Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-01-04
CIVIC LEADERS
COMPARE NOTES
OPEN MEETING CALLED BY
CLUB DIRECTORS BRINGS
\ OUT GOOD ATTENDANCE
Earnest Talks BY Representative Men
Cover 1916 Progress and 1917
Prospects

There is much to be done in the
interests of the "City of Opportunity"
during 1917 and the men of Williston
are determined to do it. The spirit
of pull-togetherness that achieved
such notable progress in 1916 will
be continued and reinforced to turn
the trick.
Such was the consensus of opinion
helpful public meeting of the city's
high school auditorium last Friday
night. The meeting was we'll attended
by representative men but did not
meet with as general response as the
importance of the occasion demanded.
The meeting was called by the direc-
tors of the commercial club for the
purpose of taking an accounting Of
the important public business of the
recent past and near future and as
preparatory get-together for, the work
of 1917. The election of club direc-
tors will take place soon and the
meeting held Friday night was large
" to Summarize the work accom-
plished and contemplated by the pres
ent board.
Jackson Speaks
President J. w. jackson presided at
the meeting and was the first speak
er. He said the program of the past
year had been planned from the tabu-
lated results of public opinion as
gathered from the large number of
question lists sent out last spring.
The matters considered of greatest
importance according to expressed
opinion were, in order: Hired expert
to act as secretary; the budget sys-
tenn; good roads; pontoon bridge;
larger hospital; irrigation; better
railroad facilities; immigration; city
market and rest room for city visi-
tors.
Work Accomplished
Some of these had been accomplish
ed-not in all instances by the efforts
# the club but always With its aid and
cooperation. Much other valuable
work had been done or assisted in
visiting delegations and conventions
entertained; Company E Fund; Will
liston Day, celebrating civic achieve
ments. :,
Mr.. jackson mentioned as secured
but not yet actually done suitable
stock yards; shorter road, under q.
N. tracks to the pontoon bridge; 1000
or 5000 feet of new revetment work
on the river front.
Things needed and contemplated, as
mentioned by the speaker are: Night
schools; parks; more members for the
club; junior commercial club; month
ly public meetings with an outside
speaker. :,
Mr.. jackson said the work of the
club fell into five divisions: Good
roads; civic improvements; industrial
extension; cooperation in the COM
munity; publicity. The speaker re-
ferred to the coming election Of direc-
tors and counseled careful considera-
tion.
Present Board
The present board consists OF ].
W. jackson, ]. A. Cunningham. w. Il.
'Westergaard, L. C. Wingate, A. +.
Burk, G. Gorge FAIRIES, G. B. Metzger,
DR.. MacManus, NJ. J. Borden, S. NJ.
Hyde, Chas. A. Mansfield.
The terms of the six last named
expire with the annual election. Chas.
a. Mansfield resigned several weeks
age.
r. l.. v oliver of the city commits.
sion was to have talked on Good
roads but was compelled to be absent
from the city.
" S. Davidson of the commission
made q brief talk that was full of
meat and we'll received. He said that
one of the purposes of the commits
sion was to do we'll the things it was
able to do. One thing that had come
to his attention as under his depart
ment was the care of the poor and the
need for better facilities for this
work. Two things the commission
hoped to accomplish during the next
wear were the improvement and ex-
tension of the boulevard system and
paving of Main street.
President Craven Of the commls-
sion spoke briefly. He congratulated
the Commercial club on the work ac-
during the past year. he
believed it was the biggest years
work yet done. He believed in the
fullest cooperation with and support
of the club. The speaker was pleased
with the idea Of holding the meeting
if the new school auditorium; ne hao
had no idea that such splendid room
had been provided for the schools.
Building and Loan
Geo. F. Carpentry, Secretary of the
local Building and Loan Association
made a most interesting talk fully
explaining the plan and purposes Ct
The association. He said it needgd
more stockholders and more capital
to lend to homebuilders. Applica-
tions were received every week that
could not be accepted for lack OF
capital. His created much interest
in the building and loan enterprise.
The Project
w. S. Arthur, superintendent of
the Williston irrigation project, gave
an excellent explanation Of the status
Of project affairs. He said that the
installation of the White Way had
made for much more satisfactory con-
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