The Dickinson press., 1883-09-01
IMPRESSIONS OF DAKOTA.
DR.. I. A. Darling, in the Malone, N. Y.
Palladium, Tells the People
What he Thinks Of
Dakota.

WEST BANGOR, Aug, 18th, 1888.
EDITORS PALLADIul l1:-:'Tell me all
about your trip to the North West,"
say many of those | Inject since my
arrival home. To this general in.
quiry may I briefly answer in your
valuable paper! Since 1 stopped
longer in Dickinson, Dak., than at
any other point, and saw more Frank
lin county people there, and since so
many of your readers are interested
in that town and it's people, I will
speak of it first.
On stepping from the railway
coach, the first impression one gets
from a glance at the town is pleasing.
1t lies handsomely on gently rising
slope of rolling prairie. The climate
to me was invigorating and delight
full to the senses, the weather being
at that time very fine. and the nights
seemed made expressly for refreshing
sleep.
The soil is rich marl--rather hard
in it's native condition, but it becomes
friable and mellow after plowing. and
seems well adapted to the growing of
grain and grass.
1t would not require very great
stretch of the imagination to convert
these rolling praries into chill and
vale" and although the fine, short
and exceedingly nutritious buffalo
grass grows all over the highest of
these ''hills," it is quite apparent
that the soil is richer in the long
stretches of the "vales.'
In the town site, at present. the
water supply is from wells about Is
feet deep: is clear, cool aud abundant,
and excellent for culinary and laun-
dry purpose.
Fuel is plenty and cheap from the
Ignite coal mines near at hand.
Building material nature has abund-
antly provided in a good mixture of
clay and sand for brick making.
There is near town what is called the
"plaster bed''-a similar mixture to
that for .bricll making. some portions
of which suggested if mixed with
linseed oil would make good paint.
The product of this plaster bed only
requires reducing to propar consist
ency by the addition of water. to
make an eXcellant mortar for plaster
ing. All houses in town are now
plasteretl with it.
Dickinson is situate midway be-
tween Mandan and Glendive-two
smart young towns which are not
without their attractions-an is now
being favored by the erection of ex-
tensive and substantial railroad build
ings, round house, repair shops, &c.
It is the county seat of Il new county
just organized, and prospectively the
point of connection with q line of
railroad to the Black Hills next year.
But the most pleasing, the most at
tractive and that which is the most
assuring of the future progress and
prosperity of the town of Dickinson
is the liberal sprinkling of sturdy and
enterprising young men of integrity
already there, the most Of whom telg
me they are there to stay. from
Franklin county, n. Y.
When I commenced tins communi-
cation thought of speaking of Incl
dents OIL the way, of persons met and
of other places, especially of Chicago,
where l visited on my way out; that
wonderful city which is probably the
largest in population, contains the
greatest extent of beautiful and cost
ly buildings, and transacts the most
business of any city in the world Of
it's age. But this already calls for
too much space in your valuable col
lmnS.
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