The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1906-08-18

and Surrounding country appeared in
recent issue of the Fargo Drum:
Dickinson, the county seat and almost
the geographical center of Stark county,
is $50 miles west of st. Paul on the North
ern Pacific railroad. Not many years
ago Dickinson and the term "wild' and
woody west" were closely associated and
it was considered wild border town.
But the people of Dickinson have kept
pace with the development of the state,
the men and women have maintained a
devoted stand for the advancements of
their citys interests, financially, socially
and educationally- they did not propose
to be outranked by any other community
in the state. Its progress has been grad
ual and healthy, proportionate to the
peculiar conditions which had to be con-
tended with and which were totally un-
like those of the middle and eastern
portions of the state. Today it has a
population of over 1900. Practically out
of the wilderness roamed over by men
and cattle there has grown city of
homes and substantial business interests
sustained solely out of the thousands of
acres of land, rich with fertility which for
so long awaited the coming of that
sturdy yeoman who with the plow and
cultivator was the means of bringing
forth the hidden wealth-which comes
from farming, cattle growing, sheep
raising, dairying and other interests,
which the turning over of the soil have
developed, clay deposits and coal in rich
abundance. All these have been found,
the possession of them having been pub
lished at home and abroad and finally
farmers throughout the country became
attracted to the fertile acres. This re-
suited in the recent new immigration
which has caused such an awakening and
for which Dickinson kept herself in read
mess for the business which should be
added to the enormous cattle shipments
and that which came to the city as being
the clearing station Tor nearly 100000
pounds of wool annually for shipment
east.
Business interests are nurtured by a
commercial club of which DR.. V. II.
Stickney is president and w. F. Burnett
is secretary. There are eighty members
and there is working fund of $1,000 in
the treasury. The club has before it a
Carnegie library proposition and it is
hoped to have club quarters here.
Ample telephone service is supplied
by the Dickinson Telephone Co. There
are $50 local phones and long distance
service between the city and Mandan,
and there are lines south to New Eng
land, Saltwater and Haley, and north to
Fayette and Oakdale; also west to Glen
dive with connecting lines at Belfeld,
Medora, Sentinel Butte and Wibaux.
There are four newspapers, The Dick
inson PRESS, established in 1883, and
published from as fine newspaper
building as there is in the state; The
Dickinson Recorder, edited by w. A.
Carter; The Post, six-column folio,
published Wednesdays and Saturdays
by E. L Scofeld and w. D. Kirkman;
and Der Volksfreund. published by
Thos. L. Rabsteinek.,
With the growth and progress of the
city have come the refining influences of
music, art and culture. There are sew
eral musically inclined people who in
spire musical entertainments and at
fractions of a high standard. Miss Edna
Scofeld does profitable business in
work, and there is studio of music.
tensive freight yards here, round house
Dickinson is thriving community which
with other towns west of the Missouri by
the improved conditions which have
made the enormously productive lands
attractive and inspired greater develop
ment along all lines.
ACQUIRED FEDERAL LANDS.
The records of the Dickinson land
office tell an interesting story of this
part Of the states development. In
April, this year, there were $40 entries
made, representing the ultimate transfer
from Uncle Sam of 1886 acres. In
May there were SIS entries, represent
ing S1,o1o acres, and in June 656 entries
and lo4,322 acres. During the fiscal
year of 1905 there were I,745 entries
made. For the first six months of the
current year 2,678 entries for original
homesteads were made.
Increase in the demand for govern
ment land is reflected in the receipts of
the Dickinson land office. The total
receipts of the office for 1905 we're s44,-
$50. For the six months ending June 80.
1906, jonly half the period, the receipts
. amounted to S48,737. While considerable
land was fled on in. Stark county the
biggest movements were in Hettinger
and Bowman counties, the attraction
possibly being the contemplated Mil
waukee extension to the coast from
Evarts. On July 2, at the close of bust
ness, the cash receipts of the office
amounted to s732 and the number Of
entries AZ. The scene during the early
hours of the day was one resembling a
big rush.
Another index of permanent develop
ment is told in the records of the clerk
of court. In April, this year, there were
issued 100 first citizen papers; in May,
144; and in June 50. -Four or five years
ago the number Of papers issued was
about five or six a month. Five years
ago there was no demand for land
offered at 80 cents an acre; today, sales
of those same properties are being re.
corded at $40 an acre, and there have
been recent sales of lands IS miles south
of Dickinson at SI2 to SIS an acre-and
active demand at those figures.
LANDS.
During the last FIVE years the move
ment of lands in the western part oi
Stark county has been remarkable, the