Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-06-06
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rontier c Conditions ii Fargo and Bismarck
Extracts from Moses K Armstrong Book 1.-The Empire Builders
&,% Of the Great West"
Fargo. Dakota, Aug. 81, 1874.

rs M: Fargo, Dakota, Aug. 81, 1874.
+ Seven years ago the present month,
I made my first trip to the Red River
Of the North, and was twenty-one days
in reaching Fort Abercrombie from
Yankton, by team. Then there was
not horse or a settler to be found on
the Dakota side of the Red river, from
that military fort to Pembina, near the
British boundary, a distance OF near
two hundred miles. At that time, al
so, there were no settlements on the
Missouri river in Northern Dakota, ex-
cept a small military post and q few
Indian villages. / was then engaged
in extending and establishing the first
lines for the government survey Of
lands In this rich and beautiful valley,
which had recently been purchased by
the United States, from the Chippewa
and Red Lake Indians. 8
We encountered untold hardships
and sufferings upon the Wild
plains at that time, and met with
no human habitations until we reached
the Pembina river, near British
America, on which stream we found
the old and long tablished half-breed
settlement, which had been there since
1928, at which time Lord Sell1irk er-
roneously located one of his British
colonies on American soil. This is
the settlement which was always good
for 1900 democratic votes in the early
days Of Joe Rolette and Minnesota
territory. Two years ago I made a
second trip to this northern, part of
Dakota, but On different business. I
had been nominated for congress, and
I was therefore looking for votes in
stead Of lines and corners, and very
naturally went over the ground again
thoroughly, and had a good opportuni-
ty to note the progress and improve
ment made in the interval of five
years. I then made the trip. to Penn
bina and return In commodious four
horse coaches, and crossed over to
James river 100 miles on the construc-
ton train of the Northern Pacific Rail.
road, and from there rode and swore
behind a mule team for three days,
before reaching Bismarck, then known
as Edwinton. IL s5.
The Northern Pacific Railroad is
now completed and regular trains run
ming thereon from Fargo on the Red
river to Bismarck on the Missouri, a
distance of 1914 miles. Under the
close and judicious supervision OF
General Manager Mead and his faith
full corps of subordinates along the
whole line from Duluth to Bismarck,
the road has been safely brought out
Of the chaos temporarily thrown upon
Fit by; the Jay Cooke failure, and Is
now doing a creditable business above
expenses. in the way of freight and
passenger traffic. Conductor Beatty in
formed me that Manager Mead had SO
systemized his working forces and
Icurtailed the hitherto enormous ex.
penses OF the company that the entire
cost Of operating the road during the
!! present season has only reached about
81 500 per month, while their receipts
have go far exceeded this amount It Is
anticipated the company will this sea-
son be able to pay 100000 interest on
the Northern Pacific bonds. Long
trains OF heavy freights for Montana
pass to the end of the road at Bis
marck, but the enormous shipments
destined for the Hudson Bay country
are the geatest sources Of revenue to
the railroad. Five steamboats, have
been engaged during the season in
transporting these goods from the cars
to Fargo down Red river to the Pro
vince Of Manitoba, distance Of 300
miles by water and about 200 by land.
During the past few years the
freight and passenger traffic on Red
river has so rapidly increased that
shipbuildine on, the banks Of that
stream is becoming an important
branch Of industry, giving employment
to many mechanics and lumbermen in
the winter season. At Grand Forks
large mills have been erected and boat
docks constructed, and at this place
steamers, barges and fiat boats are
built for the summer trade, The large
forests Of heavy oak timber found
there afford excellent material FOL
! shipbuild ding.
The Red river during the BOATING
season 10. also crowded with RATS oi
pine lumber which come down from
| the Minnesota forests through the
Otter Tail river, and are hoated fol
hundreds Of miles down north Into TIN
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