Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-05-17
MILITIA COMPANY AND ARMORY
Continued from page


tiOns for arm0ries were on file in the
state need not discourage our citizens,
for the size of town, and the local
spirit shown would no doubt be taken
into consideration by the governing
board. Col. Luce suggested that If a
civil volunteer company be formed at
once and drilled by local men, it would
no doubt assist in securing speedy &C.
ton by the governing board. Col. Luce
pledged his assistance in every way
possible. He would be glad to detail
sergeant to assist such a company
in drill. His talk was very interest
ing and was listened to very closely.
At the close of the meeting by request
he outlined the progress of the Elec.
trio Short Line of which he is the pro-
moter, and gave the members of the
prise.
was held following the monthly lunch
con, served last night by the ladies of
the Housekeepers' Club in the base
ment of the Masonic building. The
attendance was good, the tables being
monthly business meeting was held in
the assembly room on the first floor.
-Four new members were elected
Prof. A. C. Peterson, A. J. Nelson,
J. w. Kent and J. w. Ruddy, and
routine business was transacted. Mr..
J. H. Nelson, of the committee on Sc
curing an armory, made a report of
what the members had been able to
learn, and the committee was instruct
ee to continue it's work and Immediate
ly begin the enrolling of a civic mil,
itary company. This was at the open
ing of the meeting before the arrival
Of Col. Luce.
President Gilbert made an earnest
talk on the desirabihty Of more gen.
eral participation in the observance of
Memorial Day, and called upon Supt.
Foster to outline what the schools had
in view for the day. The matter was
also dis used by Mayor Wellin, who
spoke Of the plan Of the Junior Com
mercial League, by Mr.. Chard and
others, and resulted in a committee
being appointed to cooperate in max
ing necessary arrangements for the
public observance of the Day.
Chas. Walin spoke of the change
of ownership in the Willmar Tractor
Company by which it is fully financed
for greatly charging the production,
and that the new owner was consider
ing the matter of moving same to the
Twin Cities. A special committee con-
sisting of L. o. Thorpe, Chas. Wallin,
E. G. Wellin, F. L. Smith and F. G..
Handy was appointed to consult with
the new owners, and if possible in
duce them to remain at Willmar.
Mr.. D. N. Tallman was called on to
speak Of good roads. He said there
were no good roads now and would
not be until a more determined effort
was made to secure them. He reit-
Grated his convictions that it would
be better to bond the county to secure
good roads at once and take care Of the
interest charge from the annual main.
tenance fund than to make piece-meal
attempts to build from year to year
He said bonds for good roads would be
proper charge against future gener
ations that would have the benefit OF
them.
Hans Peterson got up and charged
that the road south from Willmar was
being neglected in favor Of roads de-
signed largely for pleasure riding. He
enlarged upon the importance of this
road to the business interests of the
city. This precipitated lively discus
sion in which Chairman N. B. johnson
and Mr.. Boersma of the Board Of
County Commissioners, F. G. Handy
A. o. Forsberg, and others, partici
pated. Mr.. N. B. johnson said tina
the southern half of the county wa!
receiving it's full share Of the appro
priations. It was developed that !:
the south road had not received 81
much assistance from private subscrip
ton as others, it was because no on
had been especially Interested in Sc
Letting and promoting the same. MI
l.. A. Tjosvold, president Of the Motto
Club, offered to circulate a list an
see what could be done, and began hi
work at once.
Col. Luce then arrived and launche'
into his address on the militia CON
pany.
At the close of the meeting Co
Luce was requested to speak of tn
progress of the Electric Short Line
! which he did. He reviewed the entel
prise from it's inception. He spoke G
the investment years ago in the req
, estate properties which gives the1
terminals in the heart of Minneapoli:
In order to provide funds for the Col
struction work from Hutchinson ives
to Clara City and on to Montevide'
one-fifth interest in the terminal pro-
erty had been sold to banks and fiji
3 ancial men at Minneapolis for $500
4 600. The road has not a dollar of il
Y debtedness that it has not money o
l. hand to pay. The Colonel believes tn:
y in four or five years the complete CO.
templated system of five hundre
miles will be completed. He gave {
, his opinion that the development
+ the Lake Lillian and Roseland cou
q try would not injure Willmar bu:
h ness houses, as any loss would be col
A pensated for by the larger populate
: which would naturally remain trib
n tary to Willmar as large shoppil
center. He expressed the hope tn
e Willmar would eventually be reach
by and have station on the electr
road. He was heartily applauded. 1
9 the close of the meeting Col. Luce pr
"a sonally met those present and chatt
3 with them.
~ This meeting of the Commerce
"a Club was one of the most INTEREST,"
n. in it's history. The luncheon idea is
v. splendid one to induce good after
ance.