The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-07
HQckett and M'LeQ,1
Were First Majors

Douglas, George Peoples, L. N. Grit
fin, =. T. Winston, Alexander Nc
Kenzie and John Mason, members Of
the city council; p. r. Smith, city
clerk; ]. A. Macarthur, city treasurer;
and Thomas Madden, city marshal.
A total Of go votes was cast In the
first election.
In his inaugural address to the city
council, Mclean said in part 1.-THE
townsite question has long agitated
the community and q variety Of opin-
ions Is to its proper and final settle
ment exists among our people, but I
desire here to state that 20 far - any
effort Of mine Is concerned, as the
head Of the city government, no OBJ
struction shall be placed in the way
Of speedy settlement Of this. long
mooted subject.
Many Of us, In fact, most Of us.
have expended money In improving
property to which we have thus far
been unable to obtain title, toiled for
years to obtain that which yet fades
before us like as the mist Of the
morning. and 1t Is q matter Of pro-
found regret that because Of personal
interests Of few who are not with
us, or OF US, that we should be with
out proper protection in what proper
~ and rightfully belongs to us"
Reelected In 1876
Mclean was reelected mayor In the
spring election in April, 1876. and It
was during his second term as mayor
that the troublesome townsite litiga-
ton was settled. BY q unanimous
vote Of the city council, Mayor Nc
Lean was authorized to enter the
land upon which the town Is located
IN the name Of the corporate author
tiles of the city Of Bismarck, and to
secure loan Of $620, the amount re-
quired to pay for the land embraced
in the townsite.
On Sept. IA, 1876, Edward M.
Brown, receiver Of the United States
land office at Bismarck, issued . re-
ceiver's receipt in the sum Of $599. IS
to John A. Mclean, mayor Of the city
Of Bismarck, Dakota Territory, In full
payment Tor the 240 acres Of land
comprising the Bismarck townsite.
Mclean raised the $500 by private
subscription. Patent was later Issued
by Rutherford B. Hayes, president Of
the United States. to Mclean. in
trust for the use and benefits Of the
several occupants thereof. This for
ever settled the long townsite litiga-
ton, and the people who had built
their houses and made improvements
were given deeds to their lots and
from then on the city lots could be
assessed and taxed for revenue.
During the Black Hills gold excite
ment, people from the East poured
into Bismarck on their way to the
Black Hills, rs Bismarck was the
nearest railroad point to the new gold
fields. Many Of these people were
stopped by the military authorities
at Fort Abraham Lincoln, but many
slipped away during the night and
after they were days journey be-
yond Fort Abraham Lincoln they were
rot molested by Clusters troops. Many.
however, lost their lives on their way
across the prairies to the Black Hills.
slain by Indians.
On Warrington Mission
On Feb. 20. 1876. Mayor Mclean
left Bismarck for Washington. He
took with him Colonel c. A. Louns-
berry, founder of the Bismarck Tri-
bune. They drove overland from Bis
marck to Fargo. Mclean took with
him sample Of the Black Hills gold
nuggets. On their arrival at WASH
ington they had an interview with
President Grant, showing him the
sample Of gold that had been mined
in the Black Hills. They also had
hearing with members Of congress,
and 1t was partly through their ef-
forts that q treaty afterwards was
made with the Sioux for the surrend-
er Of the Black Hills country and the
opening Of that entire region to set
Element.
During the 10 years that Mclean
was engaged In business. the firm did
an enormous trade. Their store was
a general supply store. carrying .
large stock Of general merchandise.
In addition they had large number
OF teams freighting to the Black Hills.
The steamboat trade was heavy. In
addition Mclean and Macnider were
large contractors with the govern
ment. When the new posts at Fort
Keogh and Custer were built In 1877,
they had the contract for supplying
these posts with hay and wood. One
Of the contracts amounted to $l04. 600
and they expended more than $4,000
before receiving anything In return.
When the territorial penitentiary was