Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-25

| PeOPlo NC uc wisely PioHose0 " Pionioi-
tory legislation. and that the policy Of pro-
hibition, always upheld by the Republicans
OF Maine, is now concurred in by vast ma
Jority OF the people of the State.
From Dakota.
| THE CITY OF BIsNARCK-A PROMISING THREE
YEAR OLD.
BISMARCK, D. T.. May l5.
To the Eiitor Of the Free Press and Times.
Three years ago this day the writer, in
company with DR.. Thayer of your city and
two or three other gentlemen, arrived at this
place on the Missouri river, set the stakes
and laid out into streets, blocks, and lots
what now is the city of Bismarck with its
Mayor, Aldermen, Common Council, City
Engineer, and :he other officers neces
sary to constitute it full hedged city.
Then the track of the Northern Pacific Rail
read Company was laid only to Moorhead
at the crossing of the Red river, and from
night, carrying our own provisions for 200
miles. Then there were no Inhabitants west
of the Red river. Since that time the track
of the Northern Pacific Railroad has been e1-
tended to this place, and the cars have been
running here from Moorhead nearly two
years. For miles about the city on the east
side Of the Missouri, the land is taken up by
settlers and many good farms opened up and
it is to all appearance, as good as that Of the
Red river valley From Burlington to this
place is 1000 miles the trip is made in
five days, all the way by rail. On the oppo-
site side of the Missouri is Fort Abraham
Lincoln, on an elevation some 200 feet above
the river, commanding view of the coun-
try for 25 miles in every direction--a very
appropriate situation for fort
1t was built two years ago and Is the
headquarters of Gen. Clusters regiment, the
7th cavalry and regiment of infantry. 1t
Is at this point the expeditions to the
Back Hills are fitted out. From here to
the Black Hills is about 200 miles, being the
shortest route Of any beyond railroad termi-
nj, those from Sioux City, Cheyenne or
Laramie being some 80 miles. Should
the Government succeed in making treaty
with the Indian chiefs now at Washington,
- that the Black Hills country is thrown
open 10 miners and settlers, Bismarck will
become an important point for trade and the
fitting out of expeditions and emigrants-be-
ing some | 500 miles above 81. Louis and as
soon reached from the east as that city,
Siolx City or any other point below.
There are several forts below, Fort Rice,
Fort Sully, and others, while above are
forts Buford, Berthold, Peck. Stevenson,
and Others, nearly al receiving their sup
plies at Bismarck, thus furnishing the
Northern Pacific railroad a large amount Of
freight. IL is also an immense saving 10 the
Government, probably over million of
dollars alone in transportation, aside from
the short time which i taken in reaching
the several forts. Formerly all the Govern
ment supplies for all the forts were shipped
from St. Louis by steamers, which made but
one trip in q season to Fort Benton, and at
an enormous expense and cost.
From Bismarck there Is now a regular
line Of steamers to Carroll or points in Mon
tana some 500 miles above, from whence are
stages daily to Helena, the capital Of Mon
tana, 200 miles. The steamer Josephine
came in yesterday, from Carroll, with pas
sengers only six and half DAYS from Helena,
who will arrive in New York in about
eleven days from Helena, sooner than by the
Union Pacific railroad. and with 400 miles
less staging. Ia addition to her passengers
and other cargo the Josephine had on $50
tons of silver ore from Montana. valued at
about $500 Per ton, on its way TO Fryeburgh,
Germany, for smelling, refining and COIN
Ing. Large quantities Of goods for Monta-
ma are now shipped by this route, il being
the cheapest As well As quickest.
The Josephine leaves here today, with
cen Forsythe and Col Grant, Of Gen.
Sherdan's staff, on special expedition up
the Yellowstone, it is supposed to select 10
cations for advanced forts and posts on that
river, in the direction of the proposed line
of the Northern Pacific, preparatory to its
extension and settlement Of the rich valley
OF tlat river hy emigrants. The line of the
railroad touches the Yellowstone, 200
miles from this city, and when built, will
penetrate Montana 50 far as to command
the whole business Of that Territory.
Situated as Bismarck Is, 900 miles from
Chicago, and 500 from St. Paul and Mime
apolis. there is no reason why it should not
become :he next base OF supplies for distri-
button to the immense country beyond it.,
and the seat of a great trade. retail and
wholesale, as well as Of manufactures.
There being no railroad north of it to the
British line, with the immense country trib-
utary to the Missouri river above it for 500
miles, all coming to this place rs the nearest
point TO a railroad, with the immediate
country about it rich and fertile, it seems
reasonable that it will be what its citizens
claim for it, at no distant day a large city.
Omaha in fifteen wears has become a city of
over Is 600 inhabitants, and | see no reason
why Bismarck with all its facilities and ad-
vantages should not have as large popuia-
tion in even less time. Vermont is already
largely and well represented here. Col. Z.
NJ. Brown, formerly of Montpelier, is the
Receiver of the L. S Land Office, very in-
portant position, as through it the title to
all the lands in this section must pass from
the government to the settler. Col Harry
Brownson, 80 well known in Vermont, and
formerly connected with the Rutland and
Burlington Railroad, lives on his farm Of
l60 acres, about a mile back Of the city and
100 feet above it. overlooking the whole
country for 20 miles around and X. NJ.
Douglass, a young man from Williston, |
believe, graduate of the University, has his
800 acres in Apple Creek Valley, one of the
richest valleys in the West, about three
miles south of the city, on which he has 10
acres of oats this season.
Good water away from the streams is got
by sinking wells from 20 to 10 feet. Twenty
seven miles west of the city on Heart river
and also at Fort Stevenson. so miles above,
coal of good quality is already mined anu
laid down here at s. % per ton. As evi
dence of the fertility Of the country on
the Missouri above, the Josephine landed
here Yesterday some corn and 500 bushels
of potatoes, a. fine a. | ever saw, which
were raised last season at Fort Berthold some
400 miles above here Wheat can be raised
in any quantity in every direction.
From this brief sketch your readers will
! see what has been accomplished here in three
years, under great disadvantages, and can
judge of the prospect for the future of this
section with the present increased facilities
for reaching 1t by railroad and water.
Yours, T. II. c.
A VALUABLE CON- Chas. d. Brainerd, of
| Danville, while engaged in digging hole
in his door yard for the purpose of setting
out pear tree, found Spanish silver piece,
| Of the supposed value of % cents, and bear
| ing the date OF l72l, making it at this time
l5l years old. We desired TO purchase the
same. whereupon Brainerd said he would
take !Jr the coin what 1t would amount to
at compound interest for l5i years, allowing