Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-29
THE HARVESTER ooMPANY's
REPORT.

ttonal Harvester Company, just pub
|lished, presents in condensed form 2
number of facts indicating something
Of the magnitude and wide distribu-
ton of the activities OF this, the
greatest manufacturer Of farm i'm.
.plements In the world:
|, Perhaps the first impulse of the.
man on the street, when he sees are
port Of the work of a,great corpora
ton, is to make note of how much
money the concern. made in tho per-
Tod covered. The reader interested
in this feature is informed that as a.
result Of its 1919 business the Har-
vcster company paid in dividends or
its $4,000, 900 of capital, $ 5000, 900,
this being at the rate of I per cent on
preferred and s per cent on common
stock. In addition there were trans-
ferred to the surplus $3,sos, 600.
Through the purchase. of large pillow
factories at Hamilton, Ont, and Can
ton, III. the company rounded eut its
already large list of implements pro-
duced. which list now includes 81
separate classifications. ~:
IAN important feature of the COM
pany's work is its agricultural extern
sion department, which operates, not
as a commercial department Or sales
agency. but as a service to the pub
lie. The maintenance of this depart
ment furnishes an example Of the en-
lightened manner in which forward
looking business men in these days
approach problems Of common inter-
est to- themselves and the people Of
the communities which they serve.
The business of the Harvester COM
pany is with farmers. The company
will prosper as the farmers them
selves prosper. There is a close COM
munity Of interest which is thorough
~. recognized, and at its various DEM
o%nstration plants, such as that at
Grand Forks directed by J.fG. Haney,
there is carried on a research work
whose results are seen in the better
ment of agricultural conditions, not
only in this country, but throughout
the world. During the seven a
Of it's existence this department has
conducted 1900 meetings in the in
terest of better farming. and has sup
piled material for use at 81, 900 other
meetings. More than II, 600, 900 peo-
pie have attended these meetings. The.
department has published over 40
different books and pamphlets, and of
these it has distributed more than
5000 900 copies. a
The report indicates generally sat
isfactory labor conditions, due very
largely to the existence Of works
councils and other agencies which
sive~to employees a direct voice in
the adjustment Of wages and work.
ing conditions. A comprehensive pen
sion system is maintained, and/a prof
it-sharing plan is in vogue which. is
popular with the employees, and which
has been Of material assistance in
staoilizing the working force.
The report presents some facts
which indicate something of the ext
gencies to which a, great COMPANY
transacting an international business
is subjected. Because Of war condi-
lions. funds amounting t o more than
$45,O00,o0o are withheld in Russia.
Germany, Austria and the Balkan
States. OF this nearly half has al
ready been charged off. All assets
representing Che company's invest
ments in these countries have been
charged off except two properties,
respectively in. Russia and Germany.
Information as to the status of the
Russian plant, situated near Moscow,
is not obtainable except through the
most indirect channels. but the latest
information available is that this
plant is still being operated viA a
force Of about 1000 men. that it is
still in control of the company's rep
resentatives, and that it is one Of the
very few large plants in Russia not
yet nationalized. The plant in Ger
many is in the occupied zone It was
operated during the war by the Ger
man government, and at the close of
the war the right Of the company to
resume possession was undetermined.
With the knowledge of the Allied
council and the American govern
|ment. representatives of the company
resumed control, and an American
citizen is now in charge.