Some  may find this of interest. This memo from Fletcher Walker, the resident manager of Westwood, the company town of Red River Lumber Company. It was dated May 4, 1916:  “The point that is the most disagreeable about the plant is lack of houses to take care of families of the men who are working for us. The  woman folks not being able to see that a large family in a tent or in a one room woodshed are not considered sufficient to put them up a house where they can have sufficient accommodations to be comfortable. It costs us about $500.00 counting lumber and labor to put up a four room house and ceiled in the inside. The same building without plumbing and ceiling costs about $200.00 less. To put the town in a reasonably comfortable condition would require 50 more houses and get families out of tents would require another 50, but every dozen houses that we build and get occupied gives us that many more of the most urgent cases and relieves the situation very materially, so as soon as we could see our way clear as to do so, we should start building more houses. On an income basis we should consider several factors, rent paid by the tenant, store, laundry, bakery, etc increased revenue and to have our men housed, for without any question a man spending his evenings and nights under cramped and unsatisfactory living conditions is not in as good condition to do  a day’s work as one who is contented, also that the man with families are steadier workers, more loyal and accomplish more than the single men and far less liability of any labor troubles we have.”

Tim