Laurel Outlook

SPEAKERS VIEW
NEW INDUSTRIES
Representatives From Industrial Division Meet Here With Commercial Club

Two representatives, Gerald J. Skibbons and R. C. Setterstrom of the industrial development division of the Montana Chamber of Commerce told members of the Laurel Commercial club at a meeting Thursday evening of last week at the high school of plans the state body has for bringing desirable industries to Montana and the part that individuals and communities may play in bringing the program to full blossom. They told of work done to date, new industries that have been established and plans for the future. Both men will go to Washington, D. C., in early December to confer with officials and convey information on what Montana has to offer.

The job of the program is to seek ways to expand industrial employment in Montana by expanding manufactory based on national mobilization needs. The reason for this program in Montana is that the present seems to be a good time to take prudent measures in every section of the country to enhance military security. The responsibility for Montana's part in the program was given the executive committee of the industrial development division at a meeting of community, industrial, labor, education and business leaders in Butte Oct. 15 and 16.

The first step was to get clear and accurate information on what Montana has, and the second was to establish task forces composed of prominent men in each major Montana industry.

Ten fields and their appointed leaders are:
Speakers View New Industries
(Continued from Page One)

Research—Dr. G.A. Selke, chancellor, Greater University of Montana, Helena.
Manpower and technical training—Dr. James A. McCain, Missoula.
Electric power—R. C. Setterstrom, Butte.
Military establishments—R. F. Kitchingman, Great Falls.
Chemicals—Earl S. Bardwell, Great Falls.
Food processing—Paul O. McCormick, Billings.

Setterstrom opened the discussion at the Laurel meeting and introduced Skibbons. They told of the foundation laid in Montana and said it may require five years for major results to be seen.

They asked for faith by those supporting the program.

Politicians often spoke during the recent campaign about starting industries in Montana, which helped to bring the subject to the public's attention. The idea of the division of the state Chamber of Commerce, Skibbons said, is to develop many communities. A new plant often gives employment to 100 people.

The attitude of communities has an important bearing on new industries. He told of talking last summer with a man who had placed a plant in a small town in Georgia, not because of cheap labor, nearness of raw materials or closeness to markets, but because everyone in the community thought the plant would be good for the town. It came and made 30 jobs; schools, streets and other civic improvements immediately followed.

In the past year the industrial development division has assembled a great amount of information, wide, varied and authentic, and has done considerable research on what cities, communities and the state has to offer industries. A bureau of business research was begun two months ago at the university, starting from grass roots.

A project that is new and may turn out successfully is molasses from wood in which cells are broken down and sugar released. As Montana is a livestock state as well as mining, the new product is expected to fit nicely with the feeding of animals.

Another is powdered metals and still another is synthetic liquid fuels.

A round table discussion concluded the meeting at the high school.