Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1881-08-12
Bigmarck and Mandan will Join Hands
and Represent the Missouri
River Valley.
A Correspondent Asks Numerous Cues
Gons about Bismarck which are
Promptly Answered.
The Local improvements being Made
by the North Pacifc-Harvest
on the Hayes Farm.
Questions Answered.

A gentleman wishing to gain some in
formation regarding the metropolis of the
Missouri river valley, asks the following
questions:
1. When was Bismarck settled; also
the surrounding country?
2. Present population?
8. Approximate amount of business
annually?
4. Condition of school system?
S. Number of teachers employed?
6. Style of society:
7. Usual average of grain?
8. Proximity to Bismarck of govern
ment land?
9. Prospective railroads.?
Bismarck was first settled in 1872.
Mike Feller opened the first farm, rails
ing on sod that year 260 bushels of pota-
toes per acre. The railroad was CON-
pleted to Bismarck June 5th, 1878. Pres
ent population is 5000. Business of the
town about $S,ooo,0oo annually. The
schools are graded. One brick school
house accommodates the high school and
intermediate and frame bnilding the
primary. The Catholics also have
graded schools, which are largely patron
1zed by residents of Bismarck, Miles
City, Fort Benton and the military posts.
Three teachers are employed in the pub
lie and three in the Catholic schools,
and Mrs. A. D. Pratt is teaching a private
school.
AS to style Of society, one can find
anything that is desired. The people are
largely American, coming here from
Eastern, or older Western States to better
their condition. Those engaged in trade
are straightforward, open-hearted, gen.
erous and energetic. No better people
are found in any country. Their families
average with the better clsss Of American
families anywhere. There is a sprjnk-
ing of Scotch, Irish, German and Scand1-
navian of the better class that detracts
nothing from the whole. These are the
pCOpAO 0AC uCCIo LII SAC1k
every day intercourse, but by hunt
ing for it almost any phase of society
can be found Men and women feel free
10 follow their natural inclination, and
though the town is really no worse than
others similarly situated, there is little
attempt made to conceal anything. There
fore the voice ofthe keno crier as we'll as
that Of the street exhorter is heard, and
hence occasion is given for the hard
name some attempt to give the city. The
Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist and
Catholic churches are we'll attended, and
it may be doubted if there is another
town on the face of the earth where tho
citizens are mere haritable-where they
are really better hearted. Oats usually
average fifty bushels per acre, and there
are instances where the yield has reached
eighty to one hundred bnshels per acre.
Wheat produces from eighteen to thirty
five bushels per acre, the average being
over twenty-about twenty-five Flint
corn is raised generally and fully ma
lures. The vegetables equal the best
raised in any country.
Government land can still be had within
a few miles Of Bismarck, under the pre-
emption, homestead or tree culture laws.
The Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul
railroad company is now extending its
line from Big Stone Lake to Bismarck
and the Northwestern is surveying with
a view to extending its line from Lake
Kampeska to Bismarck. A rail road
will be built from Bismarck to Winnipeg,
connecting with the line from Bismarck
and Mandan to the Black Hills. The
North Pacific will build, probably, line