The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-12
FERRY DAYS
OVER FOR UP
RIVER FOLKS
Six United States Senators In
Official Party at
Dedication
WILL VISIT BAD LANDS
Span at Terminus Of One Of
Northwest's Finest Scenic
Drives
WILL VISIT BAD LANDS

Watford City, N. D., July 12.-N
Residents Of Watford City and
McKensie county were "all Get" to-
day for the biggest celebration ever
held in this district.
It will be q celebration with q real
meaning for residents Of this part Of
the state because it will formally
mark the transition from the old to
. new order.
The thing to b dedicated i the
new Theodore Roosevelt bridge at
Chaloner's Ferry, south Of here. The
ferry 10 gone, and although It served
we'll, no one il sorry to zee Il 60.
It was Z good ferry, q ferries 90,
but not to be compared in efficiency
and convenience with the new bridge
which will serve in foul weather -
we'll % fair. Since it II . public
enterprise passage over the bridge
will b free. A fee was required for
use Of the ferry. But that 10 only .
part Of the blessing, - people Of
this district view the matter.
Aids Watford City
Residents Of Watford City see
their town located ct one terminus
Of what they viaualiSe o the great
est scenic drive in the Northwest,
made possible BY construction Of the
bridge.
Construction Of IN improved
state highway from the southern
end Of the North Dakota Bad Lands
to Watford City and Williston IL ex.
pected to follow the bridge in short
order. Plans for, the highway al-
ready have been laid.
When the work ID completed, resi-
dents Of this section are quick to
point out, North Dakotans viii have
no reason to g beyond tha hordare
Of tAeir state for. seen1fy q fe1l
magnificence. Per6ons from outside
the state are expected 70 take ad-
vantage Of the opportunity % see =
country which residents claim IL
unique from Z scenic standpoint In
this part Of the world.
The spell Of the Bad Lands 10 up
on these people. They love the
SCARED buttes, the communion Of
earth and sky, the infinite variety Of
their homeland.
Helps Mail Service
For many the bridge means mail
more than occasionally in the winter
time. It means access to markets
with their crops in the fall. Il
means . greater measure Of conven-
ience and contentment in their daily
lives.
In the spring, when the ice was
going out. and in the fall when the
ice was too thick to permit the
ferry to operate and too thin to sup
port the weight Of . man on horse
back or in IN automobile, residents
Of the country below the bridge had
to stay on their own side Of the
river. Sickness or accident were
real tragedies in those seasons. Il
the doctor could not cross tho river
only home treatment was available.
All Of these things and more are
being recounted by people here
abouts who were gathering today
for the formal dedication Of the
bridge tomorrow. Six senator's will
be here, and the governor, and 4
host Of other relatives. Watford
City and Mckenzie county are pre-
pared to give them . real western
welcome.
Trip to Bad Lands
Following the bridge dedication
the official visitors, accompanied BY
newspapermen and leading citixenl
Of this vicinity, will make . tour Of
the Bad Lands, spending the eve
ming 1T Medora, IN Billings county,
the heart az North Oakotasa COW
country. An extended tour o. the
Bad Lands Saturday will b fol-
CONTINUED on Pare Two)