Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-11-06

March 3, 1853, Jefferson Davis, then
secretary of war, and later president
of the southern confederacy, procured
the passage of a resolution by con-
gress authorizing him, as Secretary of
war, to make such explorations as he
deemed advisable to ascertain the
most practicable route for a railroad
from the Mississippi river to the Pa
cifc ocean. Under this resolution
three expeditions were organized, one
to survey a southern, one a central
and the other a northern route.
A southern route to the Pacific had
long been favorite scheme Of the
leading men Of the south with view
to Strengthening the predominating
influence of that section in the nation
al government against possible north
ern development.
The panic Of 1857 interviewed, and in
1861 the war of the rebellion. Result
ing from the war the construction of
the Union Pacific railroad became a
necessity, and the interests of the
northern route were oyershadowed by
the greater public interests then de-
manding attention. The Union Pa
cific railroad company was incor-
porated by act of congress July 1,
1862. Lands were granted, and also
a subsidy in bonds, in order to pro-
mote the construction of the road at
the earliest possible date. July 2,
1864, the Northern Pacific railroad
company was incorporated by act of
congress. 1t was granted lands to the
extent of forty sections to the mile in
the territories and twenty in the
states, but a money subsidy was
denied.
Joseph Perham of Maine had been
the leading character in securing the
charter for the construction of the
Northern Pacific railroad. Congress
having denied subsidy in money to
aid in the construction the charter
was. likely to fail, when the active
services of Thomas a. Garfield of
Burlington, Vermont, were enlisted,
and through his efforts a syndicate
was formed consisting Of J. G. Smith
of st. Adams, Vermont, Richard u
Rice OF Augusta, Maine, and others.
Later, Jay Cooke G Co, Charles B.
Wright, Thomas A. Scott, Frederick
Billings of Woodstock, Vermont. and
VIM. Window and VIM. King of Mime
sofa became identified with them, anG
to these men belong whatever credit
is due for carrying to a successful
completion this great enterprise. ~.''
In 1870 Mr.. Garfield, accompanied
by J. Gregory Smith, went to the line
of the road and selected the crossing
of the railroad. at sBrainerd. Minnesota
laid out the town of Brainerd, planned
for the location. of the shops and
located the Red river crossing at Far.
go. Ar. Garfield returned the next
a
spring and located Moorhead and Far
go, and in May, 1872, located the Mis-.
souri, river crossing OF the road and
the town of Bismarck. 5g&a szA5.. !,
January 1, 1872, the first rail was
laid within the limits OF North Dakota,
the road having crossed the Red river
at Fargo at that time. In June, 1873
it was completed TO Bismarcks and ter
years later the completion Of the line
was celebrated, Sitting Bull, who at
tackled the surveyors in June, 1873
when they attempted to extend Tho
survey westward from Bismarck, ana
who attacked and destroyed Clusters
command on the Little Big Horn II
June, 1876, carried the United States
4. ~