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Letter to Editor
November 19, 1954
The People's Voice
Helena, Lewis And Clark County, Montana
What is this article about?
E. J. Parkinson critiques Mrs. Theresa Berglund's proposal for a livestock packing plant in Montana, citing Pierre Wibaux's failed 1884 attempt near the Montana-Dakota line due to seasonal grass-fed livestock marketing, and notes existing plants like Great Falls Meat Co. that supply local needs.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
Industry In Montana
How easy it is to get wrong ideas when one lacks factual information on any subject. Mrs. Theresa Berglund with her livestock packing plant suggestion, is a case in point.
Other people have had the same idea from time to time. Pierre Wibaux tried it along about 1884 when he built a million dollar packing plant near the Montana-Dakota line and went broke before he got started. He, like many others, overlooked the fact that grass fed livestock are marketed in only about three months of the year.
It is impossible to maintain a labor force for 12 months out of the year for only three months' business.
Mrs. Berglund seems to have the idea that there are no packing plants in Montana. The Great Falls Meat Co., the Hanson Packing Plant in Butte, and a large packing plant in Billings, together with numerous slaughtering plants throughout the state, supply practically all the grass fed meat consumed in Montana. Most of the meat shipped into the State is corn fed which is not produced here. Montana Feeder stock is shipped east to the feed lots in the middle west, fattened, slaughtered, and shipped back to Montana.
Don't get the idea that the large packers are asleep at the switch where profits are concerned. They know more about the meat business, and are better informed on the subject, than any of us amateurs out in the wide open spaces.-E. J. PARKINSON. Great Falls.
How easy it is to get wrong ideas when one lacks factual information on any subject. Mrs. Theresa Berglund with her livestock packing plant suggestion, is a case in point.
Other people have had the same idea from time to time. Pierre Wibaux tried it along about 1884 when he built a million dollar packing plant near the Montana-Dakota line and went broke before he got started. He, like many others, overlooked the fact that grass fed livestock are marketed in only about three months of the year.
It is impossible to maintain a labor force for 12 months out of the year for only three months' business.
Mrs. Berglund seems to have the idea that there are no packing plants in Montana. The Great Falls Meat Co., the Hanson Packing Plant in Butte, and a large packing plant in Billings, together with numerous slaughtering plants throughout the state, supply practically all the grass fed meat consumed in Montana. Most of the meat shipped into the State is corn fed which is not produced here. Montana Feeder stock is shipped east to the feed lots in the middle west, fattened, slaughtered, and shipped back to Montana.
Don't get the idea that the large packers are asleep at the switch where profits are concerned. They know more about the meat business, and are better informed on the subject, than any of us amateurs out in the wide open spaces.-E. J. PARKINSON. Great Falls.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Persuasive
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Agriculture
Commerce Trade
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Montana Industry
Livestock Packing
Grass Fed Meat
Packing Plants
Economic Critique
What entities or persons were involved?
E. J. Parkinson
Letter to Editor Details
Author
E. J. Parkinson
Main Argument
opposes building a new livestock packing plant in montana due to seasonal marketing of grass-fed livestock, past failures like pierre wibaux's 1884 attempt, and existing sufficient facilities in the state.
Notable Details
Pierre Wibaux's Million Dollar Plant Failure In 1884
Existing Plants: Great Falls Meat Co., Hanson Packing Plant In Butte, Billings Plant
Montana Feeder Stock Shipped East For Fattening