The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-01-19
A GRAND TIME.
The Fourth Annual Banquet Of the
Great Falls Board Of Trade
Tuesday Night.
Speeches, Songs and Music and
Everybody Happy and
Joyous.
Over One Hundred and Fifty Gupsts
Partake of the Great
Feast.

The fourth annual banquet of tn
Great Falls Board Of Trade came Of
: Tuesday night at Park hotel. The al
|. tendance was double that of any prey
ious banquet given by the board, an,
the speeches in response to the toast
were just the kind that business me-
generally indulge in on such occasions
> There was not an industry or profession
in the city that was not represented, ant
the general expression of all was tina
the dark cloud which has obscured tn,
business sky in all sections of tn,
country was fast disappearing from view
and that the year 1894 would be a pros
porous one in all lines of business ant
trade.
The hard times dealt gently witt
Great Falls in comparison to the heav,
hand laid upon other cities east, west
north and south of us. Labor has beer
we'll employed and business prospered
beyond the anticipations of all. TIT
outlook for the future was never bright.
or for our city and all that is now re-
quired of US is a long pull, a strong pull
and a pull altogether, and the close of
1894 will show what no city on the
American continent can, that we have
added thousands OF dollars in the shape
of industries and that no man is idle.
The gathering last night was a repre-
sentative one and was conspicuous for
the unanimity of expression on all mat
tiers pertaining to the future growth and
prosperity of our city.
Below will be found a synopsis of the
many speeches delivered and a few of
the many letters received by the Board
OF Trade in response to invitations, and
they speak for themselves.
The banquet hall was t~astefully deco
rated, the ceiling being draped with the
national colors in the form of three st.
Andrews crosses. The north wall bore
the legend Board Of Trade in large
colored letters, the east wall being
graced by the large garrison flag which
was the post Gag at Fort Shaw, artistic
ally festooned. This together with the
minor decorations gave a pretty effect.
The music was furnished by Olson's
orchestra of seven pieces, and whose
services were generously donated for the
occasion.
Promptly at $50 o'clock John L.
Harris, president of the Board of Trade.
called the guests to order, Rev. Reid
asked a blessing after which there was
music by the band.
The letters from persons invited who
could not be present at the BANQUET
were then read, After the reading of
each letter there was music by the band
singing by the quartette, composed of
Coleman, Townsend. Hill and
There vas nothing too good
or the multitude to sing, say or do as
IN Endorsement of the sentiments ey-
pressed in the letters.
The next order of business was speech
making in response to toasts. H.,
Hon. Paris Gibson's Speech.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: There /
: no city or town on the face of the ,
arth that has interested me so much
s Great Falls. Twelve years ago
Great Falls. there was not a I
lngle house or being except "A single t
heep herder with very scabby sheen, s
lie concluded to camp here as it was a I
'vely place, =
He stated how the first settlers lived.
ra Myers was the first man to build a {
ill or factory. You ought to have seen a
10 lumber he furnished. Settlers I
ager for lumber took it away as fast as $,
could be sawed, and it made Myers O
veat. Myers claimed that the logs a
'ming out of Missouri water never et
ould shrink. We believed him. be. @
'use he was grey headed. You ought
nave seen the cracks in the shacks; IL
icy were as wide as the boards. Myers il
Wegner held a meeting in the will ar
Myers was chairman and treasurer;
ey made a resolution to make the
ices as low as possible, viz, $40 Der
ousand feet. We were thankful, how
or, for this lumber. Our town went m
increasing in population. We built a =,
hool house and a church. We held >,
r first election in the office of the pi
and there were sixty voters. yo
hen the polls were closed in the even TO
J and the ballots counted there were or
D votes. Great Falls was always good =,
voting. We lived comfortably and nj
ppy. looking forward to better times. ma
In November, 1887, the arrival Of the yo
railway (now the Great North al
was announced by a big bonfire on an
aspect hill and a thrill of Joy went an
'ough this hamlet. The speaker here ed
id a high compliment to J.J. Hill as a ue
lroad builder. From Jan. |. 1SSS, to no
q. i, 1894, said Mr.. Gibson, Great sa.
lis had made more progress in D en-
ion than any other town on the Ameri- tul
continent. The improvements at Col
.ck Eagle falls are fully equal in value
The improvements or power at Min
polls. Who cau tell what the future Ere
will be. No one can tell.
.hei power of Niagara falls is to be !
to furnish light and power for -
" FORK, Pennsylvania mad Ohio, what ur'
we expect of the power here? kin
H.