The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-16
new CITY HALL
WAS FORMALLY
DEDICATED
Magnificent Public Building
Opened For Inspection
BY Citizens
SPLENDID PROGRAM GIVEN
As FEATURE Of EVENING

Progress OF Grand Forks Traced by
Former Mayors-Attorney George
A. Bangs In Address on Munici-
pal Advancement.
Grand Forks dedicated its new city
hall Wednesday evening and that
building, located at the corner of
Fourth street and International ave-
nue.. presented a scene of unusual
splendor. Every room of the building
was filled with visitors from the hour
the reception commenced until long
after the program which was carried
out had been concluded.
On every side were heard exclama-
tions Of pleasure at the completeness
of the structure and the finished ap-
pearance of every department of 1t.
No part of the building was closed to
inspection and the visitors many
hundreds, took advantage of the open
house and made themselves at home.
The dedicatory program which was
carried out in the main council cham
ber on the third floor. room elabor-
ate in every detail and elegantly
equipped for the purpose to which 1t
is put, held the attention of a large
audience throughout the evening. 1t
was extremely fitting t. the occasion.
Not the least interesting feature
was the appearance on the program
of the several former mayors OF Grand
Forks, who discussed briefly the con-
dition Of the city during the period
of their administration. Tribute was
also paid to deceased mayors of the
city who had done their part toward
the advancement of Grand Forks. and
who were. in way. responsible for
the fact that the city today has its
splendid building.
Attorney Geo. A. Bangs delivered
the principal address of the evening
and he was at his best. He discussed
cities. their progress in the past and
problems which they will face in the
future, and he held the closest atten-
tion of the gathering at all times.
Musical Numbers Pleasing.
Naturally the musical numbers were
an interesting feature of the program.
The University Glee club was received
with applause and gave three different
numbers in splendid STYLE. Miss. Ida
Ilamson of the Grand Forks Scirobf
OF Music gave u solo that was splen-
didly rendered. Prof. Chas. A. Lam
Of Wesley Collage. Conservatory 81
Music. played. .*rhe Old Folks at
Home" in a. manner that met with en-
thusiastic reception and as an encore
he gave Masiagni's "Intermezzo."
The Grand Forks Military band rem
dered music throughout the evening.
The invocation was pronounced by
by Rev. w. H. Matthews. Mayor M.
F. Murphy presided in spite of the
fact that his physician advised him
not to leave his home, owing to the
fact that he has been i'll for the past
several days. The mayor showed no
affects of sickness and presided in his
usual happy manner.
For the Commercial Club.
Following the first musical number
by Miss Lamson. Mayor Murphy in
troduced President e. ]. Lander of the
Commercial club, who responded in
behalf of that organization. MIR. Lam
der in an interesting manner discussed
the meaning of the new city hall. He
paid high tribute to Capt. Griggs
that factional strife should be elm
mated, that the knocker should be
eliminated and that everybody in
Grand Forks should pull together for
a better city. He spoke of the need
of city plan and urged that some
action in that direction be taken in the
near future. He declared that the
ent time is more factories.
For City Schools.
Supt. j. Nelson Kelly spoke in be-
half of the public schools and in way
that impressed his hearers told of
what Grand Forks had accomplished
in this important part of civic life.
He spoke of the school children as the
declared that the school board and
those in charge of the school work are
using to the best possible advantage
the funds furnished by the city for
carrying on this important work
There Ia no better safeguard for the
growth and development of the coun-
try. said the speaker. than public
maintained. He also urged the value
Of the domestic science and manual
training work III teaching the young
people that honest labor Is something
to be proud of rather than to be
stunned.
Former Mayors.
Mayor Murphy said that 1t was an
interesting fact to note that of the
twelve mayors Grand Forks has had,
six dead. Mayor Murphy then paid a
tribute to Col Brown. Capt. Griggs
w. J. Anderson. l.. B. Richardson,
Jacob Eshelman and John Dinnie
Especially did the mayor dwell on the
work of Col. Brown, Capt. Griggs, the
founder Of the city, and John Dinnie,
the last mayor to answer deaths call.
He then called on the living mayors
NJ. L. Mccormick. d. Nj. Holmes. H. L.
Withheld. Geo. Z. Duis and j. D. Tay-
lor. All responded with the exception
of Mr.. Holmes
Captain Mccormick dwelt briefly
upon the progress of the city. and
pointed out. the work done by early
pioneers of the city. He also declar-
ed that Grand Forks, by reason Of its
aggressive spirit, had been able to
command the attention of the entire
northwest and that 1t was known far
and wide because of its beauty and
its progressiveness.
Mr. Whithed said that when
he was mayor Grand Forks was in the
town stage with muddy streets. wood
sidewalks and a depleted treasury.
He said that sthe muddy street had
been replaced by paving. that cement
walks occupied the place of the wood
en- ones and that the treasury was
still empty. Geo. f. Duis spoke along
the humorous vein and declared that
he was proud to have been one of the
chief executives Of the city. DR.. ].