The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-04
MINERAL WEALTH OF
AREA PROMISES Big
DEVELOPMENT soon
Coal Deposits in Western North
Dakota Make Further Ex-
pansion Certain
BOASTS VAST BEDS OF CLAY
Brief Study Of State Indicates
That Bismarck Is Logical
for Capital
BOASTS VAST BEDS OF CLAY

A study of the 1880 census figures
indicates that the section of North
Dakota known as the Missouri Slope
is the only part Of the state that has
made ar appreciable gain in popu-
lation during the last 10 years of CO.
nomic depression.
In 1920 the 81 Slope counties making
up the present third congressional dis
trict had a population of 210,203. In
1880 the population was 227, 899. indi-
eating a gain of 1896.
The second congressional district,
comprising 10 counties in the central
eastern part, has a population of
229, 275, according to the 1880 figures,
a gain of only 9,575 since the 1920
census. This increase would have been
much smaller had it not been for Bur-
leigh and EmmonS counties, which
border the Missouri river. These coun-
ties showed a gain of Alto and lila,
respectively. for the 1O-year period.
The first congressional district, COM
prising the Red river valley counties,
showed a gain of 1855 in the last
census.
The growth of population in the
Slope counties gives only a faint in
dication of the increasing Importance
of this section Of the state in an eco
nomic as we'll as a political sense. 1t
would require a complete and state
wide industrial review to bring these
facts before the people; but, unfor-
%,,aotnlNv c,,oI n ,.a,yiouy hoe mn vnh
been made, though its need has been
felt and urged by the Greater North
Dakota association.
Mineral Wealth Great
The population gains of western
North Dakota are, Of course, known
to all, and to some extent the rapid
development of agriculture. Only a
few realize the enormous mineral
wealth of the Missouri Slope, which
so far has been touched only in a
superficial way. The great potential
wealth of this region only now is be-
ginning to be understood by our own
people, and the knowledge is slowly
spreading into other states.
Fifteen years ago the Slope district
was known throughout the rest of the
state as a Cow country" and the fas-
cinating glamour of Indian and cow
boy traditions still held sway in the
public Imagination. So rapid has been
the advancement of this region and
SO little publicity has been given to
it that the fog of tradition still lin
gers, and only now is beginning to
give way to the clearing breeze of in
formation.
1t is rather sad to contemplate that
1t required a calamity to bring about a
public awakening OF this important
subject-the destruction of the state
capitol. Hardly had the hungry flames
died down over the old ruins before
other ambitious cities began to lay
plans to take the seat of state govern
ment away from this INSTRUMENTAL
section and move it to the eastern part
of North Dakota.
Had this attempt to move the capt.
tol been made when the western part
of the state was u~ndeveloped, 1t would
have seemed quite justifiable and rea-
sonable; but at this time-41 years
after the state capitol was formally
located here-the movement is moth
ing short of an affront to the western
section of the state. and particularly
to the Missouri Slope.
The attempt to move the capitol has
had one good result: it has started a
long delayed movement toward taking
stock of the inexhaustible resources
of the state. The invoice that has been
taken, brief and incomplete as it must
necessarily be, already has proved that
Bismarck as the capital city is cen
trally placed as to geography and
population, beautifully situated as to
natural surroundings, deeply rooted
as to historical traditions. and most
appropriately placed to serve all the
people Of the state, whether north,
south, east, OF west.
On Equal Footing
The western counties, which were
the last to be opened up to settlement
and development, have so far adj
vanced in population and wealth as
to stand on an equal footing with
every other section of the common
wealth. The counties lying west of the
Missouri river only recently have been
connected with the rest of the state
by numerous bridges and highways.
It's splendid agricultural wealth has
been proved by enterprising grain
growers and stock raiSers, who have
been making fortunes, even in these
years of depression. It's mineral de-
posts have been so far developed as
to give employment to thousands OF
men, and the indications are that
added thousands will be employed
similarly in the not far distant future,
The entire Missouri Slope area is
underlaid by a high grade Of Ignite
coal. There are over 10000 square
miles Of such coal lands, containing at
the least estimate SIS, 900 900 tons OF