The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-06-28
MANY GATHER
AT OLD FORT TO
HEAR PROGRAM
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HEAN i NNJ\InAVl
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country. He declared he was no
public speaker, but that he thought
!, great deal Of North Dakota and
came because he wanted to.
He outlined the work of the, N. P,
in bringing settlers into the state
and developing it.
Henry Halverson followed Mr.
Hannaford with tenor solo, "North
Dakota" the words and music Tor
which were written by two profess
sors at jamestown College.
Reviews Progress
DR.. John Lee Coulter's address fol-
lowed.
mo event in the history Of our
state is more important than this
meeting today" said DR.. Coulter.
1.-The Custer massacre of so years
ago was the beginning Of the end
OF exclusive wild life and uncivilizel
control OF the land Of the DakOtas.
1t was the certain final event Of the
old regime which usnered in q hai1-
century Of pioneering which has
brought US to this day. 1t is we'll that
we should briefly look back over the
Indian period in order to get q true
background for our picture; it is
also we'll that we should meet to
commemorate the semi-centennial Of
the great massacre; but it is equally
important that we should briefly re-
view the work accomplished in this
period Of so years of pioneering and
transition from frontier to y stable
nrOSnp rOuS civilizations
"Prior to 1870 the land of the
Dakotas was vast stretch of un-
settled territory inhabited by the
buffalo, deer and antelope. the wild
chickens. ducks and geese, the fur
bearing animals and the Indians. Wild
fruits and grasses and Indian corn
provided food and feed for all alike.
the Indians. wild animals and birds.
Only the explorer. the missionary and
the fur trader and trapper had enter
ed this vast domain to study its posi-
bilities. to bring civilization to the
inhabitants and to exploit its re-
sources. But the settlers were at
the Threshold. From the East they
had advanced to the Red River Of the
North and by 1870 they were looking
out over the river toward the West,
toward the setting Sun.
A Noteworthy Period
"The period from 1870 to 1876 was
a tremendously noteworthy one.
Boats appeared on the Red River of
the North and others pushed their
way north into the Hudson Bay cOun-
try, while others appeared on the
Great Missouri and its branches.
These were certain evidence that civ
lization was to move in. Ferries
were provided at suitable points along
these streams for those who came
on foot. horseback. driving horses.
mules or oxen, or stages, etc. Bridges
were thrown across streams and stage
lines were extended. Engineers
secuted the territory and laid plans
for roads. bridges, railroads and other
evidence of permanent settlement.
The greatest of these engineers. Mr..
Stevens. is here with US TODAY to re-
view the olden days and see the nj. =
developments and HELM US to span til
years and regale us with rcminis-
cences.
II, OF course. cannot review tins
period from my own memory but have
gotten it on many winter evening
before the fireplace. from some Of
the hardy pioneers of that day. Ny
own father. who only a month ago
celebrated his 80th anniversary, when
a young man just 25 years of age,
in 1871. rode up to the east bank
of the Red River across from what is
now Fargo, the financial, commercial,
industrial, educational and transporta-
ton capital Of the state. There was
no bridge. no city. no railroad. no
settled life,-only the great land Of
the Dakotas stretched out before his
view. With other young pioneers
from the East he saw that here was
the Land Of Opportunity. Here were
resources beyond the dream Of kings
and priests and potentates of old.
Here were possibilities the like Of
which the world had never seen.
Thew secuted the country north and
south and west and selected land to
make their future home. While some
were at military posts, others were
engaged in trapping and trading for
furs; others were laying out cities
and roads and building bridges and
railroads: it so happens that my
father was cutting timbers along the
streams for boat building and erecting
log houses for settlers.
Represents the Change
But these study pioneers were not
to gain full possession OF this mag
nificent land Of opportunity without
struggle,-not only a struggle with
virgin soil and with wild life. hut
with the Indians. And the Custer
massacre of 187G-iust so years ago
was the elimination OF many minor
experiences, and is the event which
we meet here today to commemorate.
because it represents the ushering out
Of the old and in of the new. 1t rep
resents the beginning Of that era
Of development which has in so years
converted this land of ours into one
of tho beauty spots and most pros
porous areas Of all the Nation.
prior to l776. the pioneering was
all along our Eastern seaboard: it
was the colonial period. From l776
to 1876 was q period of 100 years
during which settlement had moved
westward 1000 miles,-indeed had
reached our very doors. Ours is tn"
period fraom 1876 to 1926--a period
of only so years. And this period Of
so years has indeed been one Of
pioneering-of building roads and
railroads and bridges and cities
towns and villages. and homes and
scnOOlS ana cnurcneS and inStltu.
tions of government May we not.
then. while we are thinking of the
old Indian days, Of the introduction
Of civilization and its battles for
supremacy. and Of the so years Of
pioneering-may we not, as we com
memOrate the outstanding event
which marks the transition from the
wild life to the settled life Of civil
lied man. turn our eyes in closing to
the period of 80 years just ahead Of
US!
Sees Greater North Dakota
II think ! see clearly q new and
Greater North Dakota; / see q trans.
ition from the breaking of the sod,
from the extensive. exploitive type
Of agriculture with the bonanza wheat
farms and great ranches of sheep
and cattle; ! see another hundred