The Dickinson press., 1902-03-08
STARK COUNTY
The Metropolis Of One Of the
Richest Stock and Diversi-.
. fled Farming Regions in.
the Country.

The following is taken from the Bis
marck Tribune's recent write-up Of the
Missouri slope country:
From Dickinson to Mandan the North.
ern Pacific railroad traverses the valley
of the Heart river, which together with
the Knife river and their various
branches constitute the chief water
courses of what has come to be known
as the west Missouri country, lying west
and south of the Missouri river and east
OF the Montana boundary, and is in itself
of sufficient magnitude in size and abund-
ance of resources to constitute a magni6-
cent empire. Here a score Of years ago
were enacted the scenes that resulted in
the almost total extinction of the buffalo,
that was once the monarch Of that vast
plain extending from the Gulf of Mexico
to the Canadian boundary and from the
Mississippi river to the Rocky mountains.
A vast undulating prairie with nothing to
relieve the v save here and there an
abruptly rising, towering knoll, closely
resembling the ancient pyramids of the
plains of Egypt, it possesses world wide
celebrity as the most richly grassed por-
ton of the western hemisphere.
While this great region has since the
advent of railroad construction been
given over largely to stock grazing, it
has recently been demonstrated that the
lands of a vast area of its surface are
possessed of a wonderful fertility, while
underneath almost its entire surface and
sometimes cropping out above it are vast
deposits Of a superior quality of coal.
The development of its agricultural re-
sources will be shown further on in this
sketch.
In very nearly the geographical center
of this broad domain is situated the
thriving city of Dickinson, the county
seat of Stark county, with a population
Of $500. Although the town was origin
ally plated some twenty years ago, its
chief growth has been accomplished
within the past decade. While boasting
of a lower rate of taxation than any other
city in the state, all its public improve.
ments have been made without mourning
a dollar of bonded indebtedness. Aside
from having we'll graded and well KEPT
streets, they have a substantial and well
appointed city hall and engine house
constructed of brick and stone, and a
well equipped fire department, consist
ing. of steam and chemical engines, with
water "slugs" located at convenient
points over the city; and a move has beer
inaugurated that will result in the putting
in of a complete system of sewerage
during the coming summer season.
Chief among the Improvements OF thi.
year will be the new Northern Pacific
depot, plans for which have already beer
drawn, and are now in the hands of con
tractors who are figuring on the cost, The
figures for which it is estimated will ap
proximate $4,000.
This hustling western city boasts the
proud distinction of having the only fir,
and pressed brick plant in the state,
pride certainly we'll merited, for it is al
industry of such magnitude and sucl
completeness in all the details of its ar
rangements-both natural and artificial
-as to require to be seen to be appre
! ciated. The plant is owned by thu
Dickinson Fire and Pressed Brick com
pany, and is under the personal super
vision of w. P. Brannon, a gentleman o
wide experience in brick and tile manu-
facture, as we'll as of expert knowledg,
OF the adaptability Of all the variou
kinds of clays. 1t is situated just west o
the city on the banks of the Heart river
, Between the plant and the river is a 81,
]. foot vein of clay Of such wide area as K
be practically ~inexhaustible, andimmedi
: ately underneath this is a six foot veil
of coal of superior quality. This CLAW i
particularly suited to the manufactur
of fine red facing brick and a superio
grade of thing. Across the river an,
J some few hundred yards distant is
practically in%exhaustible supply of kaolil
or pottery clay, which is used in tn,
manufacture of fire brick.
/ The plant is equipped with a Boyd dr.
press. having a capacity Of 10000 bricl
per day and one common "slop
;. brick machine having an equal capacity
Its kilns are Of the Flood down draugh
pattern, being two in number with capa
cities of $4,000 and 10000 respectivel,
The draught is supplied by a 7-foot sue
8 ton fan having 224 revolutions per min
ute, and of sufficient power to supply til
entire system of kilns; which is don
{ through a complete system of tunnel
and hampers, thus enabling the operate
to utilize alf>the heat created and di.
: tribute it to the best advantage.
The output of this plant last year wa
I something over a million and a half q
). brick, for which a ready sale was found
Although of comparatively recent brit
its fame has already extended east to tn
twin cities, north to Winnipeg and ives
to Great Falls, where a ready marke
: is found for all that can be produced.
! Evidence of the superior quality c
: the fire clay here found is contained il
: the fact that large quantities of it ar