The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-26

Bottineau and McHenry counties On the
west Williams county, and on the south
the Fort Berthold Indian reservation and
o mclean county The surface of the
plain, highest along a line extending
northwest and southeast through the CEN
Ter OF the county, with a gradual slope
on the east towards the Mouse river and
It's tributaries, and on the west towards
the Missouri and it's tributaries.
The soil of Ward county has demon
strated that it has producing powers
equal to any. For the past four years its
crops produced have been uniformly the
largest OF any section of the same size
in the state
The, The county is. traversed by the main
line of the Great Northern and 500 rail-
roads, crossing at MinOt in the eastern
part OF the county, thus furnishing ex-
celIent railroad facilities to all sections
Of the county. A branch of the Great
Northern is just building through the
eastern part OF the county from Granville,
IN the McHenry county, and other branch
lines are under contemplation
The settlement of Ward county dates
back just twenty one years. The county
was organized in 1884 and the county
seat was located at Burlington The Great
Northern reached the site Of Minot in the
fau OF 1886. and made this point the
terminus. Owing to some disagreement
between the Great Northern engineer in
charge of the extension and the DromOt-
ers OF the county in regard to the tOwnsite
at Burlington, the engineer decided to
bridge the big cOulee and go straight west
instead OF proceeding up the valley to
more favorable ground as originally in
tended. Burlington. the then county
seat, was thus left off the road. The big
bridge was afterwards destroyed by fire
and the company replaced it with steel
structure, one Of the greatest railroad
bridges in the West
Quite a townsite grew up at the ter
minus Of the railroad during the winter
and Minot thus had its beginning The
county seat was moved to MinOt the
next summer. Ten years later the Mime
apolis. st. Paul & Sault Ste. Ma
ty and Kenmare Bowbells and 9TH
er good towns have come into eX-
istence along that line. The coun-
ty has been settled up with marvellous
rapidity during the past three years, and
now villages have sprung up as though
by magic.
Some conception Of the remarkable de-
Velopment Of Ward county during the
past year may be gained from the fig
ureS kindly furnished by the county audi
tor, compiled from the returns by as
SCISSORS in the organized townships in the
county. These figures show the area sown
to wheat in 1902 was 3,43S acres; In 1903
the acreage was %, 235 acres or about ZOO
per cent. The area devoted to barley in
1902 was 1913 acres; in 1908, 6,783 acres. or
800 per cent. The area devoted to flax
in 1902 was 30,921 acres; in 1903, 6S.449
acres The total area in crop in 1902 is
given at 43, 654; in 1903 as 131 $50 acres.
The total number of farms in operation
in 1902 was S02; in 1903 the number had
increased to 2,512
TIE number Of horses in the county, as
shown by the assessors returns was IT,
762; mules, 457; cattle, 30,634; sheep, 4, IFS;
hogs !, 253.
There are great possibilities for settlers
be bought for from S. to $40 per acre, ac-
cOrding to distance from market Re-
Iinquishments of claims are also to he Sc
cured at comparatively low prices. Some