Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-03-09
SPEAKERS TELL HOW THE
CITY MAY BE MADE one
OF PRET1|EST IN STATE
Prof. G. B. Waldr0n Addresses Commercial
Club on Tree Culture
City Engineer Tells Of Grading and Boule=
varding the Streets

Friday night at the Commercial
club. Prof. C. B. Waldron, the noted
horticulturist Of the North Dakota
Agricultural. college, gave an inter-
esting address on "Tree Planting and
Tree Culture" There were over fifty
members of the club present and also
a large delegation Of the members or
the Civic league.
Professor Waldron held the atten'
ton of his audience every moment. He
gave them the latest data on tree
planting and care, in such a way that
all could easily apply the principles
laid down in carrying on the work OF
identifying the home and public
grounds. His hearers were more than
pleased with his delivery and many
who are planning to plant trees gath
cred much useful information. It is
expected that great improvement will
be noted In the appearance of the city
as a result of his lecture.
City Engineer Next Speaker.
The city engineer in speaking OF
the improvement work that was done
during the past few years gave much
credit to the city commissioners tor
the broad view which they have taken
of improvement work and stated that
they have desired that all improve
mant work done be Of substantial
character and he done with the aim
Of building so that in the future all
improvements which are to follow
shall readily conform to those now
being constructed. In speaking Of
the city engineers connection with
improvement work he stated as fol-
lows:
IT found when taking over the city
engineers Office in 1907 that the
monuments defining the street lines
of the city in some instances had been
destroyed by the sewer construction
Just previous. and some had been neg.
lected and destroyed by the action of
vehicles, 80 that it was almost I'M
possible to run out q street line and
have It check up with any existing
structures which seemed to show
where the street line should be, 80 1t
became necessary to make a survey
Of all that part Of the present popu-
lated part of the city and to remonu-
ment all the streets. In doing this
we found that many of the blocks
were not the same distance as shown
on the original plat field, and In some
instances in order to avoid running
the street line into houses construc-
ted. it became necessary to make
slight angles in the street line. The
work occupied a considerable part OF
the time of the city engineers force
for nearly two years before We had
the work so thoroughly checked that
It was possible for a party to run the
street line twice alike. We now have
all the records showing the actual
lengths of the blocks and streets 30
that 1t is an easy matter to determine
the exact location Of the street line
and feel sure that the next time the
line is run it will be in exactly the
same place.
Another proposition that came up
Immediately after assuming the office
was that of establishing street and
side walk grades for the city. These
grades had never been established
except in that part Of the city defined
by the boundaries of the fire district,
which practically included the bust.
mes part of town from Second to Sew.
enth street and from Front street to
half way between Broadway and
Thayer streets The surveys looking
to the determination of grade line
for q grade ordinance were made by
my predecessor. Walter Shelton, 30
that the field work was practically
all completed. It remained for me
to check over the grades as estab-
lished by Mr.. Shelton and draw a
grade ordinance to fit these grades.
This was done and q grede ordinance
was enacted and we have been work
ing under this since that time.
It might be we'll, however, to call
your attention to the fact that even
the grades which were established In
the fire district were not followed in
the construction Of sidewalks in that