The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-11-30

and the attention of Gen. Wash
burn was riveted to that region sur
rounding the town on the big bend
of the Missouri river bearing his
name Messrs. Satterlund and
other early pioneers had studied
the coal proposition and the
analysis of their deposits also
challenged the admiration of Mr..
Washburn.
Early in 1898 Gen. Washburn
purchased ll5,O00 acres Of land
from the Northern Pacifc-the
cream of all the company had left
east of the Missouri river in Nc
Lean and Burleigh counties. Dis
appointed at the delay of the 500
in extending its line into this re-
gion, in August Gen. Washburn
made a thorough personal exami-
nation of the lands he had pur-
chased, and acquainted himself
with the general characteristics of
the country. He also visited the
Satterlund coal mine and had ship
ments of Ignite made to the 500
shops in Minneapolis to be tested.
He also had an analysis of the
soils made and obtained data
about. the climatic features, amount
of rainfall, etc, learning to his as
tonishment that failures of crops
were almost unknown in portions
of the great bend country and that
in every respect this great area of
wild, unbroken land possessed ad-
vantages of surprising merit.
General Washburn is man who
acts on his judgment. He is not
a theorist. He does not leave for
others to do in the future that
which his judgment says should
be done now. He believed a rail-
road to Mclean county would pay.
It would open his lands to rapid
settlement and develop the coal
industry of the Missouri slope. He
decided to build and equip an in
dependent line. Time has already
justified his actions. The region
known as the Washburn land belt
is being settled up. New towns
have sprung up as if by magic,
and Washburn, the metropolis of
this region has grown beyond the
anticipations of her most enthus-
iastic boomers.
Wehave to thank General Wash
burn for all the development and
prosperity this section is now en-
joyllg. To his foresight and sa-
gacity may be attributed the build
ing of a railroad at this time and
without a railroad no considerable
advancement would be possible.
The building of the road and the
interest he has taken in coal min
ing have done more for the devel-
opment of the coal industry in two
years than had been done by all
other influences combined during
the last twenty years. Over half
a million dollars have been ex-
pended in building the road to
Washburn and the pay roll of the
company, outside of the construct
ion force and officers salaries is
now something like $25,OOO
month. The greatest coal mining
plant in the STAGE has been estab-
lished near Wilton on the boun-
Diary line of Rurleigh and Mclean
counties and a string of elevators
belonging to the Washburn CON-
pany extend from Bismarck to
Mannhaven over in Mercer county.
A frst-class steamboat line has
been put on the Missouri river and
a ferry line established, centering
the business west of the river at
Washburn. Extensive terminal
improvements are also planned for
next year. Washburn will have
repair shops elegant passenger
and freight depots and a modern
hotel equal to any in the north
west.
General Washburn's life has been
an active one and success has crowned
his efforts-in politics as we'll as bus
mess. He was one Of the early pio-
noers in Minnesota, having located in
Minneapolis in 1857 where he hung
out his "shingle" as lawyer at st.
Anthony. He was president Of the
Washburn Milling company, one Of the
early enterprises, owning lumber mills
in Anoka and Minneapolis. The
passing of the lumber business marked
the beginning Of the Touring indus
try and the consolidation Of the Wash
burn mills with the Pillsbury inter-
ests-the present Pillsbury-W Washburn
Flour Mill company-and the estab-
lishment Of the greatest Touring mill
center in the world at Minneapolis.
General Washburn has promoted sew
eral railroad enterprises in the inter-
est Of Minneapolis and the northwest
and to him possibly more than any
other man is due the credit for the
"four" city's railroad supremacy. He
built the Minneapolis & St.Louis road,
.