The Republican journal., 1881-06-09
correspondence of the Journal
RISMARTk May l.

" oco " nat L COulu uuu Ill llIp Way OF mdlerldl.
Bismarck is located the east bank of the Mis-
souri,, or rather on the high ground about one mile
from the river there being a stretch of bottom
land of about that width, between the city and the
river. 1t has been the terminus Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad for the past six or seven years
but as the road was built last season $50 miles be-
yond, 1t Is no longer the terminus although it has
been made so again for the past month as the re-
cent freshets washed out twentyeight eulverts
and bridges west of here; but understand these
have been so far repaired that travel will be re-
sumed over the road this week. All the material
for the extension Of this road. and freight and
passengers for the west of this point have to be
transferred by steamer, there bcingno bridge here
The transfer boat carries six cars at a time They
are getting ready to go to work on the piers for
the bridge, part of the material being on the spot
now, and large crew are preparing to begin oper
ations. 1t is expected that the piers will have to
be sunk so Or 20 feet through the sand and mud in
the river bottom before hard pan is reached.
The bridge when completed will be some 1900
feet long in four spans Of about 400 feet each and
is to be built of iron and steel The approach to
it from the west side will be some 1000 feet
When finished this will make the ninth bridge
across the Missouri The road is to be finished
this year to Miles City, NJ T., the head OF naviga
ton on the Yellowstone To give you some idea
of the business this road is doing there are to-day
about 200 cars "loaded with material for the ex-
lension, and merchandise for western Dakotah,
and the Yellowstone district of Montana" on the
west side CT the river waiting to be forwarded as
rs thn road n DrIa from -, tO
car loads OF merchandise ''for the Government and
private parties" waiting for transportation up the
river to Ft. Benton and the military posts in
Montana ard northwest Territory, besides large
number of carloads held along the line waiting
until he blockade is over. This blockade OIL the
Bismarck side Of The river is caused by want OF
storage room aud transportation, the treshets of
month ago having damaged two stOrehouses of the
X. X, Company, 50 as to render them useless, be-
sides moving two Others some 100 feet from their
foundations, and about fifty feet from the II R
track.
The steamers Eclipse and Gen. sherman were
here at the time OF the treshet, but were no- dam
aged to any extent The Eclipse came up to the
city, just below the freight depot, as the water
was some 0I . it. deep on the bottom below the
city The rest OF the boats some - or Is of them.
were below at Yankton Sioux City or St. Louis.
The boats at Yankton sustained considerable dam
age, the Far West being the first boat to arrive
from below, fully month behind time and now
taking in freight for TT. Butord, Carroll and Fl.
Benton She will have about sixty first class pas
sengers, but on account Of the river being low
will take only about 10 tons of freight.
| FtA,Lncon post Of ten companies SIX OF cav
airy and four Of infantry was located OF the west
bank of the Missouri, opposite Bismarck, if | am
correctly informed in 1872 The fort or post is
built on the bluff and commands an extensive
view of the surrounding country. The cavalry
camp is located on the plateau Just below the post
This has been in years past quite an important
post, but Others are established, and the from
tier moved further west its efficiency IS lost to
| certain extent.
Bismarck is the most important city on the line
OF the Northern Pacific K. h and in all probability
will remain so for some time 10 come, as this is
the shipping point for the upper Missouri and Vel
lowstole Rivers and the British Northwest Terri
/ tory. There are some twelve OF fifteen steamers
Of about 80 tons capacity engaged in this trade
and the amount of hides, furs and wool that they
! bring down the river would astoulsh some Of your
Waldo county hunters and wool growers Occa
sonally boat comes down tie river with many
bales as she can hold and only her smoke stack
and wheel house 10 be seen.
Bismarck has been under city government for six
years and now has about 1000 inhabitants 1t
supports daily and weekly paper, four churches
four public schools, besides Two Catholic schools
and has good public school building, city hall a
court house costing 100000, al opera house and
| five or six hotels. One Of these, the Sheridan
House. is first class house in all Its appointments
! having seventy five sleeping rooms, and Express,
Telegraph and r. K. ticket offices in the house,
Bismarck has forty fifty places of bus
ness Nearly two thirds of these are saloons.
noticed ouly one OF two vacant stores. All Of the
stores, with but one or two exceptions, are one
story buildings about y feet wide and from 20 to
100 feet deep, and most of them finished up square
in front giving them the appearance OF being two
story buildings Property is held at high figure
here, and consequently rents are high. To give
you some idea, one hotel of about . rooms was
sold some time ago toy 5000. and is rented at
present for SO per day, this is on a corner lot
about !3xll0 feet, the building covering the lot \
wooden building only one and three quarters
stories high aud considerably out of repair con
tanning one store lX3O feet, am informed by the
parties owning it, rents for $40 per month. Two
saloons about mile from town, on the road to
| where most Of the boats land, are rented for 90
per month for SIN or seven months out OF the year
Land in the suburbs is held al 500 and upwards
per acre, according 70 the distance from town, and
| | am informed there is Government land to be
had within ten OF twelve miles, although there is
land for sale held by spectators within that dis
tance. Farming pays we'll here As rule farm
products bring good price. Potatoes are worth
here to-day SD per bushel Oats % to - cents.
There is "a home market Tor wheat as Bismarck has
! good flour mill