The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-10-17
A PROFITABLE TRIP.

ton of the 500 line, General Superin-
road. w. P. Macomber and John Sat
terlund this week made a trip owe
the Washburn properties and along
the proposed extension of the new
road. The first stop was made at Will
ton, and General Manager Pennington
was surprised and pleased at the evil
dences Of substantial growth n pros
perity that he say on every hand. He
said he had no idea there was so thriv-
ing a town of such recent establish
ment, and he complimented the up-to-
date business places and the general
appearance Of the town. At mine No.
/ of the Washburn company at Will
ton the members of the party found
everything ready for an output of 1900
tons of coal a day. The new hosting
machinery was in shape and the mine
has been overhauled and put in bet
ter shape than ever before. The fine
new miners hotel was inspected, and
Landlord Bookwalter was found be
hind the counter, looing after the COM
fort of his guests. The new hotel is a
fine building, light and airy, with
baths, electric lights and all modern
~conveniences, surely a fine stopping
place for the employees of the mines.
There are accommodations for 200
guests. At the mines liberal wage
are paid, $3.50 to So a day being paid
to time laborers, and miners who work
by the ton can make as high as Sc a
day: The party also visited mine No.
2, recently opened, to which the rail
road track has been extended. 1t will
begin to turn out coal for the market
in about two weeks.
From Wilton the party went on to
Washburn, which impressed Mr.. Pen
nington greatly with evidences of
substantial growth. He was surprised
at the rapid increase in the number
Of business places and fine residences
and stated that when Washburn ha,,
electric lights and waterworks it woulG
stopping at Washburn the party went
on to Underwood, where they looked
over the line recently built and which.
is we'll constructed and very c%reditable
to General Superintendent Eckles and
Engineer Whitman. Underwood has
a fine new depot, a number of good
stores, banks, ETC., and has grown rap
idly. The extension recently built is
being surfaced and will be a fine piece
of road.
Teams took the party from Under
wood along the route of the proposed
extension, east of Coal Harbor. Here
a fine and growing settlement of farm
ers was found. Good crops are found
in many places. A yield of as high as
twenty-six bushels to the acre is re-
ported, although late and heavy rains
IdNS ulduc IL ullllCuiI w SdtuSl LuS
crops. Flax yields are not so good,
much of it having been sown late and
being caught by the frost. 1t is fortu-
nate, however, hat there is plenty Of
work at the mines and in other places,
so there need be no suffering for lack
of employment.
Thence the party drove on to Fort
Stevenson. through a fine valley and
gently rolling country. General Wash
burn was much surprised at the extent
of the settlement. but when it is re-
membered that 1856 homesteads were
taken in Mclean county last year.
many of them in this section, the
growth Of the country will be better
understood. Many of the settlers have
not builded on their claims yet. so that
h extent Of the settlement next year
will be far greater. The settlers are
there ahead of the road. and when
that Is completed it will tax its haul
ing capacity to take care of the Grain
shipments.
The party drove for about twenty
five miles along the extension and then
turned south to Coal Harbor. Gen.
Washburn ordered the steamer Wash
burn to meet the party there. At Coal
Harbor everything was busy. Major
George L. Robinson was, as usual,
busy packing and %unpacking merchan-
disc and only waiting for the road to
be built and a town Established out OF
the railroad limit to move the town bag
and baggage to the new town. Coal
Harbor is now twelve miles from I'm.
derwood and about five miles from the
proposed extension. Major Robinson
still enjoys the trade of the surround
ing country and carries the largest
stock in the northwest.
General Manager Pennington spoke
of the excellent condition Of the Wash
burn line and the good work that has