The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, September 30, 1935, Page 5

‘West Fa xk k * . THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1935 rgo Livestock M kk *& Yards Company Does Not Buy or Sell Stock) Latest Ideas in Construction Used at WestjOne of Oldest Firms in South ‘All Northwest Invited Fargo;.Consists of Yards, Exchange, ; Feed Mill, Other Facilities Since the announcement thaf a new stockyards is being established at ‘West Fargo many persons not familiar with such markets have been asking ‘what it is all about. They ask: “What is a stockyards?” “How does it operate?” “It is @ farmer's market place, an open competitive market for live- stock,” says L. W. Kube, traffic manager of the West Fargo and South 8t. Paul _stockyards. To get a clear conception of the functions of a public stockyards and of the way business is transacted there it should be understood that there ere three quite separate and distinct agencies operating there. First there is the stockyards company which owns the yards, all the equipment and operates them. “The stockyards itself might be called a hotel for livestock, a place where it may be housed, cared for and fed while it is awaiting an exchange of owners,” says E. R. Handy, superintendent of the Union Stockyards at South 8t. Paul, and in general charge of the construction work at West! Fargo. The stock yards company does not have anything to do with the buying and selling of the livestock, it merely houses and cares fpr it and performs other services in connection with it. The second agency at the yards consists of the commission firms which eell the stock consigned to them by the producers or dealers. ‘The third agency consists of the buyers, representatives of the pack- ers, or other consumer organizations, traders and farmers who may wish to purchase feeder stock to take out to their farms and fatten. “In old established livestock -pro-} ducing areas the functions of a pub-/commission firm, after it receives a lc livestock market such as we are/consignment of stock is to sort it. establishing here are very well known,} “This is one of the most vital func- but in regions like this where much of the farming has been exclusive grain raising we find there are many people, even many farmers, who have very little knowledge about the me- chanics of operating a stockyard,” says Mr. Kube. “Perhaps it will be most clearly un- @erstood by beginning with the com- mission men. As we open the yards at. West Fargo six commission firms tions of the commission firm and this will be obvious when it is understood that the classification of the animals in a large measure determines their selling value and enters materially into their ultimate net worth. “The first requirement of a good commission salesman is that he be an expert judge of the market classes of livestock, “Knowing the local receipts for the which have been doing business for many years at South St. Paul, will ious local butchers, traders and buy- open offices here. ~lers are usually interested in, aware of “These firms are: Central Co-jthe supplies and conditions at other operative Association, Farmers Union| points, the salesman, at this stage, Livestock Commission company, Haas| will determine in his mind the mar- day and the classes of stock the var- Livestock Commission company, Mid-|ket value of the stock and also the ‘west Farmers Livestock Selling agency, Sig Ellingson and company, and Weiller and Weiller. Agent for Producer “The commission man acts in the capacity of an agent for the farmer in the sale of his stock to the high- est possible advantage on the market and at no time buys the stock from him for his own account. “He provides a professional sales service for the producer which the latter is not trained or qualified to perform for himself. “The producer employs the com- mission man for the skill that has taken years of application and study to acquire for himself so that in the sale of his stock he can cope success- fully with the highly trained and shrewd buyers and insure himself of an equitable price. Has Latest Information “It is the duty of the commission asking price. Seeks Out Buyer “Then he seeks out the buyers most likely to be interested in the kind of stock he has for sale and the actual trading begins. “Here is where the mettle and ability of the salesman is put to the severest test for it now devolves upon him to determine the psychological moment to sell or to hold. “With the sale completed the stock is weighed. If the stock bears any brands or distinguishing marks due cognizance is taken of this at the time of weighing and such branded stuff is weighed separately. “A scale ticket is issued with the weighing of each draft of stock, this bearing the weight, the brand if any, the name of the buyer and the own- er and also the commission firm. “These scale tickets are thereupon delivered to the office of the