The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-02-08

Tuesday evening. Some of them froze
their faces in the afternoon blizzard.
Much talk was circulated as to a cele-
bration when the lights were turned
on, but owing to the fact the blizzard
was raging it was decided to have il
Wednesday night. Wednesday also was
a stormy day, nevertheless the feed
was prepared and a big chicken supper
was served TO about fifty people includ-
ing the boys who had built the line. AT
ter the supper all retired to the hall IN
which the lights were turned on, enjoy
ing the remainder of the evening in
dancing and playing of games.
Saturday night about nine O'Clock
the train pulled in from the south, it
being the first since Tuesday.
Chas. Lynch drove to Brookings Fri.
day evening with Father Dooley, and
returned Saturday morning.
Mrs. Jake Bulger came down on the
Monday train and walked to Brookings
where he is attending college.
Recalling very distinctly the leading
men having brought about opposition
by advancing the idea Of electric lights
for the city of Bushnell, remarks were
overheard that these men had gone
mad and that their dreams would
never be realized. The first meeting
was held less than nine months ago in
the depot in which only a very few
were present. In this meeting a com
mittee of three were appointed to take
the proposition up with Aurora the fol-
lowing Saturday relative to getting
lights for the two towns. This idea
took Aurora with complete surprise.
Only a few of her men We're present.
The outlook was gloomy, the PROPOSE
ton being ridiculed by a large majority
of the people of both towns. The Ques-
ton was to determine what could be
done and from which point-Brookings
or Flandreau-lights could be secured.
A delegation was elected to take the
matter up with the city of Brookings
first as Brookings was the nearer and
probably would be interested IN build
ing the line. These men met in Brook
ings and consulted the electric men.
They stated that it was an impossible
undertaking owing 10 the fact if they
should build a line without the corpora
ton, it would ~necessitate a tremendous
extra tax, therefore no satisfaction
was gained and all hopes seemed 10
vanish. Our men feeling there was
hope took the proposition up with the
Dakota Light and Power Co, of Elan
dreau ultimately getting results. Brook
ings city might as we'll have lighted
every city in the county and the roads
leading to these towns with lines
radiating out Of Brookings. She has
let the opportunities pass TO get into
the hands of outside capitalists and get
the profits. Within a years time nine
tenths Of all the residences of Bushnell
will be lighted by electricity; motors
will be installed where gas engines are
now in use, because Of the fact cleo
tricity is more economical. It can be
made TO serve the housewife untold
number of purposes. Ask yourself the
question What can't | do with cleo
tricity with nominal cost" Who said
that Bushnell is not mastering the
problems that confronts every small
town? We deplore the patent medi-
cine which is guaranteed TO cur all
the ills under the sun, and yet many
towns try TO dope all existing condi-
tons whatsoever they may be with the
same prescription expecting equal re-
suits, with the towns which advance
ideas and solve their problems. The
school-the first great move that the
people made toward civic and educa-
tional improvement, is one Of the best
in the state-the electric lights being
the second. What shall the third be?
Bushnell is growing by leaps and
bounds, because she has a class of
people who are boosters. We are
greatly indebted 70 our leading men
for their faculty Of doing things.
DIM ~ GALE