The Bismarck tribune., 1919-04-16

"Onward, march," was the tenor Of
President A. w. Lucas annual ad-
dress to the city commission which
Tuesday evening reorganized for the
new year. The mayor called for re-
sumption of the municipal improve
ment program halted by the war. He
said:
Gentlemen o; the City Commission:
with the war at an end. victory
won, and peace assured, we find our
selves facing new problems. We have
as municipality as well as national
ly problems of reconstruction which
must be met During the war, quite
properly, all other interests were made
suoservient to military interests. Now
that the war has been brought to a
successful conclusion. we must turn
again to the pursuits of peace, and we
must go back over a period OF two
years and take up our program OF mu-
niCipal improvement where we drop
ped lit. During the last two years it
has been the policy the country over
to discourage rather than encourage
municipal Development From this
moment we must reverse our attitude
toward municipal improvement 1t
becomes our duty to do everything
within our power to encourage sane
and reasonable development OF our
city along municipal lines.
"A year ago when property-holders
asked us for an extension of the paw
ing district we begged them to with
draw their applications until a more
opportune time. That time Is at
hand, sand If the sproperty-owners wish
more paving 1T is our du-y to see that
it is provided. we are but directors
in municipal corporation in which
the prOperty.OWners and taxpayers are
the stockholders LAS directors, we
must be responsive to the will of the
shareholders. The corporation Of Bis
marck owns atWonderful property in
the city of Bismarck. As we develop
it and make it a better place in which
to- live and to own property and to
rear children we will increase our div
idends. 1at ,3' sL4 %s
"On the aesthetic side there is muca
to be desired Our parking strips in
the new paving districts should be
sodded or sown to grass and trees
planted. 1t is too late to- organize
general improvement districts. We
must rely upon the public-spiritedneSs,
the personal pride and the initiative
Of individual property-owners. Bis
marck should look forward to the day
when it must have more public parks,
more Fairgrounds. The time has
come when we must give considera-
ton to the need of public swimming
pool, something that will at compar-
atively slight cost provide the ris-
ing generations with privileges OF
which they are unfortunately depriv-
ed. would recommend to the park
commission that it Immediately inves-
tigate the cost of establishing swim
ming pool and that it report upon the
for immediate, development. eyf
"The city should throw it's support
in every way possible to the campaign
which has been .inaugurated for
bridge across the Missouri. Such a
bridge would be of mutual benefit to
Mandan and Bismarck and would do
more toward the advancement of the
Twin Cities of the Missouri than any
other project that could be devised.
Il believe that we should hold our
selves ready to cooperate with and
promote any economic enterprise
which the farmers of our state and
community favor, so long as a feasible
plan which offers reasonable degree
of success is proposed. am con-
,vinced that the city should reach out
more toward its farming population,
making them feel that the city Is al
ways open to them, not alone as a
shopping point, but as a recreational
and cultural center. We should en-
courage our country cousins to visit US
oftener, and when they are here we
should do. more for their entertain
ment, and we should not place a price
on our hospitality do not know
what can best be DONE but resump-
tion of the market days which were
satisfactorily conducted several days,
or series Of community pfcnics. In
which city folk and farmers can join
might be considered.
Bismarck has in the municipal aud
itorium an institution in which it takes
just pride. Unfortunately we have not
during the last year had as much use
of it for recreational purposes as could
be desired. i feel, and believe |
echo general sentiment. that the av-
erage attraction which is brought to
the Auditorium is too extensive to
best serve the needs of all our peo-
pie. Everyone Graves entertainment.
but we have many who cannot afford
to pay the price. am convinced That
our auditomium could and should be
open at least three nights in every
week, with high-grade motion picture
plays or stock company productions
which could be offered to the people
at nominal price and which would,
at the same time, serve. to increase
the earnings of the auditorium.
am proud to say that during no wear
since its completion has the auditor
ium been made available without cost
for 90 many gatherings of patriotic
nature, and It has certainly justified
its existence from this one fact alone.
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