com- mission firm where the weights and prices are computed, a detailed state- ment rendered to the shipper, all ac- cruing expense being deducted and settlement made with him direct, if present, or remittance mailed to him if he did not accompany the ship- ment to market. Joint Ownership “Where the shipment involved more than one. owner, it, in'a great many instances, will be. divided or prorated, each individual owner be- ing charged with his proportionate share of expense and shrink in the “|case of hogs and calves weighed to- gether, and oftentimes a separate check and statement rendered. WEILLERS WILL BE FARGO MARKETS St. Paul Open Branch in North Dakota Henry and William Weiller of the firm of Weiller and Weiller, one of the six commission companies that are opening offices in the stock- yards at West Fargo, started their careers as livestock men at the Buf-.| falo market 40 years ago. They later moved to Chicago, spending some time at the yards there, then locating at South St. Paul. Very soon after reaching St. Paul Henry Weiller was instrumental in the organization of a commission firm known as Carson, Wood and Weiller. About 15 years ago Mr. Wood and the Weiller brothers bought out Mr. Carson and shortly thereafter the Weillers took over Mr. Wood’s in- terests. 9 From the first, both Weiller broth- ers have been active partners in the organization. They go into the al- leys in person to meet their custom- ers and make their sales. Shortly after the Weiller brothers took over control they were asked to open several houses in Canada, and beside the new office in the union stockyards at West Fargo, dnd their headquarters at South St. Paul, they have branches at Winnipeg, Saska- toon, Calgary and Edmonton in west- ern Canada, In charge of the Fargo office as resident manager will be L. V. Bruber. FARMERS UNION TO HAVE FARGO OFFICE Charles D. Egley Will Be ener- al Manager of Both Of- fices of Co-Op One of the livestock commission firms now operating on the South St. Paul market which will establish offices in the exchange building at West Fargo, will be the Farmers Union Livestock Commission com- pany. e Following the dedication ceremon- ies and celebration to be held at West Fargo Oct. 1 this company will be ready to start business the next morning. it is announced by Charles D. Egley, who will be general mana- ger of both the St. Paul and Fargo offices of the company. Established on the South St. Paul and also’on the Chicago markets in May, 1932, the Farmers Union Live- stock Commission company bought out and succeeded the old Equity Co-operative Livestock Sales agency. The present board consists of C. W. Fine, Sheyenne, N, D., president; Otto Lund, Elk Mound, Wis., vice president Fred Harding, Monte- video, Minn., secretary-treasurer; Ole H. Olson, New Rockford, N. D.; G. Herman Knobel, Buchanan, N. D. Dave Bartelson, Parshall, N. D. Thomas O'Leary, Campbell, Minn. Otto Johnson, Annandale, Minn. Charles Dearhammer, Bruce, Wis. The members are elected at various state conventions, soon to be held. State divisions which have endorsed the company and own its stock are: North Dakota, C. C, Talbott, presi- dent, E. W. Green, secretary; Minne- sota, Robert Miller, Underwood, pres- ident, J. E. Anderson, Buffalo, secre- tary; Wisconsin, Kenneth Hones, Colfax, president, George Gross, Chip- pewa Falls, secretary; Montana, J. D. “With the shipper paid the com- firm proceeds to bill the var- fous buyers and to collect from them the amounts of their respective pur- chases and adjust with the various agencies such as the railroads, and stockyards company for the various charges due them in. the way of freight, yardage and feed. “The office of the commission firm acts as a clearing house for the en- tire business, and one of its most im- portant duties is to keep a complete Rolph, Joplin, president, E. R. Kind- ler, Billings, secretary. “ CENTRAL CO-OP HAS TAKEN YARDS SPACE The Central Co-operative associa- tion, organized in 1921 under laws of of the/and accurate record of every phase of| Minnesota, which for several years almost in- the transaction. - [has toy all commission firms at pped stinctive with him. They are part of| “These records are of extensive| South St. Paul in the volume of bus- his working equipment. -“There are multitudinous duties that follow the assembling of stock ie and The to3 and the scope because of the detailed an- nual reports demanded by the federal government. e Responsible for Title “However, the responsibilities that ittach to a commission firm in act- ae nS ae a 32. i : ? | & a i : i I be 5 ines handled, is an organization hich will be established at West Fargo. Cari Spong, who has been field rep- resentative for Central Co-operative ingastern North Dakota for the past kk *& Above is a general view of the new livestock yards at West Fargo, taken from the northeast. This\shows the front of the yards, with block 