New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-24
DAKOTA'S NEW CAPITAL.
SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL TOPICS IN BIS
MARCK

TURE IN NORTH DAKoTA-PoLITICAL AND So
CIAL PROBLEMS.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL coRREsPoNDESroF THE IRlBuhh'l
BISMARCK. OAK. June 6.-The new Capital
city of Dakota resembles the National Capltai III
its natural surroundings. The saucer-llke de-
preston, embracing area of several square
miles bordered with low IRE gular bills ana large
river skirtlng the bottom lands upon the west are
features common to both. Trees and foliage, the
summer glory of Washington, are strangers 10
Bismarck, but abundant promise of shade IN INC
future is found in the number of thrifty sa!iihgs
growing about the dwellings OF older residents
la all other respects the Dakota capital has the au
vantage IN beauty of situation
The town lies upon the northern borderofthe sau-
Ger land from all points commands charming "to
the SOUTH east and west. In the foreground he
several square miles OfmeadOw, level as tDesea, Ilns
ed in tho distance with dense forest which Ill IhaV
direction hides the winding Missouri IRON Wow
Beyond closing tine view to the south, there extends
from east 10 west range Of hills tat-topped lor the
most part, but with sides quilted INTO infinite
variety, and upon which the sunlight and shade
form pictures which change with every passing
hour These hills are the chef feature of beauty
in the landscape and are neyer-cndng source OF
Measure especially to eyes wearied with the
monotony of the wide prairie stretches winch inc
ncomer from the east must traverse. Light gray Iii
early spring. these hills become jet black III large
areas when the prairie fires have paid their annual
visit and later turn to vivid green as the young
grass makes its appearance. To the southwest oI
the town a long winding sweep of the Big Muddy
colloquial for Missouri) and to the southeast an
ample reach of biliOwy prairie Imagine tue DillowS
TO be a mile apart or more from crest to creSU
add distinctive charms to the picture.
These are features which need not be sought from
thn
every quarter of the town. Behind or north of the
present town. the rounded hill-tops up to and over
which one may drive at trot still wear their virgin
sod unyexed by the farmers plough and as smooth
asifsLaven with a awn-mower. 1t is near the crest
of one OF these overlooking the whole valley ana us
surroundings, that the new Capitol building Is toDe
erected. Between its selected site and the present
outskirts of the town there stretches nearly mile
of gently slOpng greensward, while to its east and
west upon the same gentle inclination, there Is
room for q city of fifty thousand inhabitants
The present city of Bismarck is not beautiful. It's
streets are broad and straight and erintersectons
rectangular, but the architecture, If the term Is
applicable to the stacks" and cabins which still
abound in thickly populated quarters, is barbaric
A goodly number of tasteful though comparatively
inexpensive cottages have OF recent years been
scattered around the suburbs but many even OF the
wealthy people still live in diminutiye ana frall
dwellings which would hardly content an Eastern
mechanic. This is not the case with other Dakota
towns, aud will not long remain the case with Bis
marck Its explanation is to be found IN the clrcum
stances of the origin and growth OF the place. when
the great northern transcontinental line was pro-
irctea. prophecies were made IN abundance that its
intersection with tho Missouri would some day be
the seat of great town. Energetic of small
,tava nd with
The road Struggled along against great difficulties
and halted for time at Bismarck running its trains
during the summer months, and leaving the settle
ment without other communication with the world
than that furnished by irregular stage service
during the winter. Agriculture was not then thought
possible. Trade with tie Indians and the military,
and during the season with steamboat and railroad
men. formed the chief support of the town. Gam
bling and liquor selling were the most conspicuous
Industries and nights and Sundays made hid
eous by the shouts OF outside agents of numerous
keno dens. When profitable farming was found
possible IN North ID akota there remained the vast
expause Of the Red River valley aud of the inter-
yenmg country tO the east, which absorbed the in
flow OF settlers and capital and cred out Tor more.
Naturally, cheap structures-log walls with canvas
roofs, cheap board shanties, and the hke-preyall-
ed.
THE PIONEERS OF AGRICULTURE.
retired army officer, who by the way was the frs
member Of Congress from Iowa, and who Is still an
honored resident of Bismarck, took out the first
homestead claim in this vicinity and to the great
amusement of his neighbors announced his belief
that the soil and climate suitable for agrcul-
ture His efforts tOprove IL were merely experiment.
al and conducted upon small scale, but
full He cultivated few acres of grain and potatoes
and took pride in conducting his fellow villagers out
10 see the novelty. 1t Is related that at about the
same time an old negro woman attracted attention
10 herself by cutlvating tomaturity tomato vine
I'm her back yard and that the villagers were in the
habit OF visiting her place to look upon and admire
the curiosity. Colonel Thomson'se example led acouple
of Scotch laborers, who are now among the most
prosperous and respected business men of tho new
CAPITAL toundortake five years since the cultivation
upon n larger scale of n claim lying mile and a
half southeast of the city. They too abundant
" successful in their efforts, and 1t began to be
noised abroad that the Missouri slope prairie lands
were worth taking as gift. and perhaps might
sometime be worth purchasing. Still developments
were exceedingly slow, it being rare occurrence
that man with a thousand dollars TO invest got
west of Fargo or jamestown, the lands around
which were much nearer the worlds markets.
Last wear the Bismarck Land District, with area
as large the State of Pennsylvania had an estmat
ed population of less than ten thousand and be-
tween twenty and thirty thousand acres OF land
were cultivated. The yield of wheat and oats was
enormous, and tho quality was everywhere equal
to the very best the world produces.
BUILDING UP CITY.
The regeneration of the old town o Bismarck be-
gan less than two years ago. and was short process
with very decided results Log and canvas houses
had been giving way to moro commodous but
still unsubstantial wooden structures upon the
business streets. The Northern Pacific had begun
its great bridge and had extended It's line westward
with promise of soon completing the connection
between It's extremites Capitalists had made
some investments and the better elements of the
town picked up crumbs Of encouragement from u