The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1917-03-30
HsIIock.

!, It was our privilege last week to spend
. couple Of days at Hallock on matters
|pf business, whore We met many Of the
old timers who were there when that
place was border town in it's primitive
state. In the early SOS Hallock WIS the
last town on the eastern border Of civil
zation, and there was but little settle.
ment to the north as far as the Canadian
boundary line with the exception Of st.
Vincent and Pembina to the northwest.
It is several years since we we're in Hal.
lock except going through on the train
which gives one but littls idea Of the
changes made.
i A marked contrast to many of the Red
River Valley towns is that large mum.
ber of the older settlers who blazed the
path to civilization in that county still
live there and are in business. This h
equally true of the farming district. We
attribute this largely to the fact that
the population is made up principally of
Swedes and Norwegians who came there
from their native countries and there
found the climate as we'll as opportuni
ties to better their condition in finan.
cial way what they were looking for.
With the natural advantages Hallock
has, by being centrally located. the
county seat and a thrifty class of people
living in the neighborhood it has grown
to quite proportion and has assumed
metropolitan air, Several of the older
landmarks have been superseded by
modern brick buildings, a complete
water system and electric lighting plant
owned and operated by the corporation,
"a white way" Illuminating the streets
strikes the visitor that the people must
be progressive. &
Among the number of old timers who
are still in business we found A. P. Il.
Suffel, Nels Olander, William Inglis, D.
IA. Robertson and Lindegard Brothers,
all of whom have invested their money
to improve Hallock. The new blood
which has come, in later years, have
taken up the progressive spirit of the
founders and we we're told that there is
no discord IN promoting any enterprise
that will help the city. The general
stores are large and carry heavy stocks
|'oi upto date goods. One of the mer.
chants said that the increase in his bus-
ness was largely due to the automobile
traffic which has made it possible for
people to travel great distances in the
summer to do their trading, taking adj
vantage Of the larger stocks and better
prices, owing to keener com petition than
in their local towns. Three banks at
tend to the financial part.
Kittson county is making extensive
Improvements in their roads. A civil
engineer paid by the county has super.
vision Of all the roads and directs all
road work. When we we're there the
commissioners were in session and let
twenty eight contracts for dragging the
roads for the coming season in different
parts of the county. We were told that
the competition for this work is keen.
The Jefferson Highway which was laid
out last year, which extends from the
Gulf of Mexico and intersects with the
Meridian Road at Emerson, is looked
upon as great benefit to the city of
Hallock. The different townships
through which the road traverse in the
county, donated 81 500 cash to the or
ganization and the local organizations
are making special efforts to bring the
road up to the standard of requirements.
Hallock claims population of 1900
people.