1 at left, The small building in center, with tower-like turret, is the mechanical building. At the left, where cars and trucks are congregated, will be the open plaza where trucks will congregate waiting to load or unload at the truck chutes, which may be seen at the rear of the trucks. The water tower is shown at the extreme right. This is over the artesian well which has provided 1,700 gallons per minutes and has not yet had a complete test. To Stock Yards Opening An open invitation to the citizens of the entire northwest to attend the formal opening of the new public livestock market at West Fargo, Tuesday, is issued by Thomas E. Good, presi- dent of the Union Stock Yards company of Fargo which has invested more than $200,000 ip this enterprise. “Every resident of this séc- tion of the northwest is cordial- ly invited to our opening events on Oct. 1,” says Mr. Good. “We have provided for the stock producers of this area what we have reason to believe is one of the finest public live- stock markets yet constructed in the United States. Many are larger, none has better facilities than the first unit of that pub- lic market at West Fargo which we confidently hope and expect to see develop into one of the greatest livestock sales places in the nation. yards, will take this opportunity spect them. here, consider yourself invited our guest for the day.” “We are especially desirous that the farmers of North and South Dakota and northern Minnesota, who are with- in reasonable reaching distance of these Business men and all others will be welcome: If you can get | to in- to be T. E. GOOD arket to Open G x kk ates Tuesda MIDWEST FARMERS OPERATE AT FARGO Officers Enthusiastic About De- veloping Great New Live- stock Market Exceptionally enthusiastic regard- ing the possibilities for the develop- ment of a great market for livestock at West Fargo is the Midwest Farm- ers, livestock selling agency, which was established in January, 1920, at South St. Paul under the name of Bruber, Rude and Johnson. It was incorporated under Minnesota laws! and has continued in operation since.' Incorgorators were Alden H. John- son, L. V. Bruber and T. A. Rude,, president, vice president and secre- tary, respectively. T. A, Rude, the present president of Midwest Farmers, and P. A. Gaff- ney, another member of the firm, will work out of the Fargo office as trav- eling representatives. Mr. Rude has already established a residence in Fargo, at 819 Sixth St. 8. McDonald Employed Mr. Johnson announces that Wally McDonald, a resident of Moorhead for a number of years and for sev-; eral years a livestock dealer, will be in charge of the Midwest's cattle di- | vision in the Fargo yards. Donald was for charge of the cattle division for a/ livestock commission firm in Canada. Norman Thom of South St. Paul will be in charge of the office for the Midwest here. He is experienced in this work, having: been in the South St. Paul office of the company for a number of years. James Griffin, afso from South St. Paul and on the South St. Paul market..for many years, will be in charge of the hog and sheep division jtains 45 pens, 15 by 12 feet in size and The day’s program includes: Addresses by Gov. Walter Welford of North Dakota and Dr. J. H. Shepperd of the North Dakota Agricultural college at 11 a.m, A barbecue at noon. Exhibitions and demonstrations of livestock classes throughout the afternoon, with band concerts and many other entertainment features. An old-time cowboy dance to close the day. To all of these events the public is invited without charge. Stock Markets History In U.S. Is Told by Kube Early Trading ‘Was By Barter, Succeeded by Money Deals; Then Auctions in Yards; Railways Built First Marts * Centralized livestock markets in this country began very early in the history of our eastern states, says L. W. Kube, traffic manager of the Union Stock Yards companies of South St. Paul and of West Fargo in outlining @ history of their development. “In the very early days along the eastern seaboard each stock grower disposed of his own animals the best way he cpuld wherever a demand could be located. “Meat animals were quite generally exchanged for supplies of food and clothing. Trading livestock for other necessary products continued as the usual method of marketing until coined money was put into circulation, when selling for cash began. “From that time down to the present the value of the steer or the hog has been measured in dollars and cents. “Growers, drovers and stock dealers first got together and concentrated livestock for sale to consumers about the middle of the 18th century. “The best example of these early and crude markets was the one es- tablished at Brighton, a suburb of Boston, At this market Thursday of leach week was the market day when producers drove their stock in to be sold at auction in the court house square. All stock was sold in its turn to the highest bidder. “These weekly auction sale events ‘were known as court day fairs. Dis- cussing one of these fairs an eastern farm paper published in 1856 said: “*This way of doing business we like. It brings every farmer and stock buyer right up to the mark. ‘The true value of stock is thus well known. Men know what they can give and pay it. The business is done up and no whining or jockey- ‘ing sbout it.’ Production Moves West to be driven to and from it, which Soon became a nuisance. “This, however, was the only stock yard in Chicago for several years. Railroads Built Yards “After the completion of rail lines into Chicago, the railroads built larger and better yards on their own lines, not only to serve the grower. ed to stimulate traffic over their es, “The first of these railroad stock yards was built on the Michigan Cen- tral and Illinois Central roads in 1856. It soon took the -bulk of the business and the Madison street yard was closed. “Later several other railroad lines built yards, and with these scattered yards, the best outlet for livestock proved to be at the particular rail- road stock yard where the greatest number of buyers congregated. Prices at these various yards varied and shippers found it necessary to move their stock from one yard to another to make the best sale. Yards Far Apart “Some of the yards were two to three miles apart and stock had to be driven from one yard to another over paved streets on the hoof, caus- nd considerable depreciation and “It took about 17 years of this kind of experience to teach producers the me of concentrating livestock for “In 1865 the Ilinois legislature in- corporated the Union Stock Yards and Transit company with a capital for Midwest in Fargo. i SIG BLLINGSON WILL OPEN YARDS OFFICES Company That Has Operated in South St. Paul Since 1910 Opens Branch Another old established firm on the South St. Paul stockyards, Sig Ellingson and company, will open an office at the new West Fargo stock- yards and do a general commission business. The company has leased space in the new exchange building, and will locate there as soon as it’ opens. It has been assigned tempor- ary offices in a yard building. §. A. Ellingson, the present _presi- dent and the organizer of Sig Elling-' son and company, together with F. 8.! Page, in 1910 took over the interests; which have been operating as the livestock commission end of the Van} Dusen-Harrington company, that) company discontinuing its livestock, commission business. The firm of Sig Ellingson and com-j pany was then organized and has continued since. Officers in addi- tion to Mr. Ellingson are, Carl Lind- gren, treasurer, and R. E. Clarke, secretary. The West Fargo branch will be un- der the management of W. J. Ko- delka, He will be assisted by W. E. Krueger and William Parker, sales- men, AULL WILL MANAGE | BRANCH FOR HAAS To represent the Haas Commis- sion company, one of the oldest es- tablished livestock handling firms in the northwest at West Fargo, is C. H. Aull. He will be the manager of the office of this organization. Haas Commission company was or- ganized in 1882 before the union stock yards was located at St. Paul. The original name was Cunningham and Haas and the firm first operated at the Minnesota Transfer, moving to South St. Paul on the opening of the there in 1887. In 1914 W. F. Aull ee into partnership with C. L. Haas the Haas Commission was in- corporated. C. L, Haas died in 1933 and C. F. Aull became president of the concern and his son, who now North Dakota and northern Minne- , Sota livestock men and is well known to producers of this area. The pres- ent officers are: W. F. Aull, presi- dent; C. H. Aull, vice president and treasurer, and Maurice Stoffer, secre- tary. Members of the Fargo staff in ad- dition to Mr. Aull, will be Earl Kiel- jthis block is located a scale of 10 ton West Fargo Yards One Of Most Modern Built Three Agencies Operate on Public Market, Commission Firms, Buyer Agents and Yards Organization North Dakota has, in its new public livestock market at West Fargo, the most up-to-the-minute type of stockyard construction in the nation, ac- | cording to commission men of wide experience who have seen the plant. The experiences, the developments of three-quarters of a century of : stockyards operations were available in planning the yards and, while not as large, this plant is far superior in its facilivies, conveniences and its ‘general layout, to most of the older stockyards, the experts say. | - It has an initial capacity to care for 223 cari.ads of livestock. The physical plant consists of: The main yards, four huge frame buildings called “blocks,” con- shifted taining pens and alleys where the as it changes ownership. ‘The exchange building, headquarters for the Union Stockyards com- pany of Fargo, and of the commission,firms and the bank which will do business there, now under construction. A series of railroad and