The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-12-21
some GOOD new TOWNS Established
Country Line d Geat Northern branch From York u
Dvnseih s nsins Rapidly Developed.

York. In Benson county, Is . juno.
ttion on the main line of the Great
lsNorthern and the point from which
DIVORCES one Of the recently construct
ed feeder lines Of the Hill system,
touching the. northeastern corner OF
Pierce county and traversing the cen
ter of Rolette county to Dunseith, to
which point 1t has been extended from
Thorne this year. The county seat,
Minnewaukan, is reached by the North
ern Pacific, via Leeds.
York, to-day has population of over
500, the towns growth has been par
ticularly marked during the past years
and more active development Of the
country contiguous began. seven or
eight years ago, especially south and
southwest. In the country north there
were earlier settlements. A fertile re-
gion, southwest of York, became at
tractive to Dunkard communities AMI
they have done much toward perma-
nent development.
Improved lands in the vicinity of
York today command $25 per acre, but
little is on the market Five years
ago there was no lack Of opportunities
for settlers desiring to file on govern
ment lands and homesteads, south and
west Of York There is very differ
ent story to tell to-day. One authority
told the writer that there were not 200
of STR ir,,n RI
York. From 1899 to the present time
this section mas been blessed with Il
more favorable distribution of precip!-
tation, some years the weather records
show an increase in the amount Of
rainfall. These changed and more ia
vcr2b!e conditions have eXcrted ben
es!cial effects Of great value t. the
farmer and lands g decade ago c,assed
under the lead Of arid have become 50
prolific from fertility which only
needed the assistance of more favor
able moisture to make yields above an
average crop the rule instead Of the
exception. The general average yield
for wheat this year will be less than
fifteen bushels to the acre. Duru1n
wheat is particularly adapted to this
region and generally yields a third
mere than other varieties. On one
farm of ninety eight acres near town,
this year the average was twenty-threo
! Bushels to the acre and weighed sixty
three pounds to the bushel. Blue stem
on field of 100 acres averaged about
fifteen bushels and IN adjoining field
CT ninety acres of Fife averaged &:
fraction over fifteen bushels to the
acre, with weights of about sixty-one
pounds to the bushel.
The installing Of local telephone
system is under way.
There is a good graded school here
and there are a number of pupils talk
ing subjects in the first year high
school course.
Church bodies represented are the
Methodist, Episcopal and the Dunk
ards have house of worship.
There are two banks at York, the
York State bank and the Bank of York.
In business lines there are good rep
reservations and in the general stores
large and attractive stocks are car
RED
There are four large elevators hero
and farming communities tributary to
York contribute literally to the nearly
100000 bushels of wheat which is
the present output of wheat in Benson
county. There is also considerable
dax raised in this section
There are many evidences of grow
ing prosperity in the country about
York in the shape of new farm build
ings, barns and attractive residences
and more attention is being devoted to
diversified farming. There is cream
eyr at York under the management Of
]. e. Hopkins.
Thorne.
Thorne, which is in Rolette county,
has for some time been the terminal
Of the York-Thorne branch, but this
summer the line has been extended to
Dunseith at the foot of the Turtle
mountain range.
As one enters the town the impress
sion gains that the visitor is in some
French suburb and it is suggested by
the frequency of French names and
titles on the store fronts and signs.
There are six large elevators at this
station and about the middle Of Sep
! TENDER this year three Of them were
dlled to capacity.
Although q. comparatively new town
there are signs Of progression along all
lines and the stores of the merchants
attract considerable trade from the
| prosperous farmers tributary to this
station.
In the line Of buildings this year a
new Catholic church, 84x40 feet, to
cost $4,000, was under construction,
also Methodist church to cost $4,000,
and improvements have been made in
the line Of residences. A prominent
building Is the State Bank Of Thorne,
w. l. Merrick, cashier. At present
there is no civic organization. SO that
n