Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-25
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O-N ~N0O~~~-~ ~
its position on the vast bank of the river
will cause the growth of a city of immense
proportions on its site, and that within the
not distant future. Its geographical situation
is of such character that it cannot fail to be
otherwise. Historical analogy confirms, also
the truth of this statement. 1t is remarka.
BILE fact that in the history of transcontinen
tai railroads certain phases have repeated
themselves. All have pushed forward their
lines until the banks of an Important naviga-
BILE river have been reached, and there has
ceased further progress for period OF vary
ing time. This temporary terminus has be-
come the site of small yet fourishing town.
Then comes the time when the railroad is
pushed into the selitudes beyond and the
river becomes spanned with a permanent
bridge. Soon the east bank looses it inn
portance. A rival grows upon its opposite
shore, and shortly outstrips it in growth and
importance. Natural laws govern this ope-
ration. The heavy products of the west ar
irving at the bridge are arrested; it becomes a
distributing point; the river obtains large
proportion Of the freight the remainder radi-
cites in various directions. The place that be-
comes the distributing point for freights, in
the country tributary to it. Estimating the
results sure to flow from the rapid
settlement of the fertile country west
of Mandan, the prediction is arrived at that
the town il one whose manifest destiny is one
of high importance. 1t must become the me-
tropolis of the future state of North Dakota,
the seat of an empire of such extent and rich
ness that has no parallel
Those who have not Investigated the rea-
q
might imagine it to be wild statement. Such
is far from the case. In the first place, when
the country is mnch more populous than at
present, and that will be within
comparatively short period of time,
the multiplication of business houses will be
so great that wholesale houses will, of
needs, be established farther west than at pres
eut. St. Pau! will always maintain its com,
mercial prOminence; its growth of trade will
be in proportion to the growth and progress
of the great northwest, but in consonance with
laws that have hitherto operated without ex-
ceptlon, new wholesale center must needs
spring up west of it.
Experience proves that these centers of
wholesale trade are at about the same relative
distance from one an other that st. Paul is from
Chicago, always about 500 miles, more or less,
local conditions. One of these con-
ditions, and the chief one of import
ance is it's eligibility as a dis
site site" Of Mandan, on d the 'S west bank Of
such river as the Missouri, with its long
stretch of navigation, would alone indicate its
availability for such purposes. Its distance
from st. Paul is also in its favor in the respect
already indicated. It will be some time, of
course, before Mandan attains the
amount of importance now enjoyed BY st.
Paul, but it will not be long ere it becomes
the place from whence will be obtained the
supplies tor the numerous small towns that
are everywhere springing up within the scope
of its future grasp
The smaller country merchants that are not
able to buy in immense quantities, and there
proportion to their purchases than
those more favored by fortune will
obtain their goods from Mandan, because
no other place will be able to offer them the
same advantages in regard to prices.
This fact is even now partially realized, in
that Mandan merchants are enabled to sell al
| lower prices than merchants located long dis.
| distances to the cast of them.
A great point also in favor of Mandan, al
| though it is unfortunately to the disadvantage
of it's rival on the east bank is that it possess
| es permanent river landing, while the
channel on the east side is being rapidly filled
| with the treacherous sand, a result which i.
attributed by engineers to the position of the
piers of the great bridge now being erected
They have decided that before the close of tn,
next season of navigation steamboats, will b:
unable to effect safe landing at the east banf
Therefore the permanent landing which steam
boat men declare Mandan to possess is some
thing which the people of that prosperous
place have great reason to congratulate them
selves upon having. A short distance
above the bridge, at place called Rock Haver
there exists rock landing, along the base o.
| which flows the main channel of the river
This point has already been laid out as tow
| site, and expensive improvements are cOntem
plated there by next season. Within shor
period of time, however, this will be within
the limits of Mandan.
THE GREAT BRIDGE.
The railroad bridge, which will cost, whel
finished, over one million dollars, is an import
ant piece of engineering work. The Mis-
souri, river at this point is nearl
three-quarters of a mile in width. There ar
to be three spans of four houndred feet eac
and short span at each end of one hundre
and twenty five feet. The foundation for tn
piers was formed by caisson about fifty. five fee
beneath low water mark, and the bridge wi
be over sixty feet above ordinary water Level
This will allow steamboats, to pass under with
out removing or cutting their smoke stacks
The piers are nearly all completed. The ma
terial for the superstructure is now arrivin