Date: 1991-03-19
Speaker: RIVLIN AND HON (democrat)
Chamber: S

JIM SLATTERY: In regards to the Welk Heritage restoration project. we feel that you and the media have been misinformed. or not informed at all in regards to our project. We hope that the information we are presenting to you will clarify the need for funds. and Just what the funds will be used for. The grant in question is an Industrial Development Grant through the Department of Agriculture. These grants are set up to facilitiate development of private business enterprises in rural areas or cities up to 50.000 in population. with priority to application for projects in open country. rural communities and towns of 25.000 and under. The funds may be used to finance industry that will result in development of business enterprises. Costs that may be paid from grant funds include the acquisition and development of land and the construction of buildings. equipment. access streets and roads. parking areas. refinancing and fees. Grant applications are processed through FmHA. and the brochure was found at the county extension office in Linton. North Dakota. Our area has been economically depressed because of a 3year drought. which has hit our area. and it does not look much better for 1991. Our project will bring an industry to the area. which will supply jobs. bring additional traffic to our area. and to the state. and we are restoring a part of our ancestry and the history of our early ancestors. The media has stated that the funds will be used to restore Lawrence Welks boyhood home ... wrong! The home which Lawrence grew up in. has been restored with private funds raised through our efforts. as has the summer kitchen. grainery/buggy house. blacksmith shop and outhouse. The funds we have applied for will be used for a German/Russian Interpretive Center which will tell of the early immigration to the United States. where they came from in Russia. how the railroad was involved. how land was obtained. what the early settlers had to work with coming into an area with no trees. and what the early settlers had to work with in regards to farming tools. etc. This is a story that has never been told. and it is a portion of our history that needs to be told. Another portion of the grant will be used for economic development in Emmons County. Our area is not set up to handle tour buses. facilitate travelers. and many other things. As our community is today. our bowling alley/cafe holds 25 people comfortably. there is no place for people to spend the evening. and the road going to the site is gravel. and last but not leastthere is no public restroom! Mr. Rivlin and Mr. Slattery. have you ever seen a sod brick home. made out of pressed mud. straw. and other components. thousands of them. stacking them and making a home out of them? Can you imagine a house with walls that are 18 to 24 inches thick? A home that is cool In the summer. and warm in the winter with very little to heat it? Have you ever seen cooking done in another building other than the home. to keep the heat out? Have you ever tasted the excellent German/Russlan heritage food? Have you ever had strudels. knephla. stirrum. kuchen. fleishkeuchla. have you ever heard of a strommkopf? Al these things will be interpretated at the center. along with the German/Russian delicacies Did you know that we have raised close to $200.000 on our own? Did you know that with all the negative publicity that we have lost pledges. foundation grants. and possible corporate gifts? All these losses because the media did not take the time to get the full story. After reading this letter. the enclosed packets. and other information we are enclosing for your review. we would like to request your interpretation of our project. Should you still decide that we are "pork barrel". and that we did not need the funds. and it comes up for debate. we would like the right to testify. Sincerely.