Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-02
Bismarck Citizens Are Resolved
to Place Their City in the
Front Ranks.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO
MAKE INVESTIGATION
Will Take Hold Of Work and
Push It as Far as Is
., Possible. ."

lT6Sl impetus ldSC week from Lue let
ting Of contracts for $160,0O0 worth o
bitulithic by the city commission o
Mandan. Bismarck citizens are re
solved that their city shall not be out
stripped by any neighbor, and whil'
there has been no lack of enthusi
asm at any time since the plans TO
the nine-mile paving district wer'
originally announced, the certainty 0
our sister city's going ahead witt
q to 80 blcks of new paving this sea
son has added new vigor to the cam
paign.
The task of checking up the front
age already signed is now in progress
There seems to be no doubt that wei
over the 81 per cent required by lay
is already subscribed, but the Con
mercial club paving committee, whicl
has the campaign in charge, will wal
until after several important boar,
meeting during the first week in May
which are expected to add about 2
Fer cent to the fronage already pre-
cured.
There is much discussion as to tn
personnel of the special paving CON
mission, which is to be named by tn
property holders, to cooperate wit
the city commission in supervisor
the great Improvement project Pres
ident A. w. Lucas has declared hin
self in favor of the selection OF sue
a committee, and property-holder
generally feel that the magnitude Q
the undertaking is such that the ci
commission should not be eXpecte
to assume the entire burden. TIL
special committee will be compose
1ef' f4inysgntatis's Bismarck citizens
who have had much experience i
public works. and it is probable tha
this commission will be called upon t
spend a great deal of time in invest
eating the paving experience of othe
cities.
TO date no general preference ha
been expressed at TO the quality O
paving or materials to be used. Thi
matter will come before the propert
holders for decision before any cor
tracts are let, and it would be well 70
those affected to make general stud
of the situation. The question Of orig
inal expense will be OF less import
ance than the wearing qualities an
permanence of the paving laid. A
the same time, there must be take
into consideration the varying trafIi
conditions, and the fact that it prol
, ably will not be necessary to use a
heavy type of paving in the res
dence districts, where the wear an
tear will be less.
Bismarck already enjoys natural az
vantages superior to those of any otl
er city in North Dakota. With tn
greater portion of the city pavet
there will not be a town in the nortl
west to compare with the capial cit
in attractiveness. And in this da,
attractiveness is real communit
asset In the case Of paving, beaut
and utility 60 hand in hand, for n
one who will glance back over tn
large sums expended every year i
temporary street improvements whic
were undone By the first rain whic
fell, can fail fo appreciate the fac
that our natural earth roads hav
been an extravaganza far more costl
than the most expensive form of paN
ing can ever be.
The Commercial club is indebtt'
to it's volunteer committeeman TO
splendid cooperation in the prelim
nary work. One man last week in
few hours procured signatures TO
more than 5000 feet of paving. A
have been liberal with their time, an
have worked with sincerity of pu1
pose which has produced results. |
years to come, these men will b
deemed entitled to an especial Mich
in Bismarck's temple of patriots.
Remarkable real estate activity
already noted as result of the Gel
tainty of javing. Properly values hav
increased and the demand for res
dence lots inside the paving distrie
is heavy, while those not so favore
have temporarily taken a back sea
There is very little frontage in tE
entire tract of 81 square blocks whic
could not be sold today for an enhan,
ed consideration equal to severe
times the cost of paving. No bette
proof could be found that this forr
Of Improvement is an investment ratl
er than a tax.
with Mandan and Bismarck bot
paved, the Missouri valley will boas
of two of the most progressive an
desirable cities on the line of tn
Northern Pacific. In the case of Bis
marck the effects of this improve
ment will be particularly important i
attracting to the city, as a home
scores of retired farmers and bus
ness men from the smaller commun
ties, who will favor the town whic
can offer them the most advantages
and who will be impressed with b.:
marck's superiority in their frequen
visits to the capital and on their bus
ness missions to the city.