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

boats, was now run out on the dixie
ca this track.
$1,000 Tons Of Granite
The west channel stilted up rapidly
during the fall months, and In the
early part Of the winter Of 1e8l-02
was finally closed by filling the pile
briGge with earth. There was used
IN construction OF the dixie $1,000 tons
Of granite boulders for riprap, Z large
quantity Of brush and crib logs and
upward Of 10000 cubic yards Of clay.
A transfer landing was built Aug. /.
1881, on the sand bar below the bridge
line and track laid from the dixie
track to this landing, making . short
crossing for the transfer boat which
was used until the river closed in No.
vember.
On Nov. II, 1881. the water in the
river became 80 low Is to stop the
running Of the transfer boat. The
construction Of . temporary pile
bridge across the main channel TO
serve as . winter bridge was begun.
On Nov. II the river closed for the
winter and on Nov. 10 the first train
crossed on this temporary bridge. The
river was very low and the bridge
only 600 feet long. This bridge, which
was built in five days, was kept In
constant use for 1872 days, being Il.
nally abandoned March 80, 1852.
Construction Of the railroad west
Of Mandan during 1879 and 1850
brought the line to . point near Sen
ttnel Butte Nov. 10, 1850, and = cele-
bration took place there on that day.
This observance was to mark the
crossing Of the Dakota Montana line.
Tracklaying. however, did not cease
for the winter until Nov. n, 1850,
when the .end Of the track was ct .
point about 1000 feet west Of the
present depot ut Beach, or about two
miles east Of the Dakota Montana
boundary.
An interesting sidelight In connec-
ton with the history Of the building
Of the Northern Pacific In North Da-
kota Is the fact that on Nov. 10, 1850,
when the celebration took place near
Sentinel Butte, that point was re-
garded as the dividing line between
the Dakota and the Montana terri.
tory. This was IN error, however, for
the point was 10 miles east Of the
Montana lire. but the railway COM
pany records show that for three
years, from 1851 to 1885. this point
was designated q the dividing line.
The jamestown Alert Of November
Is, 1880, carried story dated 1t
Medora, Nov. 10. which read:
General Manager Sargent and
party, en- route to make the connect
| ing link between the two great ter
ritories Of Montana and Dakota, left
here today ct II .. m., for the divid-
ing line, arriving there about u noon.
The oak tie especially prepared for
the occasion was placed ia position
or the line and after the assemblage
had been called to order by Assistant
Chief Engineer Mason, General Man
ager Sargent inserted the silver spike.
Flannery Was Speaker
&C. ?. Flannery Of Bismarck made
the welcoming address on the part Of
Montana, which was responded to by
Colonel william Thompson on be-
half Of Dakota, and each gave the
spike = tap 1t the close Of his re-
marks. The spike was then struck
by the representatives present Of the
different departments Of the North
ern Pacific Railroad company. the
representatives Of the press and other
prominent persons present.
THE mallet used In driving the
spike was attached to the telegraph
wire 80 that the blows could be heard
along the line.
.After the ceremonies were over.
the guests paztook Of spread, Pre-.
pared for the occasion, after which
they started on their return east, ar-
irving here 1t dark and proceeding on
to supper ct Camp Houston (Belfield).
The tie In which the silver spike was
driven was taken up and cut to pieces
and distributed among the guests
present for sosivenirs."
And thus, By the end Of 1850. North
ern Pacific railroad tracks had
spanned the entire area Of what Is
now the state Of North Dakota. The
construction oe the railroad was pros
ecuted vigorously westward through
Montana, while from the west rail
builders we're theoretically engaged
IN building eastward. and It MS @
Sept. .. leo3. q Gold Greek, Mont,
that the golden spite w1s drivon,
marking Tho oornpl9tjoa q tlo trans
continental line, thes .first o. tn
noeth1fn tranG6ontill6 1870.
Three yoorG bolotO ~ ooonn1otion