The Bismarck tribune., 1925-11-16
Editorial Comment
What the Packing Plant Means
(FargO Forum }

North Dakotans have always had very goot
| opinion of their state. They have sometimes beer
accused of being optimistic.
But no enthusiastic North Dakota booster evcl
drew brighter more hopeful picture of the
future possibilities of the commonwealth than did
those men-0nd they included some Of the mos
I conservative and successful business men in the
United States - who came to Fargo Saturday ia
hHlp the City celebrate the opening of the Armour
packing plant.
we are writ ng page in business history -
a page not only in the history of business in the
Northwest but in the entire Country declares
+. Edison White, president of Armour and com
pany.
And Charles Donncy, president of the North
crn Pacific; W. p. Kenney, vice president Of the
Great Northern and many of the others here for
the occasion. voiced similar sentiment
these are men who do not engage in idle and
meaningless oratory. What they say tnev mean
Those who heard them knew that they were
voicing deep conviction
They see here the beginnings of the next great
development in that industry which has written
such a romantic chapter in the history of Ameri-
can busness-the meat packing industry
They see pictured here another Kansas City
with all that means in the way of increased popu-
iatlon and business development for Fargo But
they see far more than that. They see the de-
velopmen of another great stock purchasing reg on
similar to those which have invariably developed
IN the immediate areas surrounding packing plant
city.
To these men and to men like Dr. John Lee
Coulter, president of the North Dakota Arricul-
tural college, IKE Frank Eastgate stock raiser
and proprietor Of the Eastgate farms near Lar-
more the opening of the packing plant in the heart
OF the Red river valley that diversified farm
ing mas received its greatest impetus
FARMERS or North Dakota have an incen
1--WE 10 ht ther livestock for market-to turn those
cheap feeds barley, corn, oats sweet clover and
alfalfa into the kind of hog or beef that brings
the top market price and is therefore the most
prohtable to produce - such as they never have
had.
ana North Dakota farmers have long awaited
this opportunity
AS Mr. Donnclly pointed out it was the farmers
Oh North Dakota who made this plant possible with
the help and cooperation Of Fargo business men
who furnished the site
1t was the foresight of these farmers. who were
willing to- put their money into an exnerimont IN
cooperative effort. that brought the packing plant
20 rareo IN the first pace. 1t was not their fault
'iaI the plant failed AS Mr. Donnely SAYS their
conception was sound in principle
ihat Is now proved by the fact that Armour and
company have taken it over and spent several hun
urea thousand dollars in putting the plant once
more in condition for operation.
why IS II now deemed certain that the plant is
70 succeed wnere once it failed? The principal
.oaSon IS tnat 1t is now backed by unlimited cap
"-'ne capftal that is essential not alone to build
.ne pan1 out to sell the product; and to the fur
lner iact 1t now has managerial ability which has
Deen tried in the fires OF Americas fierce business
com petitioa-aad has %eeH-