The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-29
PIONEERS LAID
FOUNDATION OF.
N.D.'SPR0GRESS
Task Now Is to Build on Su-
perstructure, Says DR..
John Lee Coulter
CHI A n GEES CO NJ | n q

Hunter, n. OAK, Dec. 29.-That the
early pioneers Of North Dakota laid
the foundation for Il prosperous civil
lization by dotting the landscape
with homes, court houses, schools,
bridges, banks, stores, mills, eicva-
tors and the like, and that the task
confronting the pioneers of today
and tomorrow is to build super
structure on this foundation, were
the points emphasized last night by
DR.. John Lee Coulter, president of
the North Dakota Agricultural col
lego. in an address delivered before
assembled farmes and townspcople Of
Hunter, North Dakota at the dcdica-
tloa of the local cons olidatcd school
building. The address in part fol-
lows
"Pioncers of the last four years
were engaged in breaking the native
sod, back-sctting it and producing
from the original natural richness,
enough to lay the foundations tor a
wonderful and prosperous civillza-
ton. They have laid as fine Il foun-
dation as any body of pioneers in
any new country at any time.
anyone who suggests that they
have not, has very evidently not cX-
amincd carefully what has been
accomplished. They built for them
selves and future generations a COM
plete network of roads through out
the state and this has meant that IL
terally thousands of miles Of bitches
had to be dug and bridges built.
Built BY Pioneers
more than 10000 homes consisting
of houses, barns, granarles and mis-
cclaneous buildings were. built by
these original pioneers OF the state.
In addition to the original cabins
which were constructed at FIRST,
these pioneers have built thousands
Of schools. they have provided teach
crs and preachers, so that today
North Dakota citizens are educated,
libertyloving, God-fearing.
''They have contributed the neccs-
- sary money for the railroads of the
state, stores, bank buildings, mills,
elevators and homes of several hun
dred thousand people who live IN
the cities, towns and villages and
operate these banks, stores, elevators,
mills, etc. They have contributed
their share to the up-building Of the
nation.
much more might be said con
corning the magnificent foundation
laid by these pioneers of the first
fifty years from 1870 to 1920. Every
where in the state dotting the land
scape are many monuments to then
vision. Among them might be listet
the court houses and other public
structures.
But let us turn for a moment tt
the task confronting the pioneers o.
today and tomorrow. Have they The
vision, the foresight, imagination, in
Gustry, and perseverance to do a:
the pioneers of yesterday? vii
they build worthy superstruoturt
on the foundation? We have had ;
glorious, in fact, IA magnificent past
yesterday was beautiful da!
and then came the night and it wa:
dark and gloomy. Some scientist
philosopher or poet has said the da!
is darkest in that period which i'm
medately prccedes the dawn. Having
lived in the Northwest for man!
years and my own home having beer
on Il Red River Valley farm, l have
personally found the truth Of thi:
statement, because it is q common
custom for the farmer to rise in thu
morning just at or before the dawl
of day, just as the stars have dis
appeared and before the sun an
nounces the tomorrow. This is tn
darkest hour of all
What of Future
I'VE pass then from the pioneer
of yesterday to those of this d2,
and those who will be with US to
morrow The next few years will
see these new pioneers erecting OIL
the foundations laid by their faith
crs, a superstructurc as grand ant
as glorious as has been built in an
state or, indeed, in any country an
at any time.
1.-The bitches will be deepened
roads will be improved and bridge
made of better material, consolidate
schools will rapidly replace the olde
type. Cons oidation of churches viii
find place, comforts and conven
fences will be added to the home:
dairy barns, poultry houses. no
houses, buildings for the storage Q
feed and fodder will be added TO tn
farmstead, shelter belts with grove
Of trees and shrubbery will chang
the landscape
mot only have the pioneers Of tt
day and tomorrow to brinA abou
this change, but they must carry TO,
ward the work of government, in
prove the marketing system and
other ways build up this newer an
even firmer stage which will be ty
pical Of the new era into which W
are just entering.
''Let it then be said that the pie
neers, Of today and tomorrow hay
an equal opportunity with those {
yesterday, if they have even sma
part of the vision Of the ability 4
their fathers. This new group wi
not falter! They will not fear tn
darkness of night, but will realiz
that just now they are at the daw
the dawn which promises the ri
ing of the bright sun to cheer Q
the new generation of pioneers"
rAcUIED ACnIIT'rEn