The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-03
INFANT CITIES.
How Towns nre Made on the New Rail-
ronds In the Far West.


Dropping off at this place to-day for q
couple of hours, was partially initiated
into the secret of how town building is &C.
complished in Dakota, and for the benefit
of the journal readers | will proceed to
illustrate. In the first place a suitable quar-
ter-section of the handsome prairie of which
this entire country is composed is selected
alongside of the railway track for town
site. A name is given to the locality, a
shanty is built, a newspaper started, and a
postoffice established. So much of the work
is quickly accomplished-say in about ten
days or two weeks. The next move requires,
in some instances at least, persistent effort
and considerable diplomacy, and consists in
getting the railroad company upon whose
line the new town is to be built interested
This may be done in various ways. The
work is sometimes accomplished by Offering
the company tempting bait in the way of
a portion or all of the town site or some
official or individual connected with the
road, through the persuasive eloquence of
the originators of the project, who, as a
general thing, is possessed with an extra.
ordinary gift of persuasion, is induced tc
believe that side track would be produc.
live of much good, and ut least would be o
great convenience to the settlers of that sec
lion of the country. As the result of this
conviction, in few days train laden with
ties, iron, and workmen halts on its journey
westward, and perhaps when it returns finds
side track completed and platform built
for the accommodation of the passengers
yet to come. While all this is being accom-
plished, another part of the work has been
going on away back east, perhaps as far as
Chicago, consisting of the printing of hand
bills and circulars and which have been in
dustriously and widely circulated through
out the Eastern States. These circulars re.
cite in glowing colors the brilliant prospects
Of those who shall invest money in the new
city soon to be built, the excellent country
by which it is surrounded, and never fail to
wind up with the information that the best
route over which to reach the newly discov-
cred Ell Dorado is the line on which the
prospective city is located. Soon stranger
perhaps several-are seen to get off at the
little platform. Now the efforts of the man
Of persuasive powers are brought into requi-
sition again, and nine times out of ten the
strangers go away with the deed of q lot or
two in their pockets, in lieu of little hard
cash which they brought with them, the
amount of which 1t is not necessary to state.
The next thing on the programme is build.
ings for stores, residences, etc., and gener.
ally the lumber dealer is about the first man
On the ground. Tho saloon is always ex.
cepted, of course. When the buildings are
completed stocks of goods are put in, and
she new town is well on its way cityward
This is practically the modus operandi of
the building of many of the villages and
cities of Dakota, and is not an untruthful
description of the rise and progress of this
town of Holabird. This infant city is stu
ated on the line of the Chicago and North
western Railway, little west Of the centre
Of Hyde county, about midway between
Huron and Pierre. Apropos of its location
in the county, and notwithstanding the fact
chat it is only about three months old, It Is
already candidate for county-seat honors.
The counties in Dakota that are not involved
In county-seat war are in the minority,
and Hyde county is already veteran
Hola5ird (Dak.) Correspondence Of Stouc
CitU ,J0uraaI