The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-16
NOONAN IS ONE
OF The live ONES

| Noonan, N. D., Aug. 15.-To The
| Forum: When an observant traveller
| told me that Noonan possessed more
| business live wires, in proportion to
| population than any town in the north
west I figured that he might possibly
have been influenced by the multitude
Of pretty girls for which the town is
famous, and with whom he had become
acquainted when he spent Sunday in
the little town in the north Of Will
Jams county. But the effect upon me
was good deal like it was that first
| October morning when l walked up
the streets Of Williston. The town
took hold of me at once.
And when found the hotel, a thirty
room oasis in a desert that might have
been cultivated in the long ago It SEEM
ed to me that could stay here a long
while and learn to know the people
better The spirit Of progress is ev-
erywhere.
With an abundance Of good water,
surrounded by a fertile and inteIli-
gently cultivated territory, Noonan has
drawn to herself a number of business
men who come with advanced ideas of
business, who inject determined pur-
pose into the towns civic movements,
and who protect its good name and
keep her booming. Noonan is one of
the glad surprises. Most of her bust
ness buildings are brick, when the
usual North Dakota town runs pretty
much to frame structures. The trad
ing radius is wide and up to- the min
ute The farmers who come here want
the best. 1t is ninety-six miles from
here to Minot, and a number of the
business men here belong to Minot's
splendid lodge of Elks.
Northern Williams county is in the
midst Of it's first real county seat ex-
element. She wants the north half of
the county divided from the south half.
and to call the new territory Divide
county. It looks like the county d.
vision movement would carry. A good
many of the people Of the southern
portion of the county believe that it is
simple justice to grant the division.
1t requires 200 miles of railroad travel
to go from here and attend court at
Williston. Ambrose and Crosby go
farther than that. 1t is related that
a venerable Norwegian wanted to be-
come an American citizen before
old for active labor, and from the daily
sale Of milk and from doing chores he
eked out the pennies for daily sustcn-
ance. Nickel by nickel he saved for
the day that he could go to Williston
with his witnesses and declare his
allegiance to the stars and stripes. II
cost him over 500 from the little that
he had piled up, penny by penny, for
q rainy day. That represented the
actual expense of himself and his wit
nesses. Tt is asserted that this sx-
pense usually runs from $50 to 800
for each foreign born resident who
desires citizenship. The commercial
club Of Williston has joined hands in
the movement and asked the friends of
the city of Opportunity" to do every- |
thing possible to secure county divf- |
sion now. Ambrose, Crosby and Moo
nan want the county seat. Each win |
make strong effort for 1t. But Aodav |
they ars standing together, these three |
and working together for
county division. They viii then try
TO settle the county seat matter. The |
town has a live commercial club. 7
j. Gifts is the president and r.. M
Pierce is secretary. They are onto |
their jobs every day OF the week.
There are already two elevators
here, one bank and another coming.
two large general stores and another
coming, an cnterprising newspaper. It /
has an extremely fine coal bed and the
people for wide territory are SUM- |
piled from the richness OF the vein.
The town Is arranging for improved |
fire protection.
But, with all of the advantages that
are Noonan's, the one that attracts the
casual passerby the most is the live
wires among its business men. They |
Will make this rafting good town.
Ben G.. Whitehead.