Mayor M.F. Murphy welcomed the first annual convention of Northwest Automobile Dealers to Grand Forks 100 years ago. The group was assembled at the Grand Forks Commercial Club and heard an address by Gov. John Burke. President E.J. Lander of the Commercial Club also extended greetings.
It was all about the automobile 100 years ago, and people were beginning to realize that it was here to stay.
Murphy emphasized the need for better management of roads both for automobiles and hauling grain. The automobile had become a necessity and not a luxury, he said.
The governor acknowledged that many people owned automobiles, but he said he did not. However, he pointed out that in Carrington, N.D., -- a city of 1,500 -- there were 100 automobiles. And he said the automobile had become a permanent fixture that would in time have more practical purposes than pleasure.
He called attention to the practice in the East of using road tax to contract road building.
ADVERTISEMENT
In other news stories referring to automobiles:
** All automobile owners of the city were requested to have their cars out in front of Hotels Dacotah and Frederick at 4 p.m. on June 1, 1910, to take visitors on a tour of Grand Forks. Automobile owners were asked to take part in the slogan, "Grand Forks Makes Good."
** "How metropolitan Grand Forks has grown." That was the sentiment expressed by scores of visitors 100 years ago. The street lights, the parking and general building activity have been noticed by those attending the automobile meeting and music festival.
** "At 4 o'clock, cars from the University these days remind a person of the evening cars in a crowded city," the Herald reported.
"They are loaded to the guards mainly with workmen from several different building projects under way.
"Carpenters, bricklayers, electrical workers are in evidence everywhere and numerous teams are kept busy. ... The Teachers College and Model High School building are now in the hands of plasterers. The lathing has been done."
** Although the automobile was making its way into common usage, trains were the way people got around in 1910. That was evident in the following story in the Herald:
"That James J. Hill is a stickler for service was shown during the recent trip to the Coast. One train crew accompanies the magnate on all of his trips. The conductor, W.J. McMillan, has been in the employ of the road for the past 22 years. When not on a run with the president of the road, he is running a passenger train on the Fargo division of the Great Northern. "The engineers, Frank Maher and Michael Maloney, have been in the service 23 years, and they are taken along to see that the engineers on the various divisions to not try to cut capers while such an important person is in the coaches in the rear.
ADVERTISEMENT
"These crews are always called when Mr. Hill makes a trip over his railroad lines."
o o o
It was graduation time in June 1910. In Grand Forks, there was a smaller class than usual with 28 receiving diplomas at the Metropolitan. The Rev. F.M. McCoy of the Methodist Church delivered the commencement address. Superintendent J. Nelson Kelly presented the diplomas.
A class of eight received diplomas in East Grand Forks.
At UND, a class of 96 received diplomas in the 21st commencement. It was the first graduating class while Frank McVey was president. The ceremony included an oratorical contest.
The fourth annual commencement was held at Wesley College as well as at Model High School on the university campus.
The month of June ended with hot weather in Grand Forks, going up to 90 degrees in the shade. A reading of 99 degrees was recorded on June 27. The crops were in danger.
The good news was that the Ringling Bros. Circus was to be in town in July.