truck unloading chutes, with separate pens where incoming or outgoing stock may be housed. A mechanical building. An elevator and feed mill for grain storage, mixing and grinding. A hog immunizing plant, a sheep dip and a dehorning pen. A yard office building. A complete sewer and water system. Plans have been drawn for the plete blocks, each 250x250 feet in size. However, to begin with, only one block and three half blocks have been erected. Block No. 1, located in the southeast corner of the yards is 250x250 and Mr. Mc-' contains 90 pens. Of these 45 are 12x15 feet in size; 45 are 15x20. It also several years in has six large sheep corrals, each with a capacity of 24 carloads. This block has 33,000 square feet of pavement, and all pens have wa- tering troughs and are equipped with running water and sewer facilities. It is all under cover, is sided on the north and west. It is known as the hog commission block. Block No. 2, directly west of Block 1, is at present 125 by 250 feet in size, all under cover. It will be the cattle and sheep commission block. It con- 45 pens 15 by 20. Every pen and cor- ral in the yards is equipped with wa- tering and feeding facilities and has sewer connections. Has Large Scale The block to the north of 1 is known as No, 21. It is 125 by 250 and will be the hog storage block. It has 52 pens, 15 by 26 feet in size, and 8 pens 8 by 20 feet in size. It has 31,250 square feet of pavement. In capacity with a scale house, 21 by 33 feet in size. Block No. 22 lies just west of No. 21, This block will not be covered! this year and will be a cattle and) sheep storage block. It contains 50 pens, 10 by 12 in size and 48 pens, 15 by 16 feet. There is 15,000 square feet of pavement in this block and it con- tains a 10-ton capacity scale. The train chute dock consists of 10 loading and unloading chutes with 20 pens, 22 by 32 feet in size, each capable of holding a carload of stock, behind the chutes. It extends along the length of block No. 1 on the south. Chutes Under Cover The chutes are under cover, and are paved with concrete. An alley separates the chutes and pens from Block 1, and there are gates to each chute, opening into the alley, which may be closed off at either end of any unloading pen by the swing of the gate. There are six unloading truck chutes along the east side of Block 1, all under cover and opening into 12 unloading pens 12 by 20 feet in size, All these pens are paved with concrete, and they too, open into an alley connecting with Block No. 1. All of the blocks are tied together with a network of alleys and trans- fer of the stock from the unloading chutes to any pen in any part of the yards is a simple matter, gates open from the pens into the al- leys and these gates swung across the alley block it off at that point. When all the gates are closed the alleys be- come through streets, leading com- pletely through the block. Has Own Elevator To the southeast of block 1 is an elevator and feed mill, which will be used by the stockyards company for storage and grinding of the grain which it will use for livestock placed in its care. This elevator is 24 by 30 feet in size, 45 feet high, has a capacity of four carloads of grain. The mechanical building is to the northeast of block 1. It is 30 by 50 feet in size and will be the office for i the storekeeper, timekeeper and, also will be the. feed office, It will contain a carpenter shop and storeroom and other mechanical x ke livestock is housed and eventual construction of nine com- YARD STATISTICS Here are the statistics on the size and capacity of the four “blocks” and the unloading chutes now finished or under construction and forming the first unit of the stockyards at West Fargo: Block 1—Hog Commission Capacity In No.Pens Size Carloads 45 12x15 ped 45 15x20 23 6 corrals 24 Block 2—Cattle, Sheep Commission 45 12x15, 1 45 15x20 23 Block 21—Hog Storage 52 15x26 52 8 6x20 8 Block 22—Cattle, Sheep Storage 48 15x16 36 50 10x12 13 Train Chute Dock—(10 Chutes) 20 22x32 20° Truck Chute Dock—(6 Chutes) 12 12x20 6. 376 223 basement for which is being poured, will be the real heart of the yards. It is a two-story building with full basement, 50 by 100 feet in size, lo- ceted to the south of block 1, across the tracks. It is being constructed with face brick and cut stone, and will be fire- proof, Shippers’ Club, Cafe There will also be a restaurant with @ seating capacity of 50 in the base- ment, with complete kitchen equip- ment. A barbershop also will be lo- cated in the basement, and there will be rooms for storage of records. The main floor of the building will be used largely for the and buyer organizations which operate bea office space for nine organizations. cluding the bank, on Tender Rescued From Maumee River; Heavy Truck’s Pass- age Thought Cause 30.—(P)—The west street bridge here Toledo, O., Sept. end of the Fassett Monday. Maumee river. tender, who was