Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-09-08
Prosperous Farmers and Desirable
Farms in Abundance in the North
ern County.
Brief Sketch of One of the Counties
that Compose the Great Mis-
souri, Slope.
Washburn is Prospecting and the Bis
marck, Washburn & Fl. Buford
Grade is Moving On.

townships-3,6N square miles-of fer
tile, arabic land, stretching to the north
and east from the Missouri river. Pic
turesque plains and vast valleys, unfold
ing for countless thousands Of acres, in
Il promise Of homes for tens of thou
sands. Gently sloping prairies, reaching
out for mile upon mile, with the dense
grass waving and undulating in the
breeze like the gently ripping waters of
an inland sea. The monotony of un-
broken prairie varied by ridges of hills
which unfold into gently sloping hill
sides and intersecting valleys in be-
tween. Typical of the Missouri slope,
its possibilities can not even be esti-
mated. Its vast area has only been
scratched here and there by the pillow,
and it's broad bosom is yet uncalled upon
for thousandth part of the fruits of
the field that it is waiting to yield to the
labor of the husbandman.
of liberty returned last night from Il
trip through the northern county, in
company with Hon. John Sattcrlund,
father of Mclean county, and the lead
ing spirit in all movements for its settle
mcnt and development. The trip COM
prised an immense circlc-from Wash
burn around by the winding course of
the Missouri river to Coal Harbor, and
thence through the valleys to the east
ward back to the gem city of the Upper
Missouri. Certainly is Mclean IL county
of magnificent distances. On and on and
on it's expanse unfolds, until you begin
to realize that the Missouri slope is a
mighty domain and that the north pole,
if it isn't up somewhere along the north
ern boundary OF the slope, can't be so
very far away, Harvesting is finished
everywhere. The stubble fields are
brown and sere and the bright yellow
stacks dot the landscape here and there,
awaiting the thresher. Everywhere are
immense hay meadows, and yet not a
hundredth part Of the luXuriant prairie
grass will be cut. So dense a growth of
grass has not. often been seen on the
slope. And what untold wealth waves
there in the deep grass if it were all con-
verified into porterhouse and sirloin and
short rib, with cattle selling like con
densed milk in Klondike, and the beef
COW or steer jumping over the moon in
oot,,u1if,- ,,1,or tho ~r;no DE 1,ooF i. no,,
sidered. ..
Up river from Washburn a half mile
or so the Missouri has one of its moods,
and flows between two firm banks, bare
~ a stones throw across. The river
seems to have lost it's sane up that way,
and there's not a bar in sight none in
Washburn, either, for that matter). Here
is where the Bismarck, Washburn Il TT.
Buford road proposes to put it's ferry.
On the opposite side rolls away off into
the hills, the valleyof the Knife river. Pro
gress in the settlement of this region has
been more rapid than is generally known.
Ranch house after ranch house is to be
seen, so far off that the farthest one
looks like a mere speck on the hill side.
Thrifty settlers have located here, with
bands of cattle, whose numbers have in
creased until there are now, in reality,
cattle on a thousand hills, and free
grass, pure water and fresh air are being
converted into bands of sleek, fatbeeves.
On, along the bank of the river, and
there is a continual variety Of scenery,
shifting and changing like the aspects
of a kaleidoscope. The green fringed
river, with the hills rising, hazy and
rugged on the opposite side. On the
nearer side, the immense Hancock river
bottom-on which Commissioner Solem-
berger lives, and raises some of the best
corn that ever wore silk. And out from
this into the higher country, where the
Coal Harbor settlement rests upon the
summit and the pure air blows so free
that it approaches familiarity.
John Robinson's farm, a mile and a
half from Coal Harbor, is typical. Mr..
Robinson is a practical farmer, with an
ideal farm. He owns two sections, and
his fields rise in a gentle slope from the
farm house, which is down in the valley
and sheltered by "a grove of trees on the
west. Mr.. Robinson diversifies-raises
cattle, horses and grain, and is making
some experiments with fodder grass
Austrian bronze and millet. His horses
are blooded-and he has half a dozen
full blooded Percheron colts that are
beauties. His cattle are sleek and fat,
and there is an air of comfort and pros.
perity about the whole farm that tell the
tale of careful and intelligent farming on
the Missouri slope.
Down through the broad prairies, past
the townsite of Weller, and on through
to Washburn by the upper road, the
farms tell the same story. Dozens of
settlers who located a few years ago
farmed carefully and economically, and
are on the road to independence. The
experimental farms Of w. D. Washburn
are to be seen along the road. Two OF
three forties are in flax, sown on break.
ing, and the yield will be good-the sale
Of the grain will pay for the breaking Of
several tracts of from forty to a hun.
dred acres and leave a profit. The seed
was clean, the fields are clean as the
seed-not a weed, no mustard-just
fields of brown grain, waiting the reaper
In to the northeast of Washburn is