The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-15
SLOPE CATCHES ON
Good Times Have by No Means
Passed It By.
THOUSANDS ARE MAKING HOMES
500, milwaukee and Northern Pacific
to Open Much New
Territory.
Snacial Ia The Journal

Special to The journal.
Bismarck, N. D., April 15.-After many
years the Missouri slope and the western
portion of the state of North Dakota is
coming into its inheritance. The mush-
room growths and the mutations or boom
days have given way to steady ana SUP
stantial Improvement in general conol-
tions, the present year promising to see
more development than any year 1or the
past decade or more. Hardly train over
the Northern Pacific but bears landseek-
ers into this section of the state, ABOUT
all Of whom make purchases. Where I'VE
or six years ago there were thousands OF
acres Of partly improved farming lands to
be picked up at 81 and So an acre, today
there is little land to be had at any fair
figure, about all Of it being bought u2,
either by actual settlers or by investors
who are holding it for better prices,
East of the Missouri river the Northern
Pacific has closed out all its land hold
ings to land corporations which are stiff
fleming the prices every few months.
West Of the river, much OF the railroad
land has been bought by syndicates which
have entered upon plan for settlement
by farmers and stcckmen. In the past
few months, half dozen land companies
have ben organized to deal in land by
thousands and hundreds of thousands Of
acres. ..
Principal among the features Of de-
Dakota this year will be the work to be
done by railroads. 1t is practically set
tied that the 500 will build from Brad
dock in Emmons county to Bismarck this
season. The officials of the 500 have
promised the completion of the Bismarck
extension if the citizens of the city would
furnish right OF way and terminal facili
ties in Bismarck. The citizens have
taken steps to carry out their share Of the
agreement and the terminals will be ready
for the 500. Ties and materials have al
ready been shipped by the 500 to Brad
dock, and Chief Engineer Green OF the
road made an overland trip over the
grade few days ago, to see what work
would be necessary. The work will begin
this month or next and the road is to be
ironed into the city by the first of Sep
TENDER next.
The completion OF this road will afford
Bismarck and the surrounding country
competitive freight rates, and will afford
north and south connection with the
Bismarck, Washburn & Great Falls road,
which has opened up and settled rich
farming and stock country. 1t will be an
important competitor of the Northern
Pacific in the stock regions in the western
part of the state. for a ferry will be
operated at Washburn and cattle may be
= shipped across the river there, and mar
keted via the Washburn and 500 roads.
The 500 will also carry the Ignite coal
from the Burleigh county coal fields into
the country along its line. The Wash
burn road, which was built into a COM
, paratlvely new and unsettled country a
few years ago, is now paying properly,
= and does large grain business, operat-
Ing in connection with a line of steamers
which tap the farming country in Mercer
county and on the west side of the river.
The Northern Pacific will retaliate by
cutting into 500 business, and materials
are being shipped for the beginning of
work on the extension from Mckenzie
southwark through Emmons county to the
Missouri river. This branch will open IN
new country, will tap part of the 500
territory, and is expected to touch the
@llwaukee system at Lincoln, in Emmons
Sounty.
The Milwaukee has already begun to
ouisa from Eureka to Linton, and, it is
predictes that it will be running trains
into Bismarck, either over the Northern
Pacific tracks or over a. line Of it's own
within year. The Northern Pacific may
also extend its Mclean county branch
west to the Missouri river, in an endeavor
to cut off traffic from the Washburn and
the 500 roads at that end of the line.
The demand for North Dakota farm
lands has resulted in a prosperous condi-
ton all through the western part of the
state Real estate agents rejoice in many
sales and liberal commissions. Small
hotels through the slope country enjoy an
unprecedented patronage at good rates
and the demand for lodging and accom-
nodations exceeds the capacity of many
OF the hotels to furnish. The transients
are, for the most part, land hunters with
ready money. Liverymen share in the
profits in the demand for teams to show
purchasers over outlying lands. The
butcher the baker, the candlestick maker
and all branches Of trade share in the
era of good times. The state at large will
also feel the result Of the immigration
thousands of parcels of property for
merly untaxed or taxed at a low figure
will appear on the-tax rolls of the STATE
and contribute it's share to the supper
nf ha of