Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-10-22

A@2NasAA AA4 tNH &40NFM t@4&a AAHaNa
cultural, Industrial and educati0n-
nj progress, Great Falls recently
passed the golden anniversary 0f
ats existence - q city. The 68&h
anniversary Of kzae city comes hmt
one year after tha 5Dkh anniversary
of the creation of Cascade county.
The biu creating Cascade county
was passed by the legislature Sept.
3, 1887, and signed Sept. 10 by Gov,
Preston FL. leslie. The county's ex-
istence commenced Dec. 10. First
county commissioners were Charles
Wegnef, j. A. Harris and T.. r.
CIingman, the latter being appoint
ed to replace I. A. wall, who did
not qualify.
This board played an important part
In the creation OF Great Falls as q
city. In March, 1888, the late John
w. Stanton and los others petitioned
the commissioners to call an election
on Incorporating Great Falls as a city.
The commissioners approved and the
election was held April IA. Voters APP
proved the Incorporation almost unani-
mously.
oct. 4, 1888, the county commissioners
declared Great Falls city Of the Sec
ond class.
The site Of Great Falls was first Wis
tied by Paris Gibson, its founder, In
@0cAf o@Aa VIZ t0WAAoAtR NeA1 N1t-AS&AAlAA~AA
In 1884.
No delay characterized Great Falls
acceptance Of birth as q city of the
second class. An election to choose Of
ficials was held Nov. IL, 1888
Paris Gibson, in recognition OF his
services to the little city, was chosen
the first mayor. Influence Of Gibson is
still felt in development Of park prop
critics and other facilities.
OF all men who served the city in
Its first administration but one Is still
alive. G. NJ Dickinson was an alder
man from the fourth ward and Is still |
residents who were in Great Falls so |
years ago include W. p. Wren, who
for many years was city clerk and city |
treasurer.
The first meeting Of the city council I
was Nov. 81, 1888, In the Minot BUILD /
ing Central avenue and Second street, /
which recently had been erected.
There Mayor Paris Gibson called the /
council to order and there In the
early days Of the municipality the gov
ernmental foundation was laid.
There were eight aldermen, two from
each of the four wards. Neither mayor
nor aldermen were paid. And In those
days, Dickinson remarked, there was
no such thing as snake room
that more modern Great Falls institu-
ton where the aldermen closet them
selves prior to the regular meeting,
thresh things out and then go into
open session with understandings that
frequently obviate the need of them
getting up in public and stating their
view.
At the early council meetings the ,
aldermen got right up in open session,
stated their position on pending ques-
tons and had It over with, according
10 Dickinson. The discussions. he said,
were quiet. Problems Of the time were
chiefly those concerning a growing |
young city, where much had to be done
10 meet current situations and IN
anticipation of the future. ]
Dickinson represented the fourth |
ward, his residence then being at First 3
avenue south and Fifth street, where /
he operated Great Falls first butcher z
shop. The incorporated municipality
hen did not include the west side, nor @
we're there any additions. Dickinson 3
s the dean Of living Great Falls pio- r
leers, coming here IN 1888. In the early !
lays of the town he was a member of
he pioneer hook and ladder company, {,
which not only was volunteer fire =
apartment that gave useful service as
UGH but was colorfui aggregation on q
he occasion of big parades, notably +
hen Cascade county was created and a
hen the Manitoba Great Northern) :,
abroad reached there, both IN 1887. i
S a member Of the park board he had
art in the development Of the park Ii
1stem. 9
Declaration Of incorporation Of Great .
ais as a city Of the second class on
ct. 4, 1898, appears ON the minutes r.
the official proceedings Of the Cas- ~
Ide county commissioners, now buried al
,ep in the vaults Of County Clerk M
III. Carr. The county commissioners
that time, however, disposed Of the a.
after very briefly. The minutes Of the ~
unity commissioners. Especial October =
RIM, 1888, first day" read as follows: Il,
Board met at 10 q. m, Oct. 4, 1883. ~
esent, Chairman (Charles) Wegner,
mmiSSiOners Harris, ClingRn and the
.rk.
The minutes Of the general and spe-
] September meetings we're read. ap- ~
owed and signed. -
The board canvaSsed the ballots and ~
;urns of the election for the incor- p
ration of Great Falls. There being q g
ajority Of the votes In favor OF In -
rporation, the board declared the city 20
be incorporated as a city of the -
sond class and ordered notices Of the q
suit OF said election TO be given by
blication and designated Nov. 10,
38, between the hours Of a. m. and tn
D. m for the election Of the first of
Ficers Of said incorporation and or be
red that notice of said election to be be
rem by publication. as