Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1906-05-10
THRU Fertile COUNTRY
John Sdtterlund Makes a Trio Over
the new 500 Extension in Mclean
County.

County.
The Washburn Leader tells of the
experiences and information gathered
by Hon. John Satterlund of Washburn
who has been getting the right Of way
for the new 500 extensions in Mclean
county: The trip began at Martin in
the northeast corner of Mclean county
on the 500 main line. The vicinity OF
Martin is good country and the sod
shanties of other years have given way
to neat substantial farm houses with
large barns. Many improvements have
been made in that part Of the county
in a few years. After leaving Martin,
the party stopped at Drake which is
the junction of the roads on the Gar
rison extension from the south. Drake
is expected to become a division point
and is bustling place. The 500 owns
half the townsiJe and the other half
is owned by man after whom the town
is named. At Drake are men and
teams ready to begin work on the new
branch.
The settlement southwest of Drake
for six or seven miles is composed of
German and Scandinavian farmers
most Of them anxious to do the fair
thing by the railroad company in the
matter Of right of way. Further along
to tine southwest is straight Russian
settlement located there within the
last'ten years. Frame houses and stone
basement barns have replaced the first
sod shack and about so per cent. of the
land is under cultivation. Everybody
works, even father in the Russian set
tlement, the fields are clean and the
stone all gathered from the land and
piled up ready to 60 into Easements
for barns and other buildings.
The new road strikes Mclean county
in section 4-l50-77, and then runs in a
westerly direction for forty-tive miles,
running through the northern tier of
townships in Mclean county. with the
exception Of a. feWE X. miles tyhfa2s run.
through McHenry county, going around
the Dog Den hills.
Another settlement along the new
line is a Jewish settlement which is
thriving and another settlement of
mixed Americans and Scandinavians
are located around the Dog Den hills
where the country is fine land which |
20 years ago was covered with wild
strawberries.
In this part of the country were
once extensive ranches most of the
ranchers having been driven out by
the taking up of the land. One sur
viving ranchman sees the fate Of others
following him and will have to 60 farm
ing or get out. In township $50 range
81 is the only quarter of government
land open to settlement in the S5 miles
Of new extension, and this vacant
quarter is very stony.
From Garrison the road runs south !
west and then northwest to Douglas
post office through country of good
land all taken up and some Of it culti- |
waited. From Douglas west and north
west there is good land, about the best
on the whole line resembling the Red
river valley but covered with small
lakes. The road after leaving Mclean
county cuts off the northeast corner
Of the Ft. Berthold reservation. The
land is generally level with rich black
loan soil. The town of Garrison is
growing fast with lines of business
generally we'll represented, and
will control a large trade from west
of the river in Mercer county in the
Big Bend of the Missouri. A ferry
will be put in by the Garrison people.
Graders are out over nearly the whole
line, the road crossing many of the
large coulies and there will be some 60
miles of heavy grading.
Speaking of the price of land IN this
vicinity, as soon as fifteen acres are
broken and under cultivation the land
is held at SO, 500 quarter and. from
that up to $4,000, according to the
buildings erected. Those who have
not seen how rapidly the prairies are
being developed into good farms would
be surprised at the change. that has
taken place IN this locality. All the
farmers have good buildings, fine
horses and modern machinery and all
are happy to see the advent of the 500.
Naa,lno "a (lrpani7a Earnare