The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-09
PEOPLES FORUM


like SO many vampires flew away
after they had drained the last drop
Of blood from the infant child.
But this was not all that Bismarck
had to endure after the fatal boom
Of 1889, for the very elements seem
to add to its fight for existence,
Long weary years Of drOuth with
successive failures in crop. cessation
Of immigration and settlers because
the railroads conspired together and
transported all the new Corners ia
the much advertised fruit and wheat
lands Of Oregon. Washington, Idaho
and Montana. Even the early set
tiers Of North Dakota sold or aban-
doned their homesteads and went
westward. During the discouraging
years Of the eighties, nineties and
even later it almost seemed as 1t
the Great Deity had hidden his face,
and permanently cut off the water
supply. When we remember those
long, dreary. hopeless years Of stag
nation, il seems almost miraculous
that Bismarck stands today in its
peerless beauty as the queen city of
the northwest prairie country with u
population of 10000 people. From
now on it is my opinion that moth
ing can impede her progress and that
before another generation passes the
population IF Bismarck will be writ
ten in six figures. To attain this
proud position among the great CEN
tiers Of our land, her citizens must
be active and alert to interests. both
Of city and surrounding territory, for
after all Is said and done, the great
49, 40 49, NlunQ ~ =
around its bright and progressive
men and women. While the town is
young and property reasonably cheap,
steps should be taken to purchase
park spaces throughout the city. The
cost at present is comparatively trivi-
al to the cost Of such property 10 or
IL years hence. No city is beauti-
full or hexlthful without ornamental
open spaces. places Of beauty, recrea-
ton and play grounds for it's little
ones. Here and there lands should
be secured in plots Of from four to
ed in trees and ornamental shrub
berry. Give this job TO the women OF
your town and watch results. Then
again the completion Of streets aud
avenues which ut present terminate
III u SOlIu DiOtA SuOutu OC NttCuuCN
! to before property costs become pro-
ward some day destined to become
famous driveway, borde red by the
homes Of the wealthy. which should
be carried through the Harmon Ad-
dition on the west and along the
north line Of the Lounsberry add
ton on the east. Avenue A, which
~ ~ n
Wetherby addition on Twelfth street,
should also be- cut through to and
along the southern border Vt the
Lounsberry addition.
The present nomenclature of the
streets should also be considered.
Nothing can improve the nomencla-
ture Of the streets north and south
which should be numbered First
street east as far as it becomes
necessary and First street west even
IL they extend 10 the Missouri river.
It is my opinion that change should
be made in the nomenclature Of the
streets running east and west. name
~ the Avenues A, B, G., etc. These
letters should be changed to the
names Of those Of historical state Or
local celebrities who have done
something worth while. The names
Of great avenues designated by the
letter A. or G are meaningless and
ommonplace. Change these to those
which not only have a significance
historically or locally hut ring
which sounds, euphonious. would
not disturb Main or Broadway, the
names Of avenues common to all large
cities. Start at Thayer with a name
that begins with "a. and Rosser
with a name that begins with "B" and
thus continue names beginning with
"C", "D", etc. The boulevard should
remain unchanged but continued
with the avenues further north.
Instead Of taxing the people who
are now carrying more thnn they can
stand, bonds for period of 30 years
should be sold to cover the cost Of
parks and street extensions and Bis
marck bonds ut per cent would
bring a premium almost anywhere ~
per cent and the money could
eventually be refunded through u
sinking fund which would cost the
citizens practically nothing for these
great and necessary improvements.
Let these names be suggested by the
men, women, and children of Bis
marck and finally selected by a board
Of men and women appointed for the
purpose.
Bismarck is located on beautiful
rolling prairie gently rising to the
north. east and west. In grading the
streets for the future why disturb
the present grades? Endeavoring to
level these avenues adds nothing to
the beauty or utility Of such streets.
but adds much to the cost to city and
property owners. Could any one
imagine the people Of beautiful San
Francisco cutting down their streets,
some Of which ascend to As degrees
Of sasright angle? In that wonderful
city Of the Pacific many Of the
palaces and mansions in the finest
residential sections are located one
above the other like so many steps.
These steep streets annoy no one out
there in San Francisco but greatly
add to the picturesqueness Of the
city. So please as far as possible let
Bismarck have her ascending streets
where nature has ordained.
Finally and in conclusion let me
suggest that the people Of Bismarck
get together in their activities and
purposes. In unity only Is There
strength. Every one should put his
shoulder to the wheel. should con-
<rih,,hA ~ tho Hho mhnp ~ Nr,n - n~~n