The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-29
Shows BISMARCK
HAS Big EDGE ON
FREIGHT TARIFFS
Would Cost Less to Build Here
Than in Jamestown, Sur.
vey DiscIoses
POPULATION MOVING WEST
Path Of Empire Moved Out OF
Red River Valley In 1910;
Trend Continues

An outline Of some facts which
Bismarck win present to the citizens
of North Dakota as reasons why the
state capital should be retained here
was made public Thursday by H. r.
Goddard, secretary OF the Assocaa.
ton of Commerce.
They are divided into classifica-
tions, including the states investment
in Bismarck a at the present time:
the relative situation OF jamestown
and Bismarck with regard to the CEN
ter Of population and relative freight
and passenger traffic; the relative
accessibility from all parts Of the
state by highway: the investment Of
state employees In their own homes
in Bismarck and the investment by
the city Of Bismarck in public IND
provements. part Of which were
caused by the fact that the capital Is
located here and all OF which repre-
sent investment by North Dakota
citizens.
State property located in Bismarck
is valued ut $e24.625. Except where
the value is estimated, the figures are
taken from appraisals made by the
Thomas company OF Chicago.
which estimates the value Of M state
property for insurance and other
purposes. Where estimates are given,
they are made by state officials hav-
ing the property In charge and are
conservative. The listing follows:
100 acres Of land within city limits,
$4,000 tx: Liberty Memorial build
ing 100000: power house $34,625:
carpenter shop. 5000: store house,
$1,000; Bank OF North Dakota build
ing, $150,000: Governors mansion,
$4,000: watermains and sewer con-
nections, $25, 900 (x): state street car
line, $4,000 (x); water tank, 10000
(x); Roosevelt cabin and improve
ments 5000 (x); Indian hut. recon-
structed by state historical society,
$1,000 tx. (x) indicates estimated
figures.
IS Homes Affected
An incomplete survey Of the num-
Der of homes owned by state officials
and employees stood at IS with q value
of $444,400. Additional homes were
expected to be listed to the number
Of q dozen O. more by the time the
survey Is completed. In each case,
Goddard said, the value Of the prop
erty would be deprecated to such an
extent that the owners would sustain
severe losses II the seat Of govern
ment were changed.
Land and buildings aud water
works equipment owned by the city
Of Bismarck are valued at $7l7 1000:
improvements, other than paving are
valued at $1,276,500 and paving I'M
provements are valued at $1,346,O00,
q total investment by Bismarck citt-
zens Of $2,748,000. In addition, the
city park board has an investment Of
$31 900; Burleigh county one Of $780,
600 In q new court house and jail and
the city and county Jointly one Of
$220, 600 In the World War Memorial
building.
The board Of education places the
lrsurable value Of its buildings, and
Its land and equipment at $496,560.
All Of the residence structures in
Bismarck. including those owned by
state officials and employees, are
valued at 100000; business .struc-
lures at 45,Oo0.000; lots and acreage
within the city limits, 100000:
wholesale and retail merchandise
stocks $l,800.000: furniture and fix
lures Of hotels, b~arberSaops and 9th
er business houses 100000, q total OF
$20,000,000 invested by North Dakota
citizens. These values would be ma
terially deprecated II the capital
were to be moved.
State Would Lose
They are assets Of the state as well
Is Of Bismarck and the effect Of In
juring them would have the same
effect on the state as q whole Is the
depreciation IN value Of farm land or
OF property Ia any other city or town.
The entire state would be adversely
affected Il this idea were to prevail,
Goddard said.
Turning to facts on the transpor-
tation situation, Goddard showed
that $500 tons Of Ignite coal have
been burned annually to heat the old
capitol building. The rate to Bis
marck from the nearest coal mine Is
rs cents = ton. The rate to James
town from the nearest mine d 4l.30 .
ton. On this basis, the state would
save SLIGO year in freight on Ignite
alone.
Freight rates On some shipments
from the east are slightly higher to
Bismarck than 70 jamestown, but tho
saving In Ignite alone would more
than give Bismarck IN advantage II
this respect.
In constructing . new capitol build
Ing, the survey showed. the state win
spend less on freight charges and GET
more for Its money Il the capitol Is
So~ontlnue6 a paoe aIeEonl