The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08

Hubert. being. . magnificent one Of its-
kind, run by steam and having capacity
of over fifty thousand bushels. The
other is owned by the Northwestern
Elevator Co., and having a capacity Of
over thirty Thousand bushels. These
two elevators handled during the past
year very nearly half . million bushels
of wheat.
There is an ample and commodious
school building, well furnished and
equipped, with VIM. NJ. Earl as principal,
There are two neat churches, eve the
property of the Presbyterian congrega-
ton, Rev. Mullin, pastor; the other Of
the Roman Catholics, Rev. L. Benin,
pastor; also q Methodist mission, COLI
Quoted by Rev. Kerfoot. The town is
incorporated under the Territorial act.
Officers during past year, T. O'Brien,
chairman, A. S. Wilcox and Asa Fancett,
trustees; Neil McCollum, clerk; CIas.
Crawford, treasurer.
Bathgate.
This large and important railroad town
is located OH the Tongue river, about ten
miles south of the International bounds
ry line and about twelve miles west Of
the Red River of the North. 1t was
named in honor of the city of the same
name in Scotland, the home of one ofthe
railroad officials. The main liue of the
st. Paul, Minneapolis 4 Manitoba nail.
road from st. Paul to Winnipeg passes
through Batigatc. Isaac Foster,iin 1880,
took from the government the land upon
which was plated the TOWNSHIP of Bath.
gate in 1889. In 1880, when Mr.. Foster
first took up his land there was no sign
of a railroad, and he was the laughing
stock of the entire community who had
settled along the Red river for the pur-
pose of being near the only source of
communication with the outside world.
Only u few months passed when the sur
veying party crossed his land. and his
was selected as the townsite of one of the
most beautiful towns in the Red River
Valley. AS soon rs the advantage of the
location was known, lots were sold at ad-
vanced prices. The spirit of speculation
ran high for season. Buildings were
built at an enormous expense, stocks
of goods were brought in and held at
high prices. but experience soon began
to cool off the excitement. Bathgate had
been overdone; simply because the adj
vantages of its location made it desira-
bic business place. and men crowded in
to it. Some one had to give way, and
some did. Those who remained have
built up volume of trade and business
that would be a wonder to many b1si'
ness man in the states Dwelling houses,
schools, churches and public improve
ments have not ceased to make them
selves al object of wonder in this town,
while the pioneer settler has pushed on
westward, and now Bathgate draws
trade for fifty miles west. The people of
the town are mostly Americans, while
the farming community is made up Of
Canadians, French, English, Scotch, Ger
mans, Irish, Norwegians and Americans.
Just think; less than five years ago
where Batlgatc now stands was nothing
but the trackless prairie. The wild fowl
and prairie wolf held undispuied sway.
The Indians were gone long ago, when
they heard the steamboats, on the Red
river.
There are three bridges across the
Tongue river in the town and good roads
lead into the town from all directions.
is plentiful. Good oak wood is
worth from s. to Is cord, varying with
the season.
The three elevators together handled
about 5O0,OOO bushels of grain last season,
The railroad company received about
$4,000 for freight delivered at Bathgate
in 1884.
The streets of Batl,gatc are well grad.
ed and we have now one and a half
miles Of two inch eight feet side walk.
As to the literary status of the town it
may suffice to say that there is establis H.
ed regular literary society styled "The
Mutual Improvement Society,"" The Y.
NJ. G. A. hold their meetings in the room
over the city drug store. 1t is artist.
cally arranged and hung with many
beautiful pictures. As to music there
are now four or five pianos in town and
organs too numerous to mention.
Luke & Watt, dealers in general mer.
chandise, established their business in
Bathgate i'll the fall of 1882. They came
here from the eastern states, and realize
that the people who inhabit this country
are either from the eastern states or east.
ern Canada, AMI appreciate good things.
1t is a rare thing indeed for a customer
to call for any thing this firm does not
keep. They give special attention to
emigrant outfits. aud at the same time
they can sell as fine dress pattern and
as nicely trimmed hat as can be found on
this side of st. Paul. Mr.. D. w. Luke
and Watt arc tile members of the firm.
the latter being the manager at this point.
Melheim & Fossum are both Norwe-
gians, and came here from southern Min.
nesota, both being young men. They
started their general store in 1882, will, a
capital of about 81, 600; now their capital,
stock and other property will invoice
about sl7, 900. They handle every thing
that their customers want. They also
deal in horses and cattle.
F.A. Wilson does q very heavy ma.
chine business. He paid over $4,000 in
1854, for freight alone. He has a large
amount of capital in the business and
backs it up with the energy of a rustler.
He was newspaper editor in Minnesota
Perhaps this may have helped him to
he such u success as a machine man.