Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1878-11-25
The BUSINESS Of BISMARCK.
A BRIEF REVIEW OF LOCAL
ENTERPRISE.

Building improvements During 1873
"A Large Increase In the Number
OF Structures Erected---A Glance at
the Mercantile Interests of the City
"a Vast Improvement In Bust
ness. ii
OVER ONE HUNDRED BUILDINGS.
Bismarck prospers. The change the
past year is wonderful. There are but
few more business houses to report-little
increase in that line to speak OF, but scores
of small dwellings have been put up, and
several of the business houses have been
enlarged and improved and workshops are
being opened rapidly. The idlers, to a
great extent, have passed aWaNan all who
care to work have found enough to do.
Every team in the country is employed,
and several car loads of stock have been
recently brought in by freighters and con-
tractors. The contractors for hay, wood
and transportation have realized good
profits, the conditions have been favorable,
and there are no failures to regret.
Merchants are making smaller margins
than heretofore, but they are carrying
larger stocks, and, of course, are selling
more goods. At the landing, stock yards
have been built and extensively used in
providing for the boat loads of cattle
which have been shipped from Montana
to Bismarck, and thence by rail to Chica-
go. Marine ways have also been con
structed, and nine first class steamers are
wintering a: Bismarck, as a result, instead
Of going to Yankton, Sioux City and St.
Louis for that purpose. This will enable
them to commence operations from this
point at least three weeks earlier in the
spring.
The North Pacific company is adver-
tising for two hundred miles of railroad
construction, and one can plainly see a re-
vival of the days of 1S71-72 and 1878; but,
better than all, the country is settling up,
and it's agricultural resources are being
developed.
Settlements now extend twenty miles
north of Bismarck-al almost every quarter
section being occupieas on mil les out.
East, also, settlements e3tfGd thirty miles,
and south as far as thesmilitary reserva-
tion, and squatters contemplate raid on
that. West, beyond tlfesriyer, for twenty
miles settlers have pushed their way, and
farms are being opened on every hand
the settlers not waiting for government
surveys. Indeed, there are more settlers
on unsurveyed than on surveyed lands, in
this and in Morton county.
Every farming operation has been sue
cessful, and hereafter there will be no
need to ship in supplies OF oats or corn.
This region will produce all it needs, and
will soon have surplus. The fuel ques-
ton is also solved by the very general use
of coal. Anthracite is furnished at $3.50
per ton, and unlimited quantities of lig-
mite at the cost of mining and hauling
from the veins near the city.
A machine shop for the repair of steam
boats is being constructed, and a large
government arsenal has fbeen erected at
Fort Lincoln.
Several large warehouses have been
built, and among them some very large
ones by the railroad company, and by the
Government, at the landing.
The town has grown from collection
of tents in 1872, to city of $500 people
in 1878, polling OF the last general election,
626 votes.
Bismarck is now in direct telegraphic
communication with Deadwood, Fort Ke-
ogh, and all points III central Montana, by
the completion Of the military telegraph
line, for which Congress provided last
winter.
The Fort Keogh Stage line is now on a
firm basis, and the stages are making reg
ular trips The service should at once,
and no doubt will be, increased to tri-
weekly, and on the Standing Rock and
Buford lines from tri-wcekly to daily, as
was done last spring on the Black Hills
line.
Enough of general remarks. During
he past year improvements amounting to
nearly 100000, have been made at Bis
marck, and in the immediate vicinity, as
follows: r. B. Mason, brick dwelling
and stable, $4,000; G. NJ Cushman, brick
dwelling ad stable, $14O0: Geo. M. Bird,
brick dwelling and stable, ST 300; Ansley
Gray, brick dwelling and stable, $1,000;
6. S. Weaver, dwelling, s2,5O0; Pat Smith
dwelling and stable, $1,000; Joseph BEEN,
dwelling, $1,000; John Nichols, stable,
5000; Col. Thompson, stable, $3.50; Geo,
+. Flannery, dwelling, S2,5OO; r. Hannah
stable, $3.50; O.S. Goff, photograph gal.
lery, $500; o. s. Gef, store building, $7OO;
]. J. Jackman, store building, $7OO; G. 4.
Williams, Merchants National bank build.
ing, 5000: L. N. Griffin, sample rooms,
$1,000; G.. r. Williams, sample rooms
$1,000; w. II. Conner, bank building,
$1,000; Sam Whitney, opera house,
$1,000; Chas. Stanton, store and stable,
$1,000: J.J. Clark, dwelling, 5000; Adna
Charnley, dwelling, $500; School house,
brick, $4,000; John Hackett. dwelling,
1900; Henry Dion. shop, 5000; N. Liy.
ingstone, blacksmith shop, $4O0; j. G.
Pitts, dwelling, 5000; Chas. r. Payne,
dwelling, 81 800; N. H. Woolsey, dwelling
and shop, $4OO; F. Mulcahy, dwelling,
5000; G: S. Weaver & Co, warehouse,
$500; Ed Gilboy, dwelling, $3.50; John
Brown, dwelling. $3.50; MI. Monahan,
m0sn ~, 3oti z 10.