Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1920-05-13
DETAILS OF HOW
PROFITS ON STATE l ! |
MILL ARE FIGURED
Facts and Figures on Cost to
the Tax Payer. Of North
Dakota's First Experiment
n State Socialism.

Bismarck, May 1l.-(Special.) -
The first experience Of North Dakota
into the realm OF state socialism in
the matter OF the state owned mill at
Drake, N. D., is not very assuring for
socialism as q. plan Of state govern
ment. II the interests of the ta1pay-
ers are to be considered.
The story carries with 1t lesson
that even the most enthusiastic ad-
vocate Of socialism as an ideal form
OF government, cannot fail to under-
stand; and 1t raises the query. II the
state owned mill at Drake has cost
the taxpayers SO much more than was
drst figured, and the benefits have
turned to losses, what will the other
state owned enterprises cost that are
being conducted on more magnifi-
cent scale. The story will be con-
tinued in other chapters for the end
is not yet, and while the story of the
Drake mill may be trifle long it is
worth reading again as one Of the
first chapters in the costly experience
6f state socialism, which system Of
government is becoming fastened up
ON North Dakota by the leaders Of
the Nonpartisan League.
The Drake mill was a small mill
and was brought by the N. P. League
Industrial Commission, with the pre-
diction that the farmers will be able
to get more for their wheat and pay
less for their -four. grade for grade,
than theg had been used to paying.
What are the facts:
Last summer the mill bought by
the state cost the taxpayers $24.-
9eS.l3. 4, began to grind state -four
August 20. 1919. The, mill former
u mada Z small profit tor the own
o. and hls family. The, owner, Mr..
ue0evern, Was employed to run the
ntli for the state. and was permitted
BY the Industrial Commission, which
launched the enterprise on the rocky
road Of state socialism. to hire . sec
retaty, stenosraphers were eneag-
ed and Offices opened at the Agri-
cultural college. Fargo. McGovern
began the active management for the
state. travelling back and forth from
Fargo to Bismarck, Bismarck 20
Drake and Drake to Fargo or rever-
sing the trip. He and his secretary
spent time and money chasing each;
other around on business connected
with the little mill, and the expense
account is one indicating that state
socialism provides jobs for q lot Of
people e7en II it does nothing in re-
turn for those who pay the bills.
The manager Of the state mill,
among HIS other new duties had an
appraisement made by st. Paul
concern Of the value Of the mill. the
vouchers for which show that it cost
!$423.96 to figure up the. value of the
mill. Other items Of appraisement
incurred by the state at the same
time in the matter of looking up
mills. was $52s.96 for valuing mill
at Minot, 3513.96 for the same work
in the mill at Paramount and $503.S6
for . small mill at Cakes or q total
Of $1.770.s4 for appraising -four
mills on which the state Industrial
commission had cast its eyes.
The commission had fallen heir 20
100000 raised from taxes and also
money from state bonds. The COM
2 mission had this to spend in putting
into operation its state socialism,
pro5ecta. The expenses Of the mill,
salsries and elevator association ofli-
Gers and some Of the employees, with
salaries Of superintendent. have bee j
paid from the fund 90 all cost Of oper
alton Of the mill has not been charc-
ed up against the earnings ana were
not considered in estimating the
profits. 'z
But the management Of the min.
Tor political purposes and possibly 10 I
hoodwink the people about the
money they claimed to: be- making ia
the state owned enterprise, boasts
thst he has paid about Is cents 1
bushel above the market for wheat
a -. -. .