Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-26
CIVIC PRIDE D
". A. Gordon Urges Formnlai.
ton Of Civic Federation
In Bismarck

AL DkUAAuA VA
W. A. Gordon, formerly national
bank examiner and now northwestern
general agent for the Springfield Fire
and Marine Insurance Co., has been
In this vicinity several days estab-
fishing agencies for his company.
To the Tribune he said today: s'I
am urged by some of your citizens to
make Bismarck my future home, and
to tell the truth, would be favorably
inclined to do so if I could get
house here to live in, but you are
just as bad off in that respect as
Grand Forks, where I had thought o.
going. You have one of the best
townsites in the state and with the
development of little more civic
pride, could have the most beautiful
| city in the west. s5
"a few years ago Fargo and Grand
Forks stood on bare prairies; today
they are beautiful with trees, lawns
and all that goes to attract the visi-
tor. You have done much here since
I used to be member of the senate
and that fact shows the people are
alive to their opportunities, but it
seems to me there is a great deal
that could yet be done with ease if
you had a civic organization to keep
the matter before the property own
ers. Lisbon, Cooperstown and other
places have been made splendid cities
just by the work of the ladies Of the
civic federation. '@'
TN Cooperstown a few years ago
there was not a tree in the place, no
sidewalks to speak Of, poor streets,
and a catch-as-catch-can sort of ex-
istence. The ladies took hold of the
matter of identifying the place and
now the streets are shaded by trees,
the houses are surrounded by lawns
and flower gardens and there Is not
a fence in the town. Just think of
it! not fence around house. The
result is. the place resembles park
and favorably impresses prospective
residents. And the ladies did it all.
"In Lisbon the same thing has been
accomplished through the same med
iuIn, and the town is noted as one OF
the beauty spots of the state. All
this, and more, can be accomplished
by little common sense, example
and persuasion on the part of the
ladies of your city, many Of whom Il
know. Surely there must be among
them some who can and will take up
this matter and do what has been
done In other places with less than
half the natural advantages of Bis
marck. @r+.. I
Civic pride means that waste
paper, ashes, ETC., will be kept
off your Streets; that cattle and
horses will not be allowed to roam at
win at any time of the year, as they
are fatal to the growth of trees and
ruin bou1eyards and lawns; that trees
will be planted everywhere and
vacant lots kept cleaned up and free
from garbage, and in, other ways it
means the education of the whole peo-
pie to love neatness at home and in
public places. The world is full OF
these civic declarations and every.
where they have done wonders. It is
not all aecornpli shed In q day, moi, in
weeks nor months, and it IS some
times years before certain individuals
can be brought to see the point. but.
BY keeping everlasting " afiit you will
have. as said before, beautiful
city that will not only be pride to-
yourselves but to the state-and yolI
must remember Bismarck is the state
capital and therefore should do the.
state proud. II may be + will come TO-
Hive with you, and 1T r do + will be,
glad to help all can in such q move
nlent ais I have outlined, FOR 4 believe
III the beantifying <of our cities and
know how easily and cheaply It ran.
Ne done when the VIII 70 Do IL In
grated IN the people. Z