New-York tribune., 1873-06-28
THE GREAT WEST.
OF CENTRAL MONTANA.

PHIEs.
trpoM TvE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
FoRT RICE. Dakota Territory, June 13.-This
place ia so remote from the East aud until recently SO
far removed from direct railroad communication, thatt
may be necessary 20 tell your readers how to get here
The most direct route from NewYOrk to Chicago from
hicaro 10 ST. Paul St. Paul to Duluth North Pacific
Junction a miles west OF it, and thence by Northern aud
Pacific Road to Bismarck on the Missouri River. From
Bismarck Fort Rice IL Is IS miles by land and between
50 and 60 miles by river owing TO its great disposition 10
kiuk Eventually there will he a much more direct
route from ST. Paul by way Of the St. Paul and Pacihc
Road which will run diagonally from St. Paul to for
Breckiuridce and uterseot the Northern Pacific ho""
at the Red River. ,...,o.
within the last 10 Is years 80 many new ieiii iS,
have been manufactured IN the Nest, ana 10 "'''"! ~
ones turned into States, that one has 70 oc a" go 60
student Of geography TO keep up WITH 'no aus,
our man doubt If many we'll read people III 'no rr
vo, rsessional men other than teachers cOulu give
the boundaries of our Territories correctly "iuou "
erence 10 a map. For the beneht OF thoSo ""o No.
neither the inclination nor the opportunity " .
the latest maps Of the United States let me say
any acctaton or pedantry that Dakota Is oounueu on
,hc north nv the British Possessions on the east DS
,1,.,.. nd iowa on the South by Nebraska. and ON
a., ,,os, M, wyoming and Montana. The RED RIVER
y.,lov rms through the eastern part ana the
N,iss,nri runs diagonaly across the Ierri'orF'
Fort Rice Is very nearly III the Oon'0I
t1o
al convenient points the river and through the east
- half NJ the Territory. IanktOn. the capital. Is IN
b southeastern part of the Territory, on the missouri
II has a population Of about 22C0 Nermlion IN Union
County has about 1000; Elk Point, Sioux Falls' ana
snr,orGed have about 500 each Bismarck, 1000 Ihere
are a score Of other little places tucked down IN the
southeastern corner. the Iowa line In all the
whole Territory population of about $4,000 70 SOOoV
confined to An area quite small when compared with the
extent of the Territory. The far greater part OF the
Territory is a new and unsettled country That portion
OF il west Of the Missouri has scarcely been explored at
ALI The Sioux and other tribes of indians at present
occupy the larger portion of the Territory Until they
are subGucd settlement in the interior cannot advance
A NEW TOWN IN MONTANA.
or tho towns mentioned above. Bismarck is the only
ON, with which l have a personal acquaintance, ana
that has been limited TO one night. Could the great
German after whom it is named learn OF the hOhor hat
has been conferred upon him he would be sady lacking
in the sense Of humOr # he did not enjoy good aush
This is the only satisfaction think he could derive IRON
tb commitment But as he is likely to hear OF the
Mace fear that this satisfaction will be dehed mm
But even Bismarck the great was once htte ana per
hans the time will when Bismarck the ht'lo VIII
become great The thus named is situated on tue
Missouri River at the Western terminus OF the Northern
Pacific Road The place dates its existence from July,
7s-5 and is thus hardly a year old. 1t claims
anont a thousand inhabitants, and should suppose
would be able To establish the claim The town mas
now two or three hotels; several stores, and that essen
tal feature of Western tOwn-an indefinite number OF
rum shops has not good reputation IN respect
10 morality but think it is not lacking In hospitality
arrived there late at night One half Of the town had
gone TO bed and the other half were in the rum shops
The hotel was full, and closed for the night Ihere
seemed 10 be no resort hut to return TO the car we ad
left and pass the night, but a fellowpassenger sue
Ceeded in arousing storekeeDer known 20 hm ana We
were kindly taken in and quartered IN the store ana
of bu lOps blankets. Whatever
he said against the Western character the charge
of inhOsptality cannot be brought to its households
The town is rejoicing over the completion
of the road clear TO its doors. The road was only
brought 10 this point Thursday last week ago to-
day The town was built on faith Of this termination
some dissatisfaction expressed at the way the North
ern Pacific handles the town sites Men are afraid
10 buy they say till they know whether the town is to
remain here or The nearness OF Fort Rice 70 BIS
,rck and the httingOut of the Yellowstone EXpedi-
on has accelerated the trade pulse of this infant town
considerably. The store in which slept was opened
Ycw days The first day the owner sold s5Si worth
of goods. The would be n Stewart in few years
at this rate of increase. imagine, however that When
the Yellowstone Expedition leaves, things VIII be rather
duh IN this vicinity AT present, it the al-absor0ng
topic through Dakota and Minnesota, in social, military
aud commercial circles
A SUPPLY OF PoRK-PRosPECT OF INDIAN FIGHTS.
The boat which 1 TO take from Bismarck was
detained several hours to await the arrival of Cen
Terry, commander Of the Department OF Dakota who
I'm company with his staff has down TO confer with
Gen Stanley aud witness the departure Of the eXpe-
dtion. Our boat was OF the type Of Mississippi
eteamboats which have figured much in the history
OF internal navigation in this country presume u was
lust such steamer that Jim BludsO 80 trag1cally hed
10 the bank thought saw him once at the engine
II another steamer had come down the river about that
time think James would certainly have appeared The
boat have reason believe prepared for any such
emergency Pork fat historically essential element
IN any steamboat contest the Mississippi Missouri
There seemed 10 be plentiful supply OF this material
on board. Being so far up the Missouri, having the
river mostly ourselves, the engine fires had little oc
caon for It's The superuity was therefore daily
served up three times on the table. Fried, boiled
smoked and melted down into liquid fat the extra hog
was regular digestive staple. 1t was fried hog for
breakfast boiled hog for dinner and smoked hog for
supper stream OF melted hog infected the gravy
bowl The vegetables, the hOminy. and the corn were
saturated with the material After using this fuel
for five successive meals heartily wished that some
rival steamer might Oyertake US and stimulate our en-
gne fires.
Fort Abraham Lincoln you will probably not find on the
maps 1t is about three miles down the river from Bis
marck on the side 1t is situated high bluff
aud commands extensive and beautiful view Of the
surrounding country. There at present three
panies Of infantry there under command Of LieutCO
Carn. We stopped three four hours at the fort 10
give the officers board chance to faternize with the
officers OF the post Many Of them had not each
other for years and four hours was little enough 70
new friendships recount experience and fight old
battles I learned something Of the nature Of the
Indian operations along this side OF the river The
Sioux are proving very troublesome For month or
two past they have been growing and auda-
cous II is the opinion of officers that nothing but
a good thrashlng will check them The recent state
uent in the papers, however, that the Indians had
attacked the Fort is not correct About
80 Rec Indians are employed the fort scouts They