Jamestown alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1882, 1882-01-27
JAMESTOWN
As Seen BY the Special Csrrespsnsicn,
Of the Western Rural, Chicago,
In Recent Trip.

Jamestown-the county seat of
Stutsman county. 1t would almost
seem that nature had nodded the
site which it occupies expressly
for this puspose; nearly encircled
by a range Of hills, like the loving
arm of a doting father around his
child of promise; the timber.
fringed stream winding along it's
western line, gently diversified
surface within itself, and with the
best Of water and climate, we found
this pretty town regularly laid out,
wide streets, good side. walks and
many substantial business and res
idence structures.
Incorporated--a population in
June, 1850 of 400, now l,OOO-a
school building worth $4,000, and
. graded school. yet insufficient in
capacity, and arrangements have
been made to enlarge 1.-TWO
churches, Presbyterian worth 81
900 and Methodist worth $4,000,
with the Episcopal and Catholic
to be built next season. Civic so.
cieties represented by the A. F.
and A. NJ, /. O. O. L. and A. o.
X. of the Red Cross; The Alert, a
daily and weekly newspaper; The
Land Journal, Of semi-occasional
issue but in immense editions,
from 10000 to 3O,OO0; two Nation
al Banks and one private (very)
one of the Nationals showing a
business the past year (including
its predecessor) Of $1,311, ,94O.33
exclusive of deposits; permanent
improvements for 1881, footing up
to 100000 including SIS, 900 on
Klaus Touring mill; J. J. Flints
improvements to the "Dakota
House" Cat which both trains on
the n. P. r. r. are dined) of &c..
900; Presbyterian church, $1,000;
Methodist church, $4,000; Klaus
Hall, 6Oxl20, with stage and scene
attachments, $1,000; and a goodly
number Of residences at about 49,
900 each; commercial business Of
fully $500, 900; one elevator with
$4,000 bu. capacity; steam and
water power, roller mill Of 100 bar
rels capacity; coal accessible and
cheap; extensive mercantile estab.
lishments. o division point for
terminal train service on the rail
road, with requisite buildings,
shops, etc, outlying additions
affording cheap lots upon comeIy
sites; a superior class Of buildings,
both business and residence; an
intelligent, progressive citizenship:
good water Of easy access; a health
full, invigoratipg climate; and all
these dating their existence from
the Spring of 1878, surrounded as
we shall note, with agricultural
resources and developments that
bespeak thrift and permanent
prosperity.
Stutsman county is 36x40 miles
in size; 1,1O5,92O acres, nineteen
twentieths of which is available
for cultivation and pasturaee.
Government and railroad lands
can be produced from ten to fifteen
miles out from jamestown; a little
nearer, some of them partially i'm
proved at from six to ten dollars
per acre: still nearer at from TWEEN.
ty to thirty dollars per acre, while
in proximity to the town they com.
mand from fifty to one hundred
dollars per acre; these prices indl.
cate the character of tho "Jim
River Valley lands, both i'll beau
ty and fertility. There are four
streams in the county, three Of
which are timbered along their
banks with varieties Of hard wood.
The banks of the streams are well.
defined and contain granite and
limestone deposits, excellent for
building purposes. There arc sew
eral nice lakes in the county,
fringcd with trees and the lakes
and streams abound in fish. Stock
raising has been thoroughly tested
as a branch of husbandry here,
and is a recognized success, either
in cattle, horses, sheep or icgs: ihcgs:
The population Of the county in
June, 1856, wa. 500, while y con.
servative estimate for to-day gives
them 5000; they have no floating
debt, and their bonded intcbted.
ness is but $4,000 at eight per
cent, the bonds selling at pre-
MUM, hence tile aggregate tax is
light.
The majority Of the farmers here
came from the States ilnbued with
correct ideas about farming, hence
many of the houses and barns are
of sNew England style,' farms
neat, tidy, and each with It's little
herd of stock, the ownfEs ont OF
debt and most Of them with money
in the bank, and able to hold their
crops for an auspicious market.
'Tis we'll known that the Jim
River Valley has repeatedly re-
ceived premiums in the States,
when it's grain and root crops have
been in public and open eonape,i-
ton.
jamestown lacks only four miles
of being equi.distant between Bis
marck and Fargo, not only having
the N. p. r. r. which has so ma
terially aided it's growth, but the
\, p. +. r, are besides building
their "Jamestown Branch" which
diverges from the main line here,
and is definitely located TO the
north line of Stutsman county.
forty miles, eighteen Of which are
already graded: this will epen II,
nd ,,,aka tr;tufarv fC .Fau,estcIyn.