Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-21
BISMARCK.
a Booming Town-Laok of Building Ma.
terial Supplied-Coa and Fine Clay Dis
covered-some Of the Enterprising
Business Men lt-


| terial Supplied Coal and Fine Clay Dis
| covered-some Of the Enterprising
| Business Men.
Especial Correspondence of.the Globe.l
BISMARCK, March 1s.-The general impress
sion here is, that the Northwestern stage com.
pany made poor move when they abandoned
this point for Pierre as the western terminus OF
their Deadwood stage line. But three mails
have been missed at Bismarck, while on the
other route they have been hermetically sealed
all winter. Bismarck to-day, although not
booming, is enjoying very general degree OF
prosperity. Unlike many of her sister West
ern cities, she has never known reverse.
Steady progress and uniform good times has
marked her career from first to last.
There has been no sudden, unwarranted
imitation of prices, followed by the
inevitable depression and panic. Business
property on Main street has always command
ed fair rental, but speculative, fancy prices
for real estate has not been the order. One is
struck with the cheap character OF business
buildings in this city more than by any other
feature. The Sheridan (though wooden) is a
very fine structure, but besides that building
and the Raymond block, and one other "a
single story] brick store the business build
ings are of wood, and in the main very poor.
The reason, however, Is not lack Of public
spirit or indisposition on the part OF property
holders, but simply the enormous cost Of
brick. The opening of the great coal banks
of clay about forty miles west OF the line of
the road marks the opening of a new era In
Improvement. A number of brick buildings
are already projected for the ensuing season
and others will follow with the certainty OF an
abundance of cheap brick of suitable quality
being forthcoming.
During the past season that much needed in.
stitution, a suitable court house, has been
erected at cost of $4,000. The building is
first class Offices and vaults for the safety Of
public records, and combines within itself a
first class steel burglar proof Jail of sufficient
capacity for all ordinary purposes. The build.
ing stands upon commanding spot and is a
credit to Bismarck and Burleigh county.
The rapid settlement and development Of the
upper country by the extension OF the North:
ern Pacific railroad carries with 1t the Idea OF
a commercial future for Bismarck. Nearly
500 miles northwest of st. Paul, on this (soon
to be) great trans. continental highway, with
the Missouri and Yellowstone navigable for
thousands of miles above her, connecting
them with an untold area Of splendid country
thus rendered accessible, and soon to be
densely populated and covered over with
thriving cities and towns, renders large and
fourishing wholesale trade very possible for
Bismarck.
Already we find the following firms in the
field: Mclean & Macnider, J. W. Raymond,
and ". H. Thurston & Co. Of these Mclean
& Macnider, the pioneers, are running gen.
eral stock, making 81 oceries specially. They
began business in 1873, and have large trade
already established with the upper country.
With the extension of the road and
the settlement of the country they will
be prepared to enlarge their facilities for doing
business to meet the demand. During the past
year they have freighted 100000 pounds OF
supplies for the government forts In the up.
per country, and have sold over $3.50, 900 worth
of goods. ....
". H. Thurston s. Co., jobbers in boat sup
plies and groceries, and who also
handle farm machinery, began business
May 1, 1880. Their trade, though young,
promises finely. From this beginning, though
small, the future Bismarck is foresh owed
and the not over sanguine even predict great
and prosperous trade IN the years to come.
The discovery of coal in inexhaustible quaint.
ties within few miles of this point makes the
question of fuel more easy of solution than in
other less favored prairie regions. Mr.. E. H.
BY, owner and proprietor of the Sheridan house,
from the very first has believed in the avail
ability of these deposits for manufacturing
and ordinary household purposes, and has
manifested his faith by his works. Having
purchased a large tract of these coal lands
about forty miles west of Bismarck, he has
opened the "Bly Mine," and has already
turned out a large amount of the much needed
fuel The coming season extensive prepara-
tions are being made for working the mine.
and over $4,000 tons will be brought to the
surface.
The Northern Pacific Railroad company take
10000 tons andw construct four engines
with regard to adaptability for this coal. By
far the most important thing, however, con-
nected with the mine so far as Bismarck is
concerned, is the fact that in close proximity
to the mine are found immense quantities of
finest of brick clay. Large brick yards will
be opened by Mr. Bly, this summer, thus fur
nishing Bismarck and vicinity with the much
needed means of erecting cheap and durable
business structures and dwellings.
while containing some considerable slate and
other non -combnstible matter, still is said to
be at least equal to 66sss per cent. of the value
of Iowa coal, and for manufacturing pur
poses is invaluable.
During the winter, the railroad company
have been putting in a dyke opposite the Bis
marck landing, intending to force the channel
into permanent place preparatory to begin
ming the bridge. The shifting nature of the
bed of the river at this
point, renders bridging very difficult, but the
engineers in charge express themselves
confident of being able to construct bridge
that will stay. 4 large force of workmen will
be put on this summer, and the spring of 1852
will no doubt see the structure complete. I'M
mense quantities of material have been crossed
on the ice bridge this winter by the Northern
Pacific to forward their extension, and this
summer will see Bismarck quite an inland
town with railroad four hundred miles or
more west of 1t.
The enterprising and fun-loving Sam Whit
ney, proprietor of the Bismarck Opera house,
has organized a standard company, with W.
Y. Davenport as stage manager. The COM
pany comprises fourteen "a people and
embraces some very fine speciality artists
They present drama at Raymond's hall every
Thursday evening, which is well patronized by
the first people of the town, while the regular
evening entertainments at the Opera house are
crowded as usual by the fun-loving boys.
Dakota, like Minnesota, being Republican, the
legislature has gerrymandered this section so
as to practically disfranchise the majority in
Burleigh county. Geographical connection
has no part or lot in the construction Of dis
tricts, some of which are as thin as knife
blade, and as long as the Territory is wide.
Some day these little chickens will come home
to roost, and what howl there will be among
our virtuous Republicans.
Bismarck contemplates a system of water
works to be constructed this season, but