Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-04-06
RISMARCK'S GROWTH.
As Seen by Editor Winship of the
Grand Forks Herald on His Recent
Visit Here.
Remarks the Substantial Air of Pros
perity that is Evident and the
City's Improvement.

perity that is Evident and the
City's Improvement.
Editor Winship of the Grand Forks
Herald made a trip to the city last
week and in the Grand Forks Herald
is a kindly article, speaking of the
improvements noticeable in and about
Bismarck. The Herald says:
Not a city in the state is giving
more evidence of prosperity than is
Bismarck, and the changes made with
in the past year seem truly. remark
able to one who has not visited the
city for some time.
One of the most important improve
ments is, of course, the Irvine plant at
the penitentiary, a description of
which was published in the Herald a
few days ago. The machinery at the
plant is now in operation, and in turn
ing out Irvine in small quantities,
which will be increased as fast as the
men become accustomed to the work.
They are o being trained in shifts of
eight, a new shift being added as soon
as the men in the last have become
accustomed to the work. The Herald
has a number of photographs of the
interior of the building, and also a
sample of the first Irvine manufac-
tured. The Irvine is a little rough
yet, but this will be remedied as soon
as everything gets to working regu-
larly. The sample may be seen at the
Herald office by any one wishing to
examine it. The board has not yeti
fixed the price of the product nor ar
ranged for it's distribution. 1t is in
tended to distribute it as widely as
possible through the state, sending
some to each county, that all may have
an opportunity to examine and test
it. 1t will not be possible, Of course,
to supply anywhere near all the Irvine
that will be needed in the state, and a
plan of distribution as nearly uniform
as possible will be followed.
The plant has been constructed, and
will be operated almost entirely by
prison labor under the general direc-
ton of Warden Boucher. In the op-
GRAFTON of the plant it may be said that
nothing but prison labor will be en-
ployed, as, of the entire force, there
is only one, the superintendent, who is
not a convict. There are now about
l35 prisoners, of whom about IS will
be required at the Irvine plant, leav-
ing only GO for all the other labor car
ried on. These men will earn their
own maintenance, and there may be |
a demand for more. Warden Boucher
jocularly urges the populous Red River
valley counties to send in as many az
possible.
MI. Boucher is evidently the right
mar in the right place. The Irvine
plant, while the largest, is only one
of the great number of improvements
which have been we'll and cheaply
constructed by the prisoners. A mag
nlfcent warden's residence which cost
the state $4,000 could not be dupli-
Gated for less than $1,000 or $4,000. The
penitentiary brick plant has supplied
all the common. brick used at the
military post, farming is carried on
on a large scale, and everything about
the place, inside and out, is kept in
splendid condition.
The new military post is to be one
OF the important features of Bismarck
hereafter.
Major Robertson is in command, and
Engineer Humphrey, of the quarter
masters department, has immediate
charge of the work of construction.
Both are courteous officials, and are
attentive, not only to their regularly
prescribed duties, but to visitors who
desire to. inspect the buildings.
These buildings are of an official
character, and represent the expend-
lture of a large amount Of money. The
Irvine plant is the largest manufacture
ing institution in the state, and the
military buildings, constructed on such
an elaborate scale, assure the MAIN
tenance OF soldiers at Bismarck for
many years, making the city the mill
tary center of the state.
The Northern Pacific some time ago
purchased the old Sheridan hotel prop
erty and will begin work on the cree
ton OF a new depot by May l.. Ar
engagements have been made for the
erection OF a c~ommodious and hand
some brick hotel, which will be ready
Tor occupancy before the legislature
meets next winter.
All this activity is not the result of
speculation, Of government a%ppropri-
atoms, or OF any other artificial con-
dltlons. These, of course, have as
sisted, but the real basis of the i'm
provements being made is of a more
permanent and enduring nature. The
western counties are being rapidly
peopled from the eastern states, and
OF the immense immigration to this
state this year the territory tributary
to Bismarck is receiving it's full share.
There are hundreds of thousands of
acres of fertile land in the Missouri
valley upon which settlers will make
their homes this year. The result
will be the steady and increasing
growth of Bismarck, whose facilities
for serving as the distributing center
OF a large district are immense. The
position occupied by Bismarck as a
great retail center, with the added adj
vantage of possessing state and ma
tional institutions of such Importance