The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-03-18
Says Residence Section is in Good
Shape and Money Should Be Ex-
pended Elsewhere.
GARDEN PLOTS FOR CHILDREN
Suggests Lake Front Park Be Beau
fed By Walks, Flowers
and Shrubs.

Roads leading into the city should
be given the preference over city
streets in repair work the coming
season, according TO a letter received
by the Pioneer from A. A. Carter
street commissioner. Mr.. Garter
calls particular attention to the roads
leading in from the west and north
west and the road around the lake to
Nymore. These roads bear the heav-
lest of the farmer traffic and are in
sad need of repair.
In order to beautify the lake shore
from the dock to the boathouse, he
proposes hauling in black dirt, laying
out walks and allowing school chill
dren to each take small plots and
plant them with flowers and shrubs
If this is done, the children will
probably be invited to enter plant
contest and the plot showing the
best results by July may be given
a cash prize.
The warm weather is rapidly
thawing the ice on the streets and
the men of the street department
have been kept busy keeping the
sewers open to allow the waste wa
ter to run off, Mr.. Carter says that
unless a good thaw comes this week
that his men will not be able to
clean the streets for the fire preven-
ton meeting as the dust and dirt is
frozen in the ice and cannot be re-
moved until the ice thaws.
Following is Mr.. Carter's letter to
the Pioneer:
Bemidji Pioneer, Bemidji, Mimi.
Gentlemen: In answer to your
question as to my ideas of the work
that should be done to our streets
and alleys this season, I might say
that in considering the limited
amount of money at the disposal OF
the council for this department, /
believe that the largest number of
people benefited by the smallest
amount of money expended should be
the policy pursued.
To do this | believe that special
attention should be given to the
streets and roads leading in and out
of our city. The so-called swamp
road running west across the cordu-
roy is sadly in need Of permanent
improvements in the way of more
ditching and grading. The north
road west to the Blaksley farm and
the so-called northwest road running
by the old Ackenbaugh farm should
receive some little attention.
would specially recommend that
the road leading to NymOre, from the
Mississippi river bridge to the N.Y.
more line, should be given special
attention this year as there is a very
heavy traffic coming over this road.
Not only all the farmers from the
south and east must travel it, but
it is also the only road by which the
heavy hauling into the city must be
carried on from our two large saw
mills.
would recommend but little grad
ing. in residence portions for this
year, but would give more attention
to making solid roadway to the
streets already graded
I wish further to call attention to
our parks These should not be ov-
erlooked, as a small amount of mon
ey expended in this direction will
20 further toward advertising our
city as a place of beauty and refine
ment than any other thing. l have
given considerable thought during
the past week as to how we could
best beautify that portion of our
park-from the city dock to the pub
lie boat house and which is protected
from Bemidji avenue by a cement
walk. would suggest that after this
ground is covered with black soil and
the walks laid out, that each and
every pupil in our schools who, so
desires should be given a small
amount of ground in this park to
beautify as they see fit with flowers,
plants and shrubs. I have taken this
up matter up with Professor: Dyer,
and l have every reason to believe
that this portion of our park can and
will be, converted sintosa beauty spot,
CONTINUED on last paga)