The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-06-03

to the distant settlements. And
others ventured out alone to trap
the animals Of the wild, or, like H.
n. Ross, who led the mining party
that discovered gold in the Black
Hills, went into unknown territory
in search Of wealth and adventure.
In 1873 the leading occupations in
Bismarck were stage driving and
freight hauling.
Before the coming of the rail-
roads, the Missouri river served as
the main route between the sparsely
populated West and St. Louis, the
great fur center. As recently as 1881,
a steamboat brought quarter of
million dried buffalo hides down the
Missouri to Bismarck, to be shipped
thence to eastern markets. And it
was government transport plying
on the Great Muddy that first car
ried news Of the Custer disaster to
Bismarck.
The Custer Massacre
"That massacre in 1879 struck
home to the citizens Of the North
Dakota town. A reporter on the Bis
marck Tribune, the oldest newspaper
in, the state, had accompanied the
punitive expedition against the red
skins and had been killed with the
rest of the command. As soon as
the news reached the town, the pub
lisher-editor Of the Tribune began
to send the story over the wires to
eastern centers. Hour after hour he
worked that all the country might
know what had happened on the
Little Big Horn.
"The record of that publication
shows US the character of the North
Dakota pioneer. Founded in 1873,
the Tribune has never missed an
issue, although its office has passed
through three fires. Once, when
heavy snow storms prevented the
delivery of the usual paper supply,
the Tribune was printed on wrapping
paper; but its readers got their issue
at the scheduled time.
I'm 1873 the Northern Pacific rail-
road reached the town, and as COM
munication with larger centcrs be-
came less difficult, Bismarck in
creased in size. The Northern Paci-
fic, extending its lines, shortly gave
service to the far west as we'll as to
the east, and about twenty-five years
later the 500 Line, running north and
south. brought the city into contact
with new trade territory.
Grows Rapidly
Bismarck Is in the south central
part Of North Dakota, on the Mis-
souri, river. From it's early modest
beginning, the settlement has grown
to a city of approximately ten thou
sand people. This comparatively
small city has two hospitals,
equipped to take care of 800 bed
patients. OF public school buildings
there are six, five Of them housing
grade schools, and one modern high
school.
Just west Of the metropolis is
located school for Indian girls,
where increasing numbers Of the
the rudiments Of education. The city
its own auditorium. A privately
managed plant, supplies pas to the
residents.
Bismarck being the capital Of
North Dakota, manv state h"i'dir-s
are located here. The Bank Of North
Dakota and two privately owned
banks make the city the financial
center for large area. This region
draws it, wealth mainly from aeri-
culture and the raising Of live stock,
However. near Bismarck is the iarg-
cst Ignite coal mine ] in the world,
from which about three hundred
thousands tons Of fuel arc sold year
~ to peiGhboring commpnities.1
mot Tar west OF Bismarck some
Of the best clay deposits in the Uni
tod States are to be found, and from
them excellent material is obtained
for bricks and pottery.
Tho Benton Packet company,
which has operated freighters on the
Missouti since 1874 IL still serving
the towns near this water route
Only ~ few yesrs ago the ferry,
which SINCE early days had transport
90 b9g1enesrn.. 1.sphs: and and liyo
was replaced BY . vehfcular bridge.
"Whila,. the i eqit - North Da-
kots 81 had 40 fpec ydS61ar develop
ment, & has grown slowly and stead
ily.n