The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-06-26
GOVERNOR hanna
WAS M|NOT'S
GUEST TUESDAY
DELIVERED NOTABLE ADDRESS
BEFORE CITIZENS AT CON-
MERCIAL CLUB TUESDAY EV-
ENING.

MERCIAL CLUB TUESDAY Ev-
ENING.
Gov. L. B. Hanna was the guest of
the city of Minot Tuesday night and
fitting reception was given him at
the commercial club rooms that night.
The governor was delayed at Velva
and arrived by auto two hours late.
Arrangements had been made to re-
ceive him with the band and national
guard but on account of the delay
these plans were not carried out.
A large crowd of friends gathered
ut the club rooms when the meeting
was called to order by the president,
Ira D. Wight. Mr.. Wight named Hon.
/. A. M. Thompson chairman of the even
ing.
President N. Davis of the city COM
mission, welcomed the governor on
the part of the city. "Any honest man
finds warm welcome in this city,"
the president declared Mr.. Davis
appeared in his merriest mood and
his remarks were well received.
Former Governor j. M. Devine
spoke briefly, referring to our chief
executive as the most able man ever
elected to that Office from this state.
He referred particularly to the excel
lent business administration Gov.
Hanna is giving us.
J. S. Murphy in short talk refer
red to agricultural conditions. He
said that North Dakota has always
been in the semi-arid region and al
ways will. The rain does not fol-
low the pillow as so many believe. I'm
der improved farming methods, he
said that land men will be glad to ad-
vertise the fact within five or ten
years that this state gets but an aver
age Of but about 20 inches of rainfall
a year. Conservation of moisture
was his theme and he said that under
the. right methods, it would make lit
tie difference to the farmer when the
moisture is precipitated.
The Major paid the governor nice
compliment, declaring that without
a doubt he has no peer as business
man in the state, and believed that
with the governors business ability,
he could devise some plan whereby
the legislature could enact law
which would make it possible for this
state to get more farmers. He gave
statistics to show how much land in
this vicinity S'still in its virgin
state and showed that there is room
here for countless thousands.
Governor Hanna then addressed his
friends and the Independent desires
to compliment him upon the many ex-
cellent logical statements that he
made. Governor Hanna has develop
ed into an orator of much ability, and
his address was thoroly enjoyed.
He complimented the city of Minot,
saving that he was interested in a
Fargo business in small way that
invested money about the state and
the concern had placed Minot at the
top as city for safe investments.
He paid the old soldiers q tribute
when he referred to the journey that
they were about to take to the field
Of Gettysburg. About 200 Union SOL
/ diers and four Confederates from this
state will leave Fargo at the end Of
the week. The expense of the jour
ney, $4,000, will in reality not cast
the taxpayers a cent, as this is a
part of surplus in the fund of the
4 old soldiers home. The governor will
accompany them.
He spoke of the states resources
II and said this will be far more pros
porous state than it now is when our
money is kept at home. The western
part of the state has greater re-
sources than the eastern part, he said,
where farming is the main business.
Our clay for brick manufacturing
purposes is unexcelled in the world.
He referred to the Hebron brick that
has stood the severest test. Minot
will soon see the manufacture of
briquettes and it's by-products, he
said. He looks for this to become
one of the states largest industries.
North Dakotans are too extrava-
CANT, he declared. We burn our flax
straw when it ought to be manufac-
tured into paper Experiments have
shown that flax straw for this purpose
is worth from five to ten dollars a
ton, and figuring on this basis, we have
been burning from fifteen to thirty
million dollars worth of this product
leach year. The day is coming when
not "a pound of straw will be burned.
Our straw will some day be made into
paper, lumber, etc.
The governor explained his plan for
. building the roads of the state. He
hopes to see the auto license increas-
ed from three to five dollars, which,
4 figuring on the basis of 10000 autos
in the state will give an annual fund
/ of 100000. A million dollars worth
of bonds can be issued at 4 per cent,
allowing the state to retire 100000
worth Of bonds annually. In thir-
teen years the bonds will all have been
retired.
The governor. believes the inmates
Of the penitentiary in time can be
used in road building, but says the
number is too few. As it is now, the
Irvine plant is running from o'clock
in the morning until night to keep up
With the orders for Irvine. Many Of