Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-03-09
Creel's Mass Meeting.

OO' O1CC4 SOuNO1C1Ou VI CdA.
payers called to meet the state
military board and the board of
county commissioners, to discuss
the advisability Of the county as
Stunning control of the bridge at
Pelican Point, guaranteeing it's
construction and maintenance, and
for other purposes not mentioned
in the call, assembled at the court
house on schedule time. The col
onel was present, of course, and
nominated Mr.. Currier, of Crary,
chairman. No one seemed to have
any objection, so the gentleman
was elected and promptly took the
judges seat. He thanked the as
sembly for the honor conferred
upon him, and began to explain
"why we are here" He was op-
posed to the county having
anything to do with the Pelican
Point bridge, because it would
cost more to maintain it than it
would to build it. He understood
it was going to be a cheap affair
anyway, built mostly Of sand, and
the waves would arise and wash
out the inscription, Agnes. [ love
you,"-and things like that. Then
he branched out on the subject Of
the opening Of the Indian reserva-
ton and the Dawes bill, but didn't
touch on the Porto Rican tariff,
which is now agitating the farm
ers Of Ramsey county. He de-
plored the ~depravity Of a civilized
people, who could lead the poor,
down-trodden farmers of the east
to believe that the reservation
would be opened soon, when every
body knew that it would take at
least three years. It was wrong to
advertise the opening Of a reserva-
ton that wouldn't open. Mr.. Nc
Gahan then threw a few lyddite
shells of solid facts into the dis
cussion, which opened the eyes Of
farmers to the fact that there was
no particular business before the
meeting worthy Of taking up their
time to discuss. Bro. Hale moved
that the meeting adjourn, but be-
fore the motion could be put, Col.
Creel remarked that he would like
to say something before the crowd
made it's escape. The instigator
of the mass convention arose, pull
ed off his o~vercoat and took the
stand, where all the farmers could
see a great man without being in
convenienced by the process of
what is termed rubbernecking. He
intimated that when it came to
building up Devils Lake he was
about the biggest thing that ever
happened. Of course. he didn't
persuade j. j. Hill to subscribe
$1,000 toward building this bridge,
but he noticed as soon as he as
sured James that there was enough
sand on Pelican Point to use as
film, that the citizens bridge
committee received James check.
OF course the farmers present and
absent could draw their own con-
illusions. To further demon
strate to the astonished assembly
how he stood, in other dir
e%ctions, he referred to a letter
he had received that day from the
adjutant general who unquali6edly
endorsed him as being about the
biggest huckleberry that ever grew
on any old bush when it came tc
managing the military reserve fol
the best interests of the state. He
wanted to do everything in his
power to further this bridge
scheme, but he must treat with
some organized body that would
have a legal existence hereafter
This, of course, interested the
farmers present who were not g
corporate body, and someone ir.
%reverently whispered to his neigh.
Dor that the colonel would make
better progress by telling his
troubles to a policeman.
Mr.. Hale spoke in defense OIL
the bridge, and informed the
farmers that Devils Lake was no,
asking the commissioners to dc
anything further than they had
already done by appropriating the
$4,000 which belonged to the cit.
by law.
City Attorney Serumgard evi
IDENTIFY thought the discussion hae
gone far enough for he explained
that the city council at a meeting
several weeks ago passed a resolu
ton agreeing to father the bridg'
and keep it in repair with
out any expense to the county
That the city was ready to trea
with the militia board at any time
Tb;o woo 4ho hop,l 4bo+ L-ooLo.