The Dickinson press., 1883-06-09
THE LOCATION OF THE CITY.

The city uf Bi>marck is in latitude 40 deg.
lS min. north. longitude 100 deg IS mn.
west. 1t is on the main line of the Northern
Pacific, 1863 miies nortil Of West from st. Paul,
miles west of Fargo, l57 miles east Of
tho Montana line, about l5O miles
by land north of Yankton, and 223 miles south
,ast of Fort Buford also by land. Tie river
distances from tho two points last named arc
considerably greater. Fort \. Lincoln is dis
tant five miles by road and ferry, Fort Yates
titty-siX, and Fort Stevenson seventy-.hree. to
tho norris. Almost directly opposite on the west
ern side of the Missouri is the mouth
Of the Heart river, the crookcdcst
stream to be found and running through one
the mos: fer lie and beautiful valleys on the
continent. The country roundabout does not
differ materially in general characteristics
from that which may be found north on the
Missouri az far as Fort Peck and south to
Sioux City or Omaha, though the buttes are
more marked than they are further south, and
the bottoms and nplands more inviting looking.
For more than twenty miles east from the town
slto the ground gradually undulates, some
times abruptly, but in general with gradual
and rcadi'y-cultivatablo slopes. 1t is COM
parativcly we'll watered. Apple creek. which
the city, enriching the adjacent territory,
IN its winding and fertilizins course. In fact
the lay of the land impresscs all corners ex-
ceedingly favorably, and the rolling pillows of
ground are sometimes felt as IA relief after the
dead levels of tho farther East. OF surrounl-
ing timber there is little, the trees being gen.
orally cottonwoods on the river bottoms and
small willows ON the tributary creeks.
THE TOW ITSELF.
Bismarck is built Oh what is known as the
second bench of the Missouri, and in the town
site proper, as now plated, there are about
well built over. Scattered buildings are nllmer-
Gus Oh the various lots into which
the other sections are divided. Tho 100
acres, marked b in the diagram, has an alti-
tude of iiity to seventy-tive feet greater than
that OF the railway track at the depot. Within
its scope are several rounded knobs upon
which p~ublic'buillinss can be erected TO COM
eutire surrounding country, the Mis-
sourl aud is val ey included. 1t is distant
depot, and the town already reaches with
buildings and streets its southern edge. Upon
twenty acres of this IL is probable the capitol
building will be located, leaving 14O for sale
by the Territory. Land Immediately adjacent
to tli. tract was sold last au-
subsequently plated and the lots sold at
q. rate aggregating $1,000 per acre. 1t is
autlloritatively stated that there will be no diff
Guilty in realizing from the sale of this 40
acres the $500, 900 guaranteed the Territory
by the Bismarck banks. This being
~, "HA SSS"AS ttOo.OOo
the HreA added Snlsd $1oo:ooo pq being '.''"' essh
payment on tho part of the city. The 100
acres markell Gle about three-fourths of a
mile south of the railway depot, in what is
known az the frs. bottom OF the Miss, uri river;
iu other words the nortllers grant commands
and overlouks the town, the southern he is
overlooked by it. The latter quarter section
is, of course. not so valuable as the other, bu.
a low estimate of its value, in the aggregate,
-, -.,@ -. M NV ozr, III ~ -.I =
the plat worth an additional $4,000 to the
Territory. AS previously stated, there are
many handsome brick stores and business
blocks in the town. aud the cour.
house. which cost $4,000. was erected in
1850, and is y crelitable and handsome
structure. The Sheridan house, already re-
ferred IL. Is one of the notable buildings, aud
the new High school, the site OF which Is gwen
IN tue diagram, Will prove a great adorAmcnt.
Many nf the residences are handsome and
comnu,iious. The 5000 inhabitants have ten
hotels, four churches, two banks. two pubic
halls, one daily ana two weekly newspapers,
all arteslau we'll, 4 grain elevator. Il flour mill,
extensive brick yards, large freight depots,
both in the town and at the loat-laulins. dis
iant 4 mile and q half from the center of tie
city. The Northern Pacific railway runs
through the town from east lu west, curv-
ing north when it hears the river. and
through u deep cut reaching the magnificent
bridge across the Missouri, which WAS opened
for travel last year. 1t cost nearly ST, $780,
600, has four spans of 400 feet each, and two
reversed truss spans of 100 feet each. The
approaches and peers are triumpls of modern
engineering, and the whole structure is re-
gardcd as one of the finest of the kind IN ex-
istencr.
STATISTICS OF BUSINESS.
As previously stated, Bismarck's early trade
was largely with %rauchnen, tie forts in Da.
kots and Montana and through steamer
lines. In 1877 the Northwestern Iranspor.
tation company, opened the road to
the Black Hills from Bismarck direct to Dead