Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-21
lINOTPACEANT
SET FOR TODAY.
Big Celebration to Celebrate
Fortieth Anniversary
of City.

Minot, n. D., July 21.-Minot
to-day turned its pages back forty
years and read again the story of the
pioneers -who trudged across the
plains of North Dakota, from Bis
marck and from the Red River valley
to the Mouse river to found a COM
immunity which today is second to none
in the state of North Dakota. Forty
years ago the first white settlers came,
into this section of the state. and their
names are spoken here today with
that reverence that busy n success
full folk always feel for the pioneers.
Some Of those first settlers still are
living in Minot, and they are among
the city's best boosters and most hon
ored citizens. They gave to this city
a spirit of cooperation, Of energy of
activity and of building that has been
its handspring for forty years n that
has carried it through financial panics,
through crop failures, and that has
made it one~of the most successful
cities in the state. 1t is the spirit that
conquered the wild country Of the
prairies, that carried lei through
the hardships of the 'su's. and that Is
making Minot today a city to be reck-
oned with in the business affairs Of
the northwest.
So today Minot paused to pay
tribute to these early settlers. 1t
is the city's fortieth anniversary, and
the city is on a holiday. Under
the auspices Of the Association Of
Commerce, a pageant, depicting the
history n progress of this great
northwest. will be presented in a ma
tural amphitheater in the southwest
ern part of the town. Down in a little
~ 80 l., A@~ $rv~
steep hills on the edge of the city.
they have built a stage. fashioned it
out OF the earth and decorated it with
the trees and the green that nature
has been so lavish with this year.
Upon one hill, within our blocks
walk from the post office, thousands
of people from the northwestern
corner Of the commonwealth will sit,
not upon seats or benches, but upon
the soft, green grass that makes that
rapidly rising hill a thing of beauty.
Opposite them is another hill, form
ing a marvellous scenic back door
for the stage,down in the valley.
This pageant, staged under the di-
rection of Melvin B. Johnson, remem-
>bered for his brilliant acting in
Shakespeare the Playmaker," which
was staged at the University of North
Dakota a few years ago.. will visualize
the coming of the first settlers. 1t
will show first the Lewis and Clark
expedition through North Dakota, and
then the arrival in 1882 of the pio-
neers in their o. carts. 1t will show
these pioneers struggling against the
park powers of the prairies and the
forests. 1t will show them conquer
ing fever and famine and death. and.
I'M the end. building their homes and
this sp1endid citv
Another episode will show the es-
adjustment of Minot, a feature Of
which will be the relieving Of the
parade in honor of Minot's first mayor.
James H. Scofeld. Mr.. Scofeld will
appear in person, and with him will
be the present mayor, w. NJ. Smart.
The afternoon program was fea-
tured by a parade Of progress, in
which was seen the Red river cart,
the Ok cart, the pioneers covered wag-
on, the early farm implements, the
first automobiles, and all the modern
machinery now seen on a successful
farm. Indians and cowboys also
were in the parade. and the early set
tiers o living. here were seen in
nondescript vehicles of a day that is
Then there was a large number
Of beautiful floats. representing vari-
q organizations in the city and sew
eral Of the towns in this section of the
state. The Harvey and Glenburn
bands were in the procession and
those towns alsoj had floats! .,