The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-11-21
MAYOR SPEAKS
COMMERCIAL
CL!UBON'| WATER;
CRISIS SlSFACED
Now Is Time to Act or State
Health Board Will Take
, Hand in Problem
PLANNED TO SETTLE THE
QUESTION PERMANENTLY Y
Red Cross Field Secretary Tells
4 of Future Work; Aamodt /
: Outlines Plans
PLANNED TO SETTLE THE
QUESTION PERMANENTLY

= At the Commercial club meeting
Wednesday noon, Mayor Vanderslu1s
outlined the present water situation
in Bemidji and told the business men
that new system was needed and
that the state board of health would
sooner or later demand that one
adequate for the city be installed.
The mayor stated that w. B..
Stephenson Of Fargo, acting superin-
tendent and engineer of that city,
was drawing plans for. a modern
water system and filtering plant,
which will care for the city's needs
until it has over $4,000 population.
The cost of this system, which will
include the laying Of pipes to the
Fifth ward, will approximate about
$4,000. -.... =. - r.
Bond Issue Necessary. 4
It will be necessary to bond the
city for this sum and it is planned
to hold a special election soon.
The speaker said that q. plant could
be installed at a cost of about. $780,
900 and would have to be approved
by the state board of health, but
that within a short time the modern
plant would be required. --l. Ia
That the city needs a proper water
plant is self evident. The recent fires
in Nymore, which wiped out the main
business district, would not have
been so disastrous. had water been
available. This portion of the city
has no water and should be pro-
vided as soon as possible. 1t is en-
titled to fire protection and modern
conveniences and when the special
election is held, the voters should
carefully consider these problems. =
R. .C.'s Future Work.
e. L. Heermance, field secretary OF
the Red Cross home service, was in
the city attending the annual meet
ing, of the Beltrami county Red Cross,
and spoke at the meeting. Mr.. Heer-
nance stated that the closing Of the
war would change somewhat the
character of Red Cross work. but
that the opportunities for relief
work abroad were larger than ever
before In this country, he said, the
work of civilian relief, or home serv-
ice, for soldiers families, must con-
tinue as long as we have soldiers in
the service. Beltrami county has
sent out over 1900 men. An un-
usual portion of these, especially in
the naval and engineering units, were
married men. The work of the Red
Cross is to give any assistance to
these families which may be needed,
especially in business matters. The
wife may need advice on business
questions which the husband used to
attend to. A great many families
have had difficulty in securing regu-
larly the allotment and allowance
due them from the government. In
case of death, there are claims for
compensation and insurance to be at
tended to. All such matters should
be brought to the Red Cross. It is
expected that an information bureau
will be opened for this purpose in the
near future, probably at the Com
mercial club.
Another Problem.
Mr.. Heermance also spoke Of the
problem Of getting the returned SOL
diers back into l., normal life. He
asked the cooperation. of business
men, and especially employers Of la
Dor. The men do not want hero wor-
ship. They should not be offered
easy berths. The months of army
life will make it hard for them to fit
at once into their old occupations,
but with sympathy and consideration
on the part of employers, 1t can be
done. In regard to disabled men,
of whom there will probably be quite
a number from this county, the gov
ernment has planned a wonderful
program of physical rebuilding.
Vocational Training.
This will be followed, IL the men
will accept it, by a course Of voca-
tional training, to fit them for new
occupations. This will be at govern
ment expense, the soldiers pay and
family allowance to continue. The
force of public opinion must be en-,
listed to persuade the men, instead
of at once returning to their homes
to take advantage of this offer BY
the government. The hearty Co
operation of business managers will
be necessary, especially for any who
may be sent here to complete their
training. The aim is to make dis
abled men, not objects Of charity, hut
self-supporting. self-respecting mem
bers OF the community. Many mer