The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-10-14

S15, 900, telling every stakeholder to
forget his investment, that he would
never receive any return from his
money anyway. The first day there
was total supply of 1900 pounds
of milk. Today the milk pouring
into this one plant peaks at 10000
pounds-and we have just started in
this agricultural industry. The
stockholders never failed to receive
per cent annually and about two
months ago that little plant paid
100 per cent dividend.
Navigation on the Tennessee river
attracted the Nebraska Consolidated
Mills Co. to establish the Alabama
Flour Mills at Decatur. The impact
of this industry was tremendous.
Farmers could grow grains because
there was now a daily market.
Tennessee Valley Fertilizer Coop
erative, a fertilizer mixing plant
serving 10 counties, was established.
Later, when we saw the possibility
of selling seed commercially, this
same organization put up a modern
and efficient seed-cleaning plant. An
alfalfa-drying plant has been built.
How 1t Was Done
The opportunities at hand in the
development of the river and the
region were being seized upon by our
people with renewed courage and
confidence. A resident of a nearby
town came into Decatur with an idea
that he could build market for
poultry. Today, though no more
than three years old, it is doing a
100000 business.
Today, there is market for cot
ton, corn, wheat, livestock, milk, tim
Der, small grains, truck crops. Fiji
teen years ago we were doing in
the sunshine waiting for that once
a-year payroll brought by cotton and
wearing out our second finest re-
source, the land. Today the cash in
come from all farm products in the
area is $43,000,000.
Land building did it. Flood con-
troll did it. Navigation did it. Ma
laria control did it. IVA, with the
other state and federal agricultural
and health agencies, their teachings
activated by an intelligent and deter
mined people, did it.
The pledge has been kept to never
again be dependent upon any one
major industry, or to seek big in
dustry alone. In 1913 the number
of firms making a product had
reached 81, employment was 5,204,
and the annual payroll was $12,-
sos, 200.
The Spirit Is the Secret
Down through the years we have
never hesitated to use the technical
within IVA. In our
of types of industry
needed in our community, we have
gone to IVA repeatedly to ask that
he facts concerning such projected
industry be assembled. / have said
before and l say now that iva has
he most capable personnel with
which | have ever come in contact,
either in private or public service.
The people in IVA have worked
weeks and months on some of our
and never once has there
,een any directive issued to us. They
lave always told us, "Now here are
he facts, the decision on what you
10 with them is up to you" This
government corporation believes and
PRACTICES community development at
he local level.
Recently, copper processing plant
lecided to build branch plant in
he South. Two hundred seventy
our communities in III states were
ontacted. Do you know where that
liant was located, an investment of
100000? In Decatur. Do you
now what the difference was be-
ween locating with us or elsewhere?
he difference was in the spirit of
he people. We have come from the
tatus of a well-nigh beaten citizen
hip to confident people.
To visitors who come into our sec
ion of the valley and ask, "Would-
It this all have happened without a
'VA?", my answer to one and all
), at didn'tw