The Dickinson press., 1908-05-23

cleared of the old buildings and ware
houses, the new depot appears to much
better advantage, and every Dickinson
ian may be proud of the city's passenger
depot.
CITY'S LUMBER FIRMS
In connection with the moving of the
Walton & Davis lumber yards, it is
interesting to note the growth of the
lumber business in the city.
Up to the time when Messrs. Walton
4 Davis engaged in the lumber business,
no one had made a financial success of
it in Dickinson and these gentlemen
were warned that they also would lose
money. But they stayed with the bust
ness and have built up one of the largest
plants in the state. A small plant was
started at the west end of the railroad
yards in the early nineties and was
owned at different times by Leask Bros,
T. ]. Greene and Mckenzie & Jones.
These gentlemen all seemed to prefer
other lines of business and in the year
1893 the Mandan Mercantile Co. secured
this location and has done a large and
successful business, erecting a fine brick
Office, lumber and machine sheds and a
$4,000 bushel grain elevator. While
this company has had no direct notice to
vacate the railroad land, the new track
is shown to pass directly through their
yard. 1t may be some time, however,
before the railroad company will be
ready for this property.
In speaking of the lumber business in
Dickinson, which in these later years
has proven anything but a poor in
vestment, it were we'll to note the two
new firms.
Soules & Butler opened a yard on
east Willard street in 1895. They .pur-
chased IS feet on a good corner, where
they have their office, and their increas-
ing business has necessitated the buying
OF 50 feet more where their warehouse is
located. The new railroad arrangement
brings the main track a little nearer their
yard.
A year later, in 1906, the Geo. Heaton
Lumber Co: purchased a wedge shaped
piece of land, some 400 feet long,
1850 feet wide at the west end and some
50 feet at the east end, just west Of the
Mandan Mercantile Co.'S yards. They
have a fine office, extensive lumber sheds
and will be conveniently near the main N.
blue prints.
L FIRM-NEw LoCACATIoN
A visit to the Walton and Davis Cos
plant elected some interesting infor-
nation. Messrs w. H. Walton and ]. F.
Davis came to Dickinson in 1882, the
former from Texas, the latter from Mary
land, although he had spent a rear and
a half in Nebraska, previous to coming
to this state. Both gentlemen put in a
part of the first year hunting buffalo on
the range. They didn't find this remun-
erative and shortly after returning to
town, Mr.. Walton went into business for
himself and Mr.. Davis worked for sew
eral years for James Collister in the lum-
Der business. The Walton and Davis
partnership wa formed in 1890. To
their large lumber plant in 1905 they
added a $4,000 bushel grain elevator.
Last year the business was reorganized
under the name of the Walton & Davis
Co.. Harry Beidler, the. firms efficient
book-keeper for several years, becoming
a partner in the business.
The new yards cover a large portion of
block 7 and are 35ofeetlong by $50 wide.
Everything has been done with a view to
both permanance and greatest convent
ence. The yard is surrounded by a
o-foot fence and arranged with three
gates and driveways north and south and
one west gate. Within this enclosure at
the present time are 100000 feet of
lumber, easily making this the largest
yard west of Fargo.
Along the west side of the block, the
new $4,000 Office occupies the Willard
street corner. Back of this is a new
warehouse 48x1oo feet, while the re-
mainder of the west side is reserved for
the old 20 by 100 foot warehouse, the
foundation for which is already in.
The 80 by AZ foot Office is Of the latest
design with wide projecting roof relieved
by eyebronx windows and the south and
west fronts have the finest of plate and
bevel plate windows. Within, con-
venience has been sought and obtained.
There is an Office lobby, work-room, two
private Offices and a store room, while a
vault furnishes security for valuable
books and papers.
The grain elevator will be moved to
the new location as soon as possible and
this will mean no little labor. The