Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-27
A Ne,u Experiment
(By W. P. Davies, Editor Grand Forks Herald

~ W. "a NSiA u1IOA oAoA0 4OANS
With the opening of the state mill and elevator within the next
few days there will come into operation a state-owned enterprise
which differs in some important respects from anything else with
which the American public is familiar. There are in the United
States numerous municipality owned>entefprises ct various kinds, and
several of the states have undertaken to provide 6ciities for certain
Portions Of the marketing Of important local products, but in most of
prevails. The handling Of products through IL coloperative organina-
tons composed of associations of individuals is no new thing in this
in the North Dakota mill and elevator enterprise the country will
have an example OF a great plant built, equipped and operated for the
purpose, not only Of storing and treating an important product onpits
way, to its destined market, but Of buying that product outright and
marketing it either in it's original form or finished and ready for con
sumption, in the homes of people who may live thousands Of miles
away. 49,.
The history of this enterprise has been marked by controversy,
always animated, and often bitter. Around it have developed con
tests which have involved the complexion of the state government,
the State should deal in and manufacture into its gltfinate form non one
Of the chief products of its citizens movements quite unrelated to it
have been fostered, have in some cases gained great momentum, and
have frequently involved the state in eestly and unsatisfactory ex.
by providing terminal facilities for the handling Of their chief grain
to t9o a 4 e%pr q .1ns in safhe' demand M0f for ' ths e = aohen Seafe 81 ago g e rs ees e4,
minal elevator to be owned and operated by the state itself, and out
cess were evolved the plans for the project the CONSTRUCTION q rs a@s work % . on
which is now practically completed. Modified from time to time,
projects, the demand for this particular form Of state activity has
persisted through one legislative session after another, and has sur
other projects which from TIME ostfne eenedSike to be carried
Theze have been many who questioned its wisdom. But the demand
to it on any considerable scale has long since ceased to exist. Both
Of the organized political parties Of the state have declared for it, and
where factional divisions have existed within the parties, the proprie-
ty Of building and operating a plant of this character has been the
one point on which the factions wereagreed.
The industrial commission under whose direction the plant has
Ibeen brought to completion took charge in the dead of winter. The
rough concrete work on the two main buMdingsahadS been about Half
finished, and construction work had then been suspended for about
la year because of lacko of funds The new commission used the win
ter months to organize for a resumption of work and to raise funds
for this purpose. Construction was resumed in the early spring, and
within the following period Of less than seven months the main con
strucdons work was finished, machinery was provided and installed
and the plant was put in condition for the storage and shipment Of
wheat and the Manufacture Of -four. "a visit to the plant itself and
an inspection Of what it contains will give some impression Of the
character of the task which the commission undertook and the thor
ough-going manner in which 1t has been performed.
Itwill be the hope of every loyal citizen Of the state that the
mill and elevator shall succeed. Success involves first the handling
Iof the far1nersErain on suchsterms5 thatSthe farmer will receive fol
Ibis product the. full 1yalue towhchahes entitled ;;JsocondsYtha tsht
Imefthsndiae which the STATE Acknowledgements through tkeasn1anu-
facturing department 81 this pantshall Be ofasncha character Is "a
command respect in every market where III 4 offered and third, that
the buiness shall Sc absolutely selfsusainHng, so that under the
Eguseo Of enhancing the farnersrsceipts il shall not take from him in
taxes more than II confers in special benefits. TO that end III is
Inscessary,it ii absolutely vital, that The propsrty shzIl BE managed
ias 4 business and not operated AZ part Ola poiticalsg game
The successful operation of this enterprise Will domucht rs bridge
the chasm which has been created between citizens Of the state who
Iare ~neighbors, and who should be- friends. There viii be acertain
lpfide of ownership in which Al will share. There will be a better
1recoknitionp f the community of interest bes4use there will he con.
Icrete evidence 81 the operation Of 4 cominon5efof directed toward q
Ic0nmnon pufposs.~aA And whether there shallb be success cr failure az
pends Iafgely 81 te attitade IF ths stizenso IS the stats and eiirscon:
1teptioqEo M what isS essenh1Es N8s
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