Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-09-21
NORTHERN BURLElGH.
Star Route Number 1896 Through
a Prosperous Section of the
Missouri Slope.
Pleasant Homes, Hospitable People,
Prosperous Yeomen and a Good
Feeling Among the People.
Other News of Local Interest, Includ-
ing Democratic Primaries, Per-
sonals and Gossips.
lFrom Wednesdays Daily.l

[From Wednesdays Daily.]
Through Northern BurleiRh.
The stranger who wishes to see the finest
portion of Burleigh county in the shortest
possible time, cannot do better than em-
bark in one of John Ostlunds fast broncho
trains, that leave Bismarck for Slaughter
every Friday morning and return Satur-
day evening. Striking out northward over
the fairest country ever seen; passing the
high school building and the capitol in
the suburbs of the city, and flying past the
Thompson homestead and the fine farm of
John G. Pollock we catch glimpse of the
Hayes farm and the residence of Mr.. John
Sebra, with the school house near at hand.
Further on are the comfortable homes of
the Breen brothers. and the magnificent
farm of Mr.. John D. Joy unrolls its glist-
ening wheat fields in the morning sun.
There the traveller, if he is wise, will stop
for a chat and glass of milk, and having
received western welcome from Mr.. Joy
and his pleasant family, will pass on after
vicinity, and leaving the county poor farm
to the left, will soon land at the first sta
tion on the journey-Wales postoffice,
eight miles out. This Office, having been
established by DR.. Slaughter, was by him
christened Wales, in honor of his friend,
the late surgeon general. Yet we find
here no Prince Of Wales, but veritable
l Ii n0oy0
D. King, the efficient postmaster, possesses
one of the finest farms in this section and
has also flock of sheep and many swine
and cattle. The sheep have done well and
Mr.. King is fortunate in his partner and
assistant postmaster, Mrs. King being
bright and intelligent lady, as we'll as a
practical farmer and business women.
The next postutfice OH the route is Con-
ger, Mr.. Myron Hatch, postmaster. Mr..
Hatch is also fortunate in his assistant
postmaster, Mrs. Hatch being lady of
energy and refinement. 1t is always din
ner time when the stage reaches Conger,
and the hungry traveller who arrives with
appetite sharpened by the rapid transit
and breezy air will long remember the
\
home. Postmaster Hatch is one of sew
eral brothers who are substantial farmers
in the vicinity. Near by are the Larson
brothers and others, all valuable settlers.
| Conger is northeast from Wales, and we
were driven enthusiastically toward the
postoffice of CrOfte, where we find the
genial Major wainwright engaged in his
dual duties of postmaster and farmer.
One mile north of Cr0fte we reach the
southern line Of Elkland township, and
terminus of the mailroute, is plain sailing,
the wide awake people of the township
having we'll kept roads following the sec
ton lines, and their example in this re-
spect might be followed with advantage
| by the neighboring townships. Close by
the township road in section "a is the cele-
brated
HAWLEY COAL NINE.
and it is worth Journey here to see. A
long, low tunnel winds underground from
the surface to a depth of forty feet, where
are the coal pits, the heavy masses OF Ignite
revealed by the light of the miners lamps.
One mile to the westward is the Keeler mine
where coal of equally good quality is found.
Three miles north Of the Hawley mine is
the Slaughter postotfice where we arrive at
8 p. III. Mr.. John E. Ecl1lund is the post
master. This Office is we'll conducted and
is the center of a large and intelligent
farming population, the majority of whom
are Swedes, and marked by that thrift and
intelligence that characterizes the people
OF that nationality. AS a matter OF course
in Swedish settlement we find com
Portable school house near at hand which
also does duty as the parish church. The
surveyed lines OF two railroads-COal Har-
Dor to Bismarck and lNlinot to near Sterling
quires no prophetic eye to see that here in
this magnificent valley is to be the future
coal emporium of the northwdst. Near the
postoffice in the residence of Mr.. Andrew
Olson one of the substantial citizens of the
township, and close at hand are the farms
Mr.. John Lind clerk of the school board.
Mr.. John Backman owns a substantial
house here, and the grain fields of Post
master Ecklund show him to be a success
full farmer. The hospitable homes of Mr..
William Asplund and Mr.. Ole Anderson
Mr.. D. NJ. Osterhaut farms half section of
prairie land. The finest grain in the coun-
try is produced in this township and the
entire country is underlaid with beds of
Ignite. The settlers being all farmers by
profession, but little has yet been done in
GIlc Woy VI uCNCAOp1uS Glc 1dGUCAs Out V1ClC
is an exhaustless capital for future wealth
and prosperity stored under the broad
develop and utilize. Most of the coal
found has been thrown out in
digging wells. but in school section 1854,
! the adjoining range to the west, the coal
crops out on the surface, and to
the has been actively mined for the
last three years. Most OF the coal taken
from this section is hauled to Menoken and
is OF fine quality.
Four miles north of the postoffice lies
"Slaughter Lake"-a remarkable body of
water-two miles wide by four in length,
and which abounds in fine fish, duck and
other wild fowl. The steep banks on three
sides are heavily covered with underbrush
and small trees, chiefly wild cherry and
plum, with frost grapes in abundance.
The water is clear as crystal but so in
tense!y cold that one cannot bath in it
even in the hottest weather. In the banks
here the coal formation can be distinctly
seen. Slaughter Lake is favorite resort
In The return trip should the traveller
desire to see more OF this interesting