Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-28

Watford City is located in the
Heart Of the Island Empire" and the
Island Empire is situated In McKen-
zie county in the heart Of the best
agricultural section Of the west. This
little city Is but three years old and
has a population of over 500. The
growth has been rapid but substantial.
The building operations for 1916 in
cluded twenty-five residences and
several store buildings and all indica7
tons point to more extensive opera
tons this year.
Watford City is the market center
Tor a farming section that covers a
radius Of over thirty miles. Some
idea OF the volume Of business trans
acted IS shown by the receipts of grain
that totaled 460, 900 bushels for the
1916 crop which was a poo one, and
by the deposits in the banks that
showed on March 5 s~318,9O0.15.
The city has a modern school build
1ng erected at a cost of $4,000. which
includes a high school. manual train
ing and, domestic science. A gym
nasium will be added to it's equipment
in the near future.
Many rural telephones tapping the
big farming districts tributary to the
city are In h course of construction.
The city owns In electric light plant
that shows a substantial profit. The
city is we'll lighted and practically all
of the residences are lighted by cleo
tricity.
The city council has ordered plans
and specifications for a waterworks
n sewerage system drawn.
One Of the big things accomplished
last year by. the Watford City Com.
mercial club was the building Of a
ferry across the Little Missouri river
The work was lone by members of the
club. The club was also Instruments
in promoting rural telephones and
many public improvements. Plans OF
the club this year include road I'm
protements, the building of sidewalks
parks, planting Of trees and shrub
berry, and better rural mail service.
The city has three large genera,
stores that did a gross business, ir
1916. Of close to $150,000; two banks
with deposits a~ggregating q half mil.
lion dollars; six implement dealer;
all Of whom are doing n thriving bust
ness; three elevators hat handled
nearly a half million bushels of grain;
three large lumbe- yards; three hard
ware' stores; three hotels and res.
%taurants: two garages and fve auto
dealers; n drug store; one exclusiv;
clothing store; jewelry store. black.
smith shop, harness and shoe repair
shop, tailor, exclusive clothing store
two barber shops, feed store, two liv.
cry barns. undertaking parlor, bak.
cry, two billiard halls, ore >bowline
alley, confectionery store, theater an6
moving picture show. two dairys: two
physicians, one dentist. n lawyo or
enc veterins rian.
Watford City has a we'll organized
band of rs pieces and a orchestra OF
five pieces.
Thu Watford C~omrnerr1al n1uh
The Watford City Commercial clut
is a progressive organization Of Wat.
ford City citizens. This organization
is composed Of the live business mer
of the city and the advancement OF
the town and farming district ada.
cent Is being fostered by intelligen,
and diligent community building
Watford is a city of progress. The
J men of the place realize that 1t takei
initiative and cooperation to upbuild
a community and that they are meet.
ing with splendid success in thei,
work Is evidenced by the advancement,
Of Watford City and district. The
5 officers of the Commercial club are;
, Geo. D. johnson, president; j. r
Sm2lley, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Execu.
tive COMMITTEES: Z. G. vilno, Geo. n
Rogen. G. e. Peterson, G. q. Anne,
and o. L. Casadys ~
=. Mckenzie County Bank.
The Mckenzie County bank was or.
5 ganized in 1907 and is the second old.
> est bank in the county. The capita
is $4,000 and surplus 5000. A gen
t eral banking business is conducted