The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1905-10-18


the use OF the Government.
Government plans were made
for a building that would be
large enough to last for that
purpose for five years, and yet
this building is already found to
be almost inadequate. although
less than one YEAR old. Two of
the largest and strongest banks
in the United States are kept
busy, and two more are planned
at the present time. Mention
has been made in these columns
OF the recent failure in this City
OF the Minot National Bank.
This might, enormously be sup
posed by some persons to be in
dications that Minot is on the
wane. But, the failure OF the
Minot National Bank was in no
wise due to inactivity of the
City Of Minot, or the County Of
Ward, but solely to mismanage-
ment on the part Of it's own OFF,
GERS. In the recent investigation
by the United States Court, the
president OF the bank stated that
the affairs OF the institution had
been left solely in his care, and
then he pleaded guilty to having
embezzled the funds of the bank,
and is now serving his sentence
there for in the United States
Prison, while the enterprising
depositors are making an effort
to again put the bank "on it's
feet if not indeed to reopen it
for business.
Every commercial line is we'll
represented in the City at the
present time. The small gene
raj store Of olden times has be-
come the large departmentstore.
New stores in almost every line.
are opening up almost daily.
The only drawback being the in
ability of contractors to keep
enough buildings on hand for the
proper opening Of business men
who desire to cast their lot with
this hustli1g city. Two daily
newspapers supply the people
with news, and the Independent
does it's best to be a weekly well
come visitor. All these papers
are we'll patronized by merchants,
lawyers, real estate men and the
business world generally.
Perhaps the fairest indication
Of what is going on in Minot is
obtained from the Railroads..
During the season of the year
1904, the Great Northern Rail-
road did a freight business in Mi.
not amounting to $500, 900, and
a passenger business amounting
to $19O,OOO-or about $500
for every work dav in the year.
No figures can be obtained from
the 500 Railroad, but doubtless
that road has been treated
practically as we'll by Minot.
And then, it must be remembered
that the business for the year
1905 is far in excess Of the year
1904: so that these railroads
are having much to handle the
business forced upon them.
These two transcontinental lines
give the city a read y opening in
to the world from all directions,
unless possibly the south, and a
road will be constructed directly
south from Minot within the
next few months. About IS to
100 passenger cars run through
Minot daily on these two roads,
but it would be practically i'm
possible to estimate the fret ht
business.
AS the population has trebled
in the past year, SO have it's
buildings increased rapidly.
Real estate has gone up in price
rapidly. During the past five
years it is doubtful if a single
tenement house has been erected
that has not been rented before
the roof was on, Tenants are
glad to pay rent in advance in
this hustling city, for the enter
prising find no trouble to earn
enough to pay. During the
present year, at least 600 good,
substantial residences have been
and yet no house is
vacant. All contractors in the
City at the present time are as
busy as they can be, and all are
hunting for mechanics and labor
ers. Present prospects indicate
that they will be busy all winter.
Yet, when the Great Northern
Railroad Company began investi-
cations to see whether they
should move their railroad shops
to the City this fall or not, they
decided to wait till next spring,
as there were not sufficient resi-
dences in the City for the men to