The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-04-19
KIND TRIBUTE
Paid To Bemidji and Its Worthy
Environments by the
Crookst0n Journal.
SUMMER RESORT
of Rare Attractions. Fine Busi-
ness Prospects. Future
Agricultural Center.

Bem1dji, the beautiful county
seat of Beltrami county, is one of
4 the Iiyliest towns in the state.
The rapid growth Of the town
since the completion of the rail-
road has surpassed even the en- en-.
thusiastic proprietors of the town
site. In December 1898 the popu-
lation was less than 500. The
most Of these, living III temporary
buildings constructed Of boards
and tarred paper. Now, the popu-
lation exceeds 1000. Streets
have been graded sidewalk built.
water works put in, and a fine
electric light plant installed. The
hall and opera house, q fine struc-
1 ture which cost SIX thousand. FIVE
hundred dollars, two banks, two
saw mills, one first class and seven
or eight second class hotels, eight
general stores, twenty five saloons,
a dozen restaurants, three black
smith shops, two meat markets,
three bakeries, steam laundry,
one dry goods store, two furniture
stores, two merchant tailors,
two millinery stores. a news stand,
two clothing stores, two drug
stores, three or four notion stores
and hardware and one jewelry and
music store, comprise the business
portion of the town. All seem to
be doing a satisfactory business.
Hotels and boarding houses full of
guests and everybody In shops and
stores busy with their customers.
The county business is trans
acted ina temporary two story
8. mod aern bnil ding A 4sx7o feet on the
4 corner Of Fourth street and Bel
trami avenue But the county
owns an entire block between
Sixth and Seventh streets where
they propose building a permanent.
court house. A brick jail costing
$5, 600 has just been completed on
the corner Of this block.
The Presbyterian, Methodist.
Baptist and Catholic denomina-
tions each have churches.
A large brick school house with
four large well lighted school
rooms was built ii 1897, but this
is already inadequate for the
growing population, and it has
been necessary to rent four out.
side buildings the past winter to
accommodate over 300 scholars
with eight teachers.
Many neat private residences
have been built and many more
are in progress Of construction.
These are scattered through the
native pine forest and ares scource
Of continual surprise to a stranger.
st. Anthoney hospital built by
the Catholic sisters, is. beautifully
located on the lake shore at the
south end of the lake boulevard a
beautiful driveway passing a park
on the bank Of the lake, one-half
mile long and from one to three
hrundred feet wide which has.
been reserved by the toWnsite
proprietors. This is well covered
with native trees that have been
thinned and trimmed. Zigzag
walks bordered with vines and
shrubbery lead down the hill to
the waters edge. The village
authorities are building a fine dock
and boat landing at the foot OF
Third street. One stern wheel
steamer, several steam launches
and feet of row boots are avail
able for use on the beautiful lake
which is an oval body of water
from three to four miles wide and
six miles LONG. the high heavily
wooded banks making it one OF
the most attractive bodies of water
In the state. The Mississippi flows
through the lake which is well
stocked with Iish, and has already
become favorite resort for fish
ing and camping parties from the
Red River Valley.
The country around Bemidil is