The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-07

six years later that q train moved
westward from Bismarck. And the
train which removed from Bismarck
the distinction Of being the western
terminus actually operated over q
roadbed Of ice. On Wednesday noon,
Feb. IL, 1879, q party OF about 20 Of
Bismarck's prominent business men
rode with General T. L. Rosser, en-
gineer OF construction, on q train
which marked the first trip across
the Missouri river.
Actual construction OF the North
ern Pacific was started at Northern
Pacific Junction, now Carlton, Mimi,
about 26 miles west of Duluth. The
handling OF q few wheelbarrows OF
dirt at that point Feb. Is, 1870, was
celebrated as the actual beginning Of
construction Of the first Of the north
ern transcontinentals". The records
show that in June, 1870, q contract
was awarded for construction of the
Minnesota division and the work Of
actually building this part OF the line
was launched in July Of that year.
Chartered in 1864, the Northern Pa
cific, when it began construction work,
acquired one-half interest in that
portion of the Lake Superior g. Mis-
sissippi railroad between Carlton and
Duluth and operated its trains into
Duluth over that line.
The first construction was carried
on through 1870 and 1871 and track
laying was completed to the Red river
at Moorhead Dec. 80. 1871. 1t was
not until March in 1872 that con-
struction Of bridge over the Red
river was begun. It was completed
June 8, 1872, and the first locomotive
crossed into Fargo on that date. It
was then that the first locomotive
operated in the state of North Da-
kOta.
Quote Boston Reporter
These early day railroad builders
pushed the steel rails rapidly forward
and by June 3, 1873, the end Of the
track had reached the Missouri river
at Bismarck. H. L. Bridgman Of the
Boston Daily Advertiser followed the
course Of these rail builders and. in
an article he sent to his paper in
1872 from a point at Crystal Springs,
1872 miles westward from the Red
river, he said that 100 men are car
rying the tracks forward toward the
Missouri river at the rate Of two and
a half and occasionally three miles q
day."
The rapidity Of this progress" he
wrote. Is said by an old constructor
Of Pacific railroads to exceed any
thing ever before attained in the
building OF continental railroads,
when all Of the material was sup
piled and brought forward from the
rear, day by day, as it was used.
More miles OF track have been put
! in position in less time than ever be-
fore, and the advance Of the North
ern Pacific through Dakota is steady
and regular, each days progress be-
ing entirely the result Of that days
labor.
1.-THE point at which the road
strikes and crosses the Missouri river
has heretofore been nameless and un-
known, but henceforth will appear on
the maps as .Edwinton' (Bismarck),
In honor, 1t Is said, Of the great war
secretary. though why not the simpler
and better Stanton, I cannot learn.
Edwinton, now cluster Of engineers
tents and workmen's cabins is certain,
however, to become next summer the
center OF an important and thriving
business, for here the navigation Of
the upper Missouri will begin and the
transfer Of all Of the rail and steamer
traffic be effected. The navigation
and transportation Of the upper Mis-
souri, is the prize for which the rail-
road has been working and advancing
all summer across Dakota, and Ed
winton Is in precisely the position to
secure all its local advantages.
THE construction of the Dakota d.
vision-from Fargo on the Red river
to Edwinton (Bismarck) on the Mis-
souri,, in round numbers, 200 miles
comprises this seasons work on the
Northern Pacific's main line" he con-
tined, land gives It control Of the
entire transportation Of the upper
northwest from the lakes to the Rocky
Mountains"
Resumed Work In 1873
The pause In construction Of the
transcontinental lire which developed
after the tracks had reached Bis
marck in 1873 &C ntinued' until 1873,
when the panic had passed and the
work Of rebuilding q railroad on into
the wilderness Of the northwest could
be resumed. The Northern Pacific,
however, was not yet ready for i'm
mediate construction Of bridge
planned to span the Missouri river
between Bismarck and Mandan. But
1t was decreed the construction o.
the line west Of the Missouri river