The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-25
Foster County, North Dakota
Center of Rich Farming and Stock Raising Country

Foster county, North Dakota, was
organized June 1, 1873, by an act of
the Tenth Territorial assembly Orig
inally it included Eddy county, but
this was clipped off in 1885. 1t has it's
name from Addison G. Foster, present
United States senator from Washing
ton. Mr.. Foster was for many years
a member of the firm of Griggs & Fos-
ter, in the fuel trade in st. Paul. The
firm bought a large body Of Northern
Pacific land in this section of North
Dakota and exploited it. The county Of
Griggs, just east of this, was named
for his partner. Some years ago the
firm removed to Tacoma, Wash, and
established a lumber company. and be-
came prominent in milling interests in
parison of crops and values Foster does
not show as imposing totals as the
larger counties, but averages are as
large. The latest statistics show that
both oats and flax lead wheat in total
number of bushels of each, oats show
ing 100000 bushels, flax 500,5O0 bushels,
while the wheat yield was 334, ,000 bush
els. All the other staples-corn, bar
ley, rye, potatoes-made pro-
alton of this county last year was
$1,S93,29 The number of head of live
stock of all kinds reported for assess
ment was about $1,000. There are
many farms in the county, and consid-
cradle attention is being given to live
stock. The population is estimated at
above 5000. The county has never had
anything like boom, the growth hav-
ing been steady and permanent. No
county in the state offers greater in
ducements for new settlers.
The soil Of thp pnuntU ic OIIita I1Oi-
formly a 1oam with clay subsoil, re-
tentive of moisture. The famous James
river, the most noted arteSian basin
in the world, crosses the county from
north to south. There are several
pretty lakes in the county. Native
trees are found along the streams, but
the fuel principally used is Ignite from
the mines of neighboring counties;
rates on railroads. however, allow the
bringing in Of Eastern coal. Excellent
stone for building purposes Is found.
Foster county is one of the smallest
in the state, territorially, containing
only eighteen congressional townships
of land, but it's all good. 1t is CEN
trally located in the eastern half of the
state, and is reached by two railroads,
the Northern Pacific with thirty miles
of line in the county, and the 500 with
twenty-six miles. The Northern Pa
cific has three branches in the county,
one from jamestown, on the main line,
reaching Darlington, 3S7 miles from st.
Paul, and one from Sanborn n-the main
line, to McHenry, In the northern part
Of the county, 382 miles from st. Paul.
The third branch of the Northern
Pacific runs from Darlington west
through Wells county into Mclean
county, a distance of fifty or more
miles. The main line of the 500 runs
through the county, reaching Caring
ton in a run of 362 miles from st. Paul.
The Northern Pacific has seven sta
tions in the county, and the 500 has
four. In respect to railway facilities
the county is well equipped, at least
very much better than some of it's big
neighbors. Extensions are proposed by
both lines, and when these are built
Foster will be favored equal to the
best in the state.
Darlington. the judicial seat, is the
chief town of the county, and has up
wards Of 1,200 population. 1t is at the
crossing of the 500 and Northern Pa
cific railways, between which there is
rivalry for business, and the result is
that Darlington is favorably situated
in the matter of rates and for getting
in and out of town. 1t is a typical
Western town-elevators, flour mills,
stores-a commercial rather than an
Industrial center, and place that does
much more business than towns sew
eral times it's size in the less hustling
East.
An essential feature of town is it's
educational facilities, and Darlington
offers everything desirable in that
direction. Nor is the religious side of
life neglected, for several of the lead
ing denominations are represented, the
Methodists, Congregationalists, Cath
olics and Dunlxards, each having good
buildings, while other organizations
hold services in halls, preparatory to
putting up structures of their own.
The strenuous life of the prairie has
not absorbed the energies of the citi-
zens of Darlington, for the social and
fraterna1 side of life has not been ne
elected. No town in the state of the
same size has more secret and bene-
violent orders. There are many fine
residences several of which would
do credit to large cities. The school
house is a brick structure, and the
court house is ample in size for sew
eral years to come. Sidewalks run
from the business section into the resi-
dence section, and altogether the town