Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-23
PACKING COMPANY PROGRESS

Yesterday afternoon the directors Of the Commercial
club and q number Of other local business mon met and
visited the plant Of the Northern Packing company to
note the progress being made on the work Of construc-
ton. It was at once apparent that in spite, Of delays Of
various kinds. q great deal Of work has already been done
this spring. and that. good use has been made Of the time
since the snow melted. The work Of cribbing and rein
forcing preparatory to the pouring of more concrete for
wallis and upper floors Is we'll under way. and great piles
OF materials Of various kinds have been accumulated. 1t
will be only a short time before the concrete for the sec
ond floor above the ground will be laid # n
For a time it was feared that the work this spring
would be held up by lack Of transportation, which was
likely to cause difficulty in obtaining gravel, ana rs the
buildings are Of concrete and steel construction through
out. this would have been a serious matter. This diff
Guilty has been removed, and the contractors are now as.
sured Of a supply of gravel which will keep their force
working full time on this class Of work. The government
authorities recognize fully the Importance Of such q plant
In the work of food production, and have arranged to
give every facility for the handling of construction mate
rial. All the material that is to enter into the construc-
ton Of the building, and all OF the equipment. have been
ordered. Much Of the material and a considerable part
Of the equipment are now on the ground. All that has
been received has been paid for, and much that has been
ordered and not yet shipped. has been paid for, and only
awaits the order to ship. The effort has, been made to
provide In every possible way against unforeseen delays.
81 1t Will not be until this plant has been in operation
for some time that there will be a full realization Of what
it means to the city of Grand Forks and the tributary
territory in northern North Dakota, northwestern Mime
sofa and eastern Montana. To the city 1t means the in
flux of several hundred families, adult members Of which
will be regularly and continuously employed These fam
lilies will need homes, clothing, groceries, fuel, and all the
other necessaries and comforts Of life. They will need the
accommodations provided by our schools and churches.
will be contributors to the support Of each, will pay taxes
to city. county and state. and will take their places as full
citizens Of a growing community. The marketing OF the
great volume of live stock which will be handled at the
plant will bring to the city on business errands the. most
prosperous people from a wide area.
The effect on the surrounding country may be Of
slower development. but the influence Ultimately will be
still more marked. There will be Immediately accessible
to every farmer in the great district served a cash mar
ket at standard and definitely known prices for every
steer. hog and sheep that he can raise. A premium will
be placed on the raising of stock; and more and still more
stock will be raised There will be a wider diversiftcation
throughout the year. and a perma nent employment OF
more people on the land. That will mean more homes
per township, more people to contribute. to and to enjoy
all phases of rural developments and a beneficial change
lin all the conditions Of living and working in the north
west. The million dollars which is being invested in this
great plant and the operation of its business will be an
investment in progress and prosperity. and the enterprise
is one which must command the hearty support of the
entire population. .s