The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-03-30
BUSY WITH A SCORE OF OTHER

OF the interim commission on industrial de-
velopment appointed during the more liber-
al 1897 session, but that commission is new
ertheless entitled to credit for getting out
booklet-form report which is not only under
standable but interesting oddly among
reports of its kind we have seen.
Entitled There is no lack of markets,
increase our purchasing power" the booklet
is illustrated and footnoted and not only
notes facts but seeks to interpret them John
NJ. Zwach represented southwestern Mime
sofa on the five man commission.
Investigating the depression, the COM
mission found, Minnesota has been rescued
from decline SHARPER than that of the
rest of the nation and restored to prosperity
MORE RAPIDLY than the rest of the ma
tion."
Answering the question, has industry
been driven from the state, the report
states: "All-types of economic activity
have tended to suffer together and to pros
per together. Each has continued to supply
approximately the same percentage of the
income of the people as it did in 1929"
These percentages, as of 1886 are, agricul-
ture 18 per cent, mining and timber five
per cent, manufacture and construction 20
per cent, wholesale and retail trade Is per-
cent, service and finance 10 per cent and
public utilities IL per cent. 1t goes on, en-
dustry has obviously been afforded the same
opportunity offered agriculture, trade, serv-
ice, utilities and mining and timber. Yet
these others have never complained of be-
ing driven from the state"
Anyone wanting to defend the "driven
out" propaganda has the obvious defense
that industry is after all the most mobile of
the classifcations.
Minnesota's weaknesses as an indus
trial state are pointed out as 1 Distance
from heavy population zone, intensified by
discriminatory freight rates. 2. Lack of
power resources, no coal and little water
power. The booklet points out, "These are
difficulties, not insurmountable handicaps.
But we need not expect the miraculous
transformation of Minnesota into highly
industrialized state"
Most surprising news" in the booklet
is that "since the pos Minnesota's industrial
output has been declining slightly in relation
to the industrial output of the entire ma
ton, with the exception of the past decade
where there has been slight increase"
This recent increase is further explained by
the fact that Minnesota's industries are un-
usually stable, the states relative position
having risen during doWnswings and fallen
again during upswings through many de-
pressions.
Of interest too is the relative import
ance OF Minnesota Industries. Meat pack
ing ranks first, flour milling second; print
ing, news, third and printing, book and job,
fourth, followed by liquors and malt, bakery
products, butter, paper and wood pulp rail
road shops and canning and preserving.
''These ten of over 100 types of industry in
the state account for nearly half our indus
trial activity"
Of paramount Importance is this find
ing: THE industries most important to the
industrial future of the state are those
based on our natural resources. Where these
natural resources are adequate the indus
tries dependent on them are fourishing. Our
position in meat packing has shown steady
increase We lead all states in the pro-
duction of butter. A rapidly increasing
share of Americas canning and preserving
is produced here" The report points out
that shift of land use from wheat to corn
has affected the flour milling industry and
that dissipation of natural resources is
distressing factor, Loss of employment in
the lumber industry accounts for a third of
our industrial employment DROP"
The commission found sufficient en-
enlargement however to warrant the state
ment, Many of our industries have been de-
veloping at a faster rate than in any other
state in the union'
After much foreword, the report gets
down to business and proves there is no
lack of markets. Stressing that wages and
farm prices are too low, it points OUT 'Two
thirds of our people receive less than one
third of the national income" Blaming cor
porative control (monopolies) for the small
return to actual producers and stressing the
need for restoring natural resources and in
stituting long range planning LIN place of
calamity howling-the commission conclud-
es it's report with the following recommends
tions:
l. In order that industry may profit from
an increased market, the only sound basis for
future industrial expansion, we recommend:
(A) Helping the farmer to secure the cost
of production. Industry cannot poss-
IDLY flourish alongside of an inn
poverished agriculture So
(B)s UNFOLDING labor's power to bargain
for a fair wage. Agriculture can
not possibly flourish unless the pur-
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