Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-06-25
THE CORNER STONE.
OF THE NEW COURT-HOUSE rs
LAYED BY THE MASONS.
An Imposing Afair---Tke Largest
Concourse of People Ever Assem-
bled in Burleigh County,
The Building.

Concourse of People Ever Assem-
bled in Burleigh County,
The Building.
THE EVENT. '.s..
1t had been previously announced that
the corner stone Of the new court house
would be layed under the auspices of the
Bismarck Lodge A. 2. & A. NJ, Monday
June 81, but owing to stormy weather
the affair was postponed till the next day
at half past three the masonic fraternity
marched to the building. the fremen fol-
lowing in the line and marching with
them Already hundreds of people from
the remotest parts of the county had as
sembled TO see the foundation stone ofthe
temple ofjustice, ere it was placed away
in its silent niche, containing mementOeS
which will, perhaps, hundreds Of years
lcnce. astonish and confound the minds
of men, even as the present generation
is filled with awe at the discovery of
PRE-. HISTORIC RELICS.
Seats were arranged, and the entire at
tendance of the public schools were pres
ent. 1t was a memorable day-onc that
will marx the era of a new epoch in the
building boom Of Burleigh county. 1t
was the largest gathering Of men, women
and children ever held in Burleigh coun-
ty. The masonic odes sung on the occa-
sion were very appropriate, and under
the leadership of Deputy Grand Master
John Davidson, the whole affair was SOL
emn and imposing. After the ceremon-
les were concluded, Geo. P. F:lannery, in
behalf of the masons, delivered the fol-
lowing address:
THE ADDRESS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN in attempt
ing to comply with the request to speak to
you today, in justice to you as we'll my
self, ought to say | returned home last
evening and consequently have had no
time for preparation. would have been
glad if others better qualified than had
consented to address you on this occasion.
We meet to lay the corner stone of the
court house of Burleigh county, a fitting
occasion to call forth the people Of the
whole county. The act Of laying the cor
ner stone in itself may seem to many but
of little importance, and but simple con-
tinuance OF that ancient custom which
after its performance brought heavy bur
dens exacted in anarbitrary manner or ex-
torted through fear and superstition
Not so with us to-day. The laying Of
this corner stone marks an epoch in our
history the beginning of prosperity, the
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY
and above all the confidence Of our peo-
pie in the importance of their geographic
cal position and their future greatness.
1t marks the beginning of one of the
many public buildings whose spires
will pierce the heaYens and decorate the
lillsides in and around our beautiful
prairie cities. It marks the beginning
of that material development of our coun-
ty, which, under the favorable auspices
of a strong, rich soil sufficiently undu-
lating to insure drainage in the wet sea-
son with subsoiI capable of holding the
moisture in the dry season, . temperate
climate, atmosphere clear and pure as
that which enyelops and covers the hills
and valleys OF Italy, giving health to every
a1lan woman and child that breathes it.
Conditions which will make this coun.
til every valley will teen with golden
grain and every hillside be covered with
herds and t1ocks. when the refreshing
breezes will bring the sweet music to
your ear of the low OF the herd, the whis-
tie of the plow-boy und the milk maids
song commingling in harmony, telling to
you, more eloquent than words could tell.
that you are in the midst of
HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS PEOPLE
Conditions, when taken in connection
with your location at the junction of
tlanscontinental railway and the greatest
at Il glance will make Bismarck one of the
,,pct cor, ~ c.1c n ho
west. God and Nature have made the
conditions all favorable and it only re.
mains for man TO utilize them. And
while l believe thus of our own city |
would not be understood as rejecting by
insinuation or doubt upon the future Of
any city, whether they be rivals or not, in
this grand territory of ours. a territory
large and rich enough to osupport millions
of people and hundreds of cities. But our
own welfare is coupled 50 intimately with
the material development of our own city
and county that 1t becomes us one and all
to 90 ahead with vigor and determination
to utilize what God and nature has given
us. If we do this and realize that the
prosperity OF any county depends not
alone upon rich harvcsts, fat herds and
hocks. but also upon the busy whim Of
machinery, the open furnace, the locomo-
tiveS on the rail and the fleets on the river.
OUR CITY WILL GROW
beyond even the widest immaginations
of the most sanyuine. And holding these
views, hope the day may never come
when the press of our county will have to
chronicle the advent OF a bonanza farmer
within its limits. hope the day may
Z never come when 1t can be said one single
individual owns sixty thousand acres Of
land and has twenty thousand acres Of
wheat, but rather let us have little cot
,tage upon every 100 acres and let every
,one be occupied by its owner with his
family, lord of the manor, and sovereign
of his small domain. And when this is SO
blessed with peace and plenty, your peo-
pie will be truly prosperous. And now,
fellow citizens, on this day and this occa-
4 / Sion If there has been feelings of strife be-
tween different sections Of this city in re-
8gardto this location let us. erase them
from our memory. urge this especially
I upon my Masonic Brethren, renemheF,
80. II,