The Dickinson press., 1908-05-23
EXTENSIVE
IMPROVEMENTS
Squar Cleared.
Space Secured for New
Tracks, Walks, Plaza
and Parks. New Loca-
ton Of Walton e. Davis
Co. Q other Lumber
Plants Of City

VI all the recent improvements in
Dickinson, none SO greatly changes the
appearance of the business district, at
the same time showing the increasing
commercial importance and the tran
sition from the frontier town for which
the old buildings were adequate to the
modern, busting busy city, as the several
operations completed or now in progress
on depot square.
An army of laborers has been and
is still busy on the depot side of Willard
street, removing old landmarks, un-
slightly structures and mercantile build
ings occupying needed space, leav-
ing unobstructed the view of the new
passenger depot, now practically COM
pleted. The Dickinsonian who has pro-
longed overriding his winter pleasure seek
ing among California's orange groves or
at Florida's palm beaches, almost fails to
recognize his home city, when he alights
from the train to find in place of dingy
railroad buildings and warehouses a
large open square and beautiful new
depot.
All this is in accordance with plans
adopted by the Northern Pacific last fall
for extensive Improvements in this city,
providing for adequate passenger and
freight accommodations and for beauti-
flying the depot surroundings. Such
work cannot be accomplished in a few
weeks or in n year but there is already
vast improvement and the work still
goes on. The blue prints show clear
approaches east and west, the trains
arriving at and leaving. the depot by a
straight track along which concrete side
occupying the adjoining space. Six
hundred feet east means to the Soules &
west extends to the Heaton Co.'S plant.
men has jus Just h, Completed d. rasing; the h;
ready. framed into three houses on
Clough street.
HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
This was the oldest of the Dickinson
railroad buildings, being erected in 1881,
when the railroad reached Dickinson,
and antedating the depot by year. |
railroad eating-house,, where, in the
thirty minutes allowed each train for
hungry travellers with meals at 7sc.
quantity on the N. P. Buffalo, elk,
orto10~o o~1 loor ckoal~c 1$k1~ -
cluded in the bill of fare. Here Sheriff
in the spring of 1882. Flour sold at that
bushel, such items materially ~lessening
hotel worthy the name until c. H.
1883. Not until the late eighties, when
honors, did this building become the
Headquarters" "Headquarters" it has
since remained, occupied by officials
weeks since when, the new depot being
ready, there was a general exodus.
The first trees in the city were two S ct
by Mr.. Messersmith in 1882 south Of
this building. Both are now gone, one
"4ONA~o Wy q NoA AolAAAAA4S dl1AOSh dIlO
the other falling a victim to present i'm
provements, cut down to make way for
the new main track. Other trees were
set in 1891 by ]. E. Phelan, then superin-
tendentof the division.
ANOTHER LANDMARK GONE
East of the new depot it has been
necessary to remove the extensive
lumber plant of Walton & Davis te
make room for the new main track and
walks. Since the settlement of Dickin-
son this site has been occupied as a
lumber yard. James Collister first
opened a yard, then M. E. Moore.
Oscar Lehmicke purchased the Collister
yard and in 1890 Walton & Davis
bought the Moore yard and later Mr..
Lehmicke's property, giving them the
entire site.
Last fall this firm purchased nineteen
lots in block 7, just east of Fuller's
livery barn and during the winter has
been moving lumber to the new location.
The work OF moving the large lumber
shed, 20 feet by 100 feet, is entrusted to
Jack Taylor, superintendent of bridge
construction on the Northern Pacific,
and his efficient crew of men. Work
begins at once. This building contains
10000 feet of lumber, over 10000 feet in
the roof alone, and weighs over 10000
l --,.~I~ r. ~,.~1 - 1SIIs-- 49,