4/28/2012:
North Dakota has long been considered a safer state to live in, with lower crime rates. But on this date in 1937, Bismarck women were concerned over recent attacks by a night prowler.
So, the Women’s Community Council began to make demands for better street lighting. The Bismarck Tribune reported, “For years, the city commission has struggled between the opposing ‘devil’ of taxes and ‘deep sea’ of need in the matter of street lights. However, as the members of the commission and everyone will agree, the safety of our women and girls is worth far more than mere dollars … Certainly the first step to end the fear of our streets at night … would be adequate lighting, both for this emergency and for the future.”
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker
Source:
The Bismarck Capital, April 27, 1937, p2