neater Office
anywhere at any time, and the work.
ing conditions of all the employees
seemed to be so satisfactory that a
spirit of cooperation existed rarely
found in any factory Of any kind.
The evidence of ability to handle men
was plentiful. In starting, Mr.. Hoop
man preferred to take considerable
number of green men and train them,
rather than bring in older men from
other plants at high wages. He did
secure competent heads for his differ
ent departments. When operation be-
gan seventy unskilled laborers were
rn0uirad RI do what thirty snvpn ara
now doing. Endless days and nights
were spent in teaching employees the
work. Six men for as many different
departments were hired from differ
ent packing houses, men whom the
manager had met himself during his
own time in various houses and whom
he knew were alive and had ability.