Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-04-16
Written for Plaza Pioneer.

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Back in the ages when the history
Of the Anglo-Saxon ace was merely
legends, like the past Of. those fading
Tribes of the new world, there had al
ready been born that lure of the west.
Ever since the cave age man has
longed to know the mysteries OF the
sunset land. AS the desire had be.
come stronger and stronger we trace
the migrations of our forefathers,
until the sturdy Norsement discover
the new world. Now and then a tale
like the little poem clipped from the
early pages of the Plaza Pioneer
steals eastward to lure the adven-
turous spirit of youth to a land where
they a expand and be men among
men. The call of the west is heard
Come and dwell in the land Of worth
WHILE"
For q quarter of a century before
the whistle Of the 500 locomotive
broke the silence of the Plaza dis.
trict that region between the Mis-.
souri, river and the Great Northern
railroad was commonly known as the
Great South Country. The name was
applied because this region of vast
grazing land lay to the south Of the
transcOntinental railroad and was
traversed by a number Of star mail
routes thar were called the south
country routes. This. same south
country today is one Of Reckoning
opportunity that is calling to you,
Come to the Plaza Country"
Plaza Holds Commanding Position.
Location is power. How many
places in history have grown to prom.
inence or have been made what they
are by reason OF their location. "A
victory for the Union forces was
made possible and the Union saved al
The Battle of Gettysburg by securing
the advantage Of position. II a city
IS situated where it has access to a
large belt of virgin territory 1t is a
desirable location, where business is
sure to grow. Plaza has location.
Situated for the past nine years at
he terminal Of the 500 branch, Plaza
with its tributary realm of wheat has
developed with marvellous rapidly in.
TO a progressive city, surrounded on
.hree sides by a well settled com
tnunity. The great Berthold Indian
reservation, which was opened to set
lement three seasons ago. forms the
fourth side Of Plaza territory. AL
.>hough only recently settled, over 60
Der cent of the tillable land in this
vicinity Is under cultivation and in
crop last season. The boundary OF
Plaza territory is continually reced.
ng. Ryder is its largest rival along
the railroad. The river is the bound.
ary on the west and south. while the
Great Northern cities, some 30 miles
away, split the north territory. The
volume of trade transacted at Plaza
doubles yearly.
Looking Backwards.
The history of the Plaza country
IS mingled with the history of that
areaeof the. state between the Gres;
Northern railroad on. the north and
he Missouri river on the south. This
triangle has a history similar to 9th
sr parts of the state, hut more or
less distinctive in itself. The rec.
ords of events for this TERRITORY can
De divided into three periods.
The Preparatory Period.
The cattle period began with the
coming of the rancher, almost hall
! century ago, and extended through
4 number of decades down to the
coming of the railroad in 1905. This
area was the summer grazing ground
tor q number of cattle companies.
Here you could find the picturesque
Icowboy, the cook wagon, and all the
other products that go to make up
the complete picture of every cattle
realm. 1t had it's charactehs, it's trae-
edies, and its roundups. But as a
Whole, it was a silent age, during
which those bold pioneers tanned the
land, fought the Indians, and endured
many h%ardships while paving the
way for a greater prosperity.
The Transformation.
A Transformation period began with
the driving Of the stakes when the
survey crew pitched their tents. Dur
ing this period, the fall OF 1905, Plaza
was born, named, and the streets
were plated. The first few DAYS az.
ter the great lot sale the city sprung
up on the unbroken prairie, a mass
Of quickly erected white tents. That
fall, while the steel was being laid
tor the coming of the first train. Plaza
doomed. Cheaply erected pine shackg
sprung up like mushrooms IN a nf~h+