Little Falls herald., 1922-11-10
BIG CROWD HERE
FOR CELEBRATION
COMPLETION OF PAVING CELE-
BRATED WITH PARADE, TALKS
AND ENTERTAINMENT


assembled here to celebrate the com
pletion of the longest stretch of pave'
highway in Minnesota, extending from
Faribault to Little Falls, distance O
It's miles. The weather throughou
the day was chilly but in spite of thi
the program was carried out as origi
nally planned from start to finish. Wis
itors remarked that the celebration
was an immense success and that TIL
reception accorded them was regal.
The celebration started off shortl,
after IL o'elock with a parade tha
surpassed anything this city has see1
since Soldiers Homecoming Day an,
in point Of size it had that one beat
being fully two miles long. Leadin.
the parade were Warren Gibson ant
Richard L. Meyers, marshals of tn.
day, followed by the Little Falls band
Then came ears carrying the city off
clals, members Of the county board
newspaper representatives and others
The industrial floats, although not nu
merous, We're very good. First came
the Royal Neighbors float, followed
by two from E. A. Berg & Company
knights of Columbus, o. D. Bush, Lit
tie Falls Milling Company, the Little
Falls clown band and an Elks float.
The local schools made the best
showing in the parade. First came pu
pills of the two parochial schools, then
the normal department students, sen
1ors, Juniors, sophomores and fresh
men; Junior high; Central; Columbia
Hawthorne and Lincoln schools. The
seniors had bad roads funeral, with
coffin, pail bearers, flowers, mourners
etc. The juniors had Minnesota float
and poor old 'Spark Plug.' The
freshmen carried a large American
flag and characters depicting "The
Evolution of Roads, with Indian
maids, girls Of the eighties, cowboys,
trappers, voodsmen, darkies, girl
scouts. The Columbia had float re-
presenting "All Nations.' The Haw-
thorne depicted the history and de-
velorment of Morrison county with
Indians, boys Of the Civil war; prairie
schooner, settlers, tourist truck, etc.
The Central pupils were garbed to
represented sanitation and health and
carried appropriate symbols and ban
ncrs. The Lincoln depicted the gov
ernment, labor, industry, agriculture,
boy scouts. Indians, etc. Cars from
St. Paul, Minneapolis and St. Cloud
completed the parade.
Immediately after the parade A. H.
Vernon. city attorney, gave the. ad-
dress Of welcome from the speakers
stand at the bank square. He welcom-
ed the visitors to Little Falls and
spoke briefly on the significance Of the
occasion in relation to higway devel-
opment. He then spoke of the splendid
cooperation that had resulted in the
continuation Of the paving into Morri-
son county to Little Falls and miles
beyond. He praised the county board
for taking advantage of the opportu-
nifty given it to secure this paving;
the city council here for it's co-opcra-
Zations Ancnt this celebration he
praised the local newspapers, as well
as those in the twin cities and through
out the state, for the splendid publici-
ty given it. He concluded his address
!y again welcoming the visitors to
Little Falls and wishing them enjoy
ment while here.
At > clock in the afternoon the
speaking program began at the stand
Ill the bank square, with j. K. Martin
presiding and introducing the speak
erS.
Chas. E. Easaly was the first speak
er and said he was glad to be among
his old friends to celebrate such an
auspicious event. Mr.. Babcock and
his able assistants were builders Of
civilization. Good roads were evil
dences of progress. He recalled a let
ter from a young American soldier in
France, who was thrilled to think he
marched upon the highways which had
echoed to the tread Of the victorious
legions Of imperial Rome. The Roman
soldier was dust, but the roads he
built have been the pathways Of civil
hzation for 1000 years. We do not
build roads for military purposes, nor
to consolidate conquests, but extend
commerce, to enhance trade, to make
communication easier and to promote
unity and neighborliness. To know
your neighbor is to understand him.
Folks are pretty much the same, and
their problems are common problems
The general welfare is promoted by
spoke Of the development Of the state
within the memory of men still living,
and paid tribute to the men who had
made the highway possible. He said
the parade and especially the school
children's participation, was great
credit to Supt. Bergquist and those
who organized to it. The highway was
something more than material thing
Stretching from Canada to the Gulf
linking cities and towns and COM
munities together, never ending be-
cause it's purpose never ends. A SYM
bol of that broader highway of en-
deavor upon which we are all marching
together toward a common destiny,
citizens of great state which we love,
a state among the proudest of the
galaxy and we should be worthy Of our
heritage. Those who came would
leave at least half their hearts be-
hind, which would make Little Falls
rich indeed, for the heart of q friend
is treasure indeed.
Mayor Nelson of st. Paul on be-
half of his city congratulated Morrison
county and Little Falls on this latest
achievement, extending the paved
highway. He pointed out the great
value of such a highway and Of its
great advantage to the greatest indus
try, agriculture, by giving the farmer
and the farmers wife opportunities
such as have never been enjoyed be-
fore. He remarked that the advance
Of civilization has always si been
brought about through bettering Of