Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-25
THE RECORD OF SIX MONTHS.

49,
The story Of the record made by tie Nestos
ADMINISTRATION in the FIRST six months Of it's incuin-
|bsenfy makes very satisfaetory reading for citizens
who ietl q keen interest in the progress and prosper
itv of the state. ThesHeraid's correspondent &C Bis
ILt1iafck has undertaken a summary Of the chief nc
eoiiplishn:cnts of these months, and that summary
lis now made public.
In connection with the sale Of state securities
by the prcsent administrator Oh. materially better
terms than its predecessor had been at to secure,
and in some cases after the. former administration
had been unable ia, make sales at any price. an in
|teresting comparison is made. The, radical press
has been forced to Slrnit that sales Of state securities
have been made, and at very satisfactory prices. But
ground that the local improvement was due wholly
to improved business conditions throughout the
country. In the present summary a. comparison is
made between state paper and United States gov
eminent bonds. It is shown that the price at which
North Dakota hail warrants were salable increased
within a given period four times as much as did the
price OF federal bonds within the same period. More
over, North Dakota bonds. which had gone begging
at a discount. arc now in demand at a premium.
The Nestos administration in addition to clear
ing UP a collection of debris left in the farm loan
department of the Bank Of North Dakota by its
former managers. had been making farm loans at
a rate far surprising anything that was done during
the control of the departmentby it's former heads.
The pledges made before the late election that
the mill and elevator at Grand Forks would be com
pleted at the earliest possible moment arc being full
tllled. AS many men are now at work on the plant
as can be used to advantage, and this condition will
be maintained until the last spike is driven and the
last bucket of mortar poured, and unless accidents
intervene the plant will be in actual service1this fail.
These are some Of the more conspicuous
achievements of the present administration within
the short period Of six months. Not less important
u the work that has been done in other departments,
crete form: In the case Of the Home Building as
ISOLATION, for instance, this administration inherited
a legacy of confusion and litigation seldom, para1.-
leled. Material purchased at peak prices had been
left unguarded and exposedlto the Clements. This
had to be Sorted and salvaged in whatever way was
available. Houses had been built without contracts
with the prospective owners. and the material and
labor that entered into this construction had been
handled IN such a manner that there was no possible.
means OF ascertaining just where it went. It was
necessary to adopt whatever means were offered for
the cleaning up-o this confusion, and appeal had to
be made to the courts to ascertain lust what the
rights of the state and its customers are.
The bureaus uAder the direction of the former
commission were found cluttered up with
useless employees and equally useless and almost as
expensive offise furniture. The staff of employees
was reduced needless equipment was disposed of
efficient people have been substituted in many cases
for chair-war,ners The whole effort to the admin
istration has been directed to the management Of
the states business on the basis Of efficiency and
economy, and the results have been exceedingly
gratifying.
In still another department Governor Nestos
has scored a personal triumph which is Of immense
advantage to. the state. He has been invited to
speak at various important gatherings in other
states, aid at those gatherings his plain, business
like statement of the principles for which he and his
associates stood, and the things they were trying to
accomplish, with the impression Of sincerity and
force which he gave wherever he appeared, has done
wonders for the re-establishment of the state of
North Dakota in the respect and confidence of men
whose respect and confidence are Of the greatest
value to our people.