The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-01-27
STATE OWNED INDUSTRIES IN
BAD SHAPE IS AUDIT REPORT

-four shipped on consignment and be-
cause of other factors.
Could Not Find Records
Commenting on the Drake mill au-
dit, the Bishop, Brissman and com
pany reports says: "We profoundly
regret that we are unable to prepare
and present balance sheet and oper
ating statement of the North Dakota
Mill and Elevator association for the
following reasons: The limitation Of
time imposed for the completion of
the field work by Dec. 81, 1920, the
fact that the records maintained at
Drake, N. d., pertained only to the
operation of the Drake mill and did
not include the operations at Grano
Forks and the general offices at Far.
go.
1--WE requested Mrs. Kellar, the
bookkeeper, to furnish us with the
original reports from the consignees
of these consignment sales and were
informed by her that these records
were either at the offices of the asso
citation in Fargo or at the office Of
the industrial commission at Bis
marck and that none of the transac-
tons or correspondence in connection
with the consignment sales were in
the Drake office or her possession at
the time.
1--WE inquired Of the secretary OF
the industrial commission at Bis
marck for these records and were
advised that all of the records of the
North Dakota Mill and Elevator asso-
citation were either at the Drake mill
or at the offices of the association at
Fargo, or the mill office at Grand
Forks.
1--WE inquired for these consign
ment records at the office of the as
ISOLATION at Fargo. Mr.. McGovern's
secretary, Mrs. Dodds, informed us
that Mr.. McGovern was absent from
the city at the time and in regard
to the consignment sales records, that
no such records were at the Fargo
office, but that weekly reports were
made by the consignees to the office
at Drake or to the industrial commits
sion's office at Bismarck.
"Mrs. Dodds also informed US tina,
the bookkeeping records at the Fargo
office had been turned over to the
Equitable Audit company for the lat
ter part Of the preceding month and
to the best of her knowledge were
still in their possession.
"We next inquired Of Mr.. Darling.
the representative of the said Equit-
able Audit company, then at Bismarck
if he knew where these records were
obtainable and were advised by him
that part Of them were in suitcase
of his locked up at Fargo and thai
the remainder were in his possession
at Bismarck, that the records were
in confused condition and he had
been engaged in endeavoring to
straighten them out, when he was
called away from Fargo. We asked
if it would be possible to get an or
der from him for the records at Fargo
and were informed that nobody but
himself could get at them.
"We next inquired Of the manager
Of the Consumers United Stores com
pany at Fargo, to whom we were re-
ferred by Mrs. Dodds. The reason
for this call was that this company
by the records at the Drake mill,
represented the greater portion OF the
consignments and it was considered
probable might be able and will
ing to furnish us with desired infor
nation and veritication of the con-
signments to this company. He ad
vised us that reports were sent to
the mill at Drake with every remit
lance as made. We asked if we
might receive or make copies of such
reports from his records and he ad
vised us that he had no authority to
give US such information.
"We next inquired Of Mr.. Paulson,
manager Of the mill under construc
ton at Grand Forks, if any records
of consignment sales were at his Of
flee and he informed us that there
were none"