Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-05-06
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MATERIAL GROWTH OF NORTH
~ DAKOTA,

~ DAKOTA.
In addition to a political review of
conditions in the state, the cores
pondent of the Minneapolis Journal
takes occasion to point out the re-
markable growth and development of
the western part of the state in the
past decade. To us, who have been
on the ground, and to whose appre-
citation the great growth and immi-
grafton has come gradually, the
change in conditions has been less
remarkable than to those observers
whose visits to this section of the
state are few and who are conse-
quently more impressed.
1t is probably true that within the
past ten years no section of the Unit
ed States has made healthier
growth, and has developed more in
point of population, wealth and gen
era1 conditions than the western
part of North Dakota.
Counties that ten years ago were
sparcely settled, where conditions
were comparatively unknown, where
there were few miles of railroad and
where settlements were few and far
apart, have multiplied their popu-
lations ten fold and more. Ward
county is a striking illustration of
the growth of North Dakota in ten
years.
From a struggling frontier village
Minot has become town of dignity
and Importance, and is a thriving
trade center, through which run two
transcontinental lines of road, and
from which radiate a number OF
branch lines, all reaching into rich
and comparatively populous terri
tory.
Bismarck has developed from a
town of two or three thousand, the
center of thinly settled section
and the scene of many and severe
struggles for existence in a business
way, to a city of six thousand peo
pie, the center of growing an
distributing district, with splendit
buildings, good walks, complete an
effective system of sewer and waite
works, model townsite, bette
business institutions than in man
cities five times its size, energeti
and progressive citizens, and pros
poets for doubling or trebling its poI
ulation within the next generation 0
less.
The same comparative condition
are true of dozens of other cities il
the western part of North Dakota
And new towns have sprung up
the dozens, all thriving and source
of wealth. We, of a, generations lif
time in Bismarck, remember whe
there was no Wilton, no Garrison
no Underwood no one of the do;
ems of thriving settlements in M,
Lain county. We remember whe
there was no Linton, no Drisoll, n
Braddock, and no one of doze
thriving towns east and south.
We remember when the 500 graG
lay neglected all the years that col
ditions were nearly "a a standstil
and when its coming was looked upc
as sort of doubtful impossibility.
These great changes have con
gradually, and yet in the aggrega
the increase in growth and settl
ment has been no less than remar
able. 1t is tribute to the persis
ence, the patriotism and the loyal
of hundreds of old time citizens
the state that they braved new al
untried conditions for years, th'
toiled and profited little, they did Il
hard work and bore the bitter har
ships that have for all time be
the lot of the pioneers, they We
through periods of short crops al
grasshoppers and other difficult
of new agricultural country, al
yet they never lost faith, they ney
proved disloyal to the territory al
state and they have come to s
their hopes realized after a go,