The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1920-02-05
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Bemidji Will Help; Twenty
Years Time to Pay for
! This Improvement
Several matters of Importance were
brought up and discussed at the
regular weekly noon-day luncheon Of
the Bemidji Civic and Commerce as
:sociation on Wednesday.
n. N. Kohl of Cass Lake, newly
elected secretary of the Northern
Minnesota Development association
and president of the Cass Lake Com
mercial club, stated the plans for the
meeting of the association to be held
the coming summer in Bemidji. Men
of national prominence will be Sc
cured to address the meetings on
many important subjects, including
the Babcock plan for trunk high
way system throughout the state. He
strongly urged hearty cooperation be-
tween the various commercial organi-
cations and expressed desire for a
better mutual feeling between the
'Cass Lake and the Bemidji assOcia-
tiens. A closer feeling has BEEN
developing during the past few years
but even closer unison is needed to
bring about the objects for which
both clubs are striving, that of build
ing up northern Minnesota, as we'll
as the adjacent community: ::
Near East Drive. ..~.,
J. c. McGhee, county superintend-
ent of schools, and chairman for Bel
= trami county for the Near East Re-
lief, gave very interesting talk on
the conditions in the near east =es-
pecialiy among the e1Armenians., Local
chairmen were appointed in all cases
except Bemidji where no chairman
was selected. Blackduck and Bemidji
were the only towns which did not
turn in report last year on the
ing aid for the Armenians. Several
smaller towns gave far over The quota
set and made fine showing toward
helping the starving population of
the near east. A. T. Carlson has ap-
pointed committee to make drive
In Bemidji today in an effort to do
- a double duty to make up for what it
failed to do last year.
Bond Issue Explained.
City Attorney Hallan Huffman
made full explanation of the paving
project for the coming year and
which will be voted on at the elec-
ton on February II. The bond issue
is made up Of approximately $685.
900 to finance the construction of 81
miles of paving to connect the state
highways through the city. OF this
amount, $150,OO0 will be levied
against the property of those receiv-
ing the benefit of the construction
and the levy will extend over a period
Of about 20 years. The remaining
$4,000 to be paid by the city will be
levied in the form of general tax
and will provide for that portion of
paving which benefits public proper
ty. Over the route, which has been
designated for the paving project,
the state, under the passage of
Amendment No. /, pays for and
maintains strip 18 feet wide in con-
-nection with the state trunk high
way system. The amount invested by
the city is expected to be refunded
If the amendment passes at the elec-
tion this fall and will apply only to
the paving over the proposed route
and not to that which is already been
laid.
The association decided to get be-
hind this project and instigate cam
paign of publicity to teach the voter
Just what the support of the bond
issue will mean to the city provided
that it is voted upon favorably at
the election on February II.
In addition to these important
matters, the report of the committee
on fire insurance was heard and &C
cepted; motion was carried that
the association give the movement
hearty support. Suggestion for ac-
tion to be taken by the association
will be brought up before the City
Council at the next regular meeting.
Would Change Schedule.
The proposition of securing a
change in the schedule of the train
service over the Minnesota & Inter-
national, and the Northern Pacific
roads was taken up for discussion
and the matter was referred to the
traffic committee for further investi-
CATION. At present the lay-over in
Brainerd causes the loss of the fore
moons business to anyone going
down to the Twin Cities on the train
that leaves herr, at 1920 p. M, and
for some time efforts have been made
to change the schedule in some suit
=abje manner to so arrange It that the