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FACTS ABOUT THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY OF NORTH DAKOTA FACTS ABOUT THE lESTMISSODRi COUNTRY
OF NORTH DAKOTA,
PUBLISHED UNDER THE AOSPICES|OP THE
WEST MISSOURI COLONY] BUREAU
, • - OP • c '.
NEW SALEM, MORTON COUNTY,.DAI
J. J. LUCK, President and General Manager, NEW i T. K. LONG, Secretary, MANDAN, DAKOTA.
" Hier ist gut sein. Lasset uns drei Huettea bauen."
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142-144 EasT THIRD ST., ST. PAUL. FACTS ABOUT THE
West Missouri Country of North Dakota,
PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OP THE
WEST MISSOURI COLONY BUREAU
NEW SALEM, MORION COUNTY, DAKOTA.
ORGANIZED 1885.
J. J. LUCK, President and General Manager, NEW SALEM, DAKOTA.
T. K. LONG, Secretary, MANDAK, DAKOTA.
"Hier ist gut sein. Lasset uns-drei Huetten bauen.'
MANDAN: PIONEER PUBLISHING CO., Printers. 1886.
13657 MORTON COUNTY COURT BOUSE AT MANDAN, DAKOTA. [Photo, by Z. Gilbert.] Ugavt ^ir^i
WEST MISSOURI COIONY BUREAU,
OF NEW SALEM, MORTON COUNTY, DAKOTA.
ORGANIZED 1886.
J. J. LUCK, President and General Manager. T. K. LONG, Secretary.
IrjipaducfoFy.
In the fall of 1885 several leading business men of Morton County; Dakota, realizing the vast field of rich wild land well adapted for agricul tural purposes lying along the fertile valleys of the various rivers and small streams tributaries of the Missouri, throughout the Counties of Morton, Oliver and Mercer ; and realizing the desirability of bringing this part of the country prominently before the minds of eastern farmers and others seeking homes in the West, organized themselves into an institution known as the WEST MISSOURI COLONY BUREAU of New Salem, Morton County, Dakota, for the purpose of aiding settlers in acquiring homes, and for the further purpose of presenting in an accurate and brief manner to the pub lic generally the leading resources of the country and the vast field, for set tlement and investment therein. THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY
Ybz ®®l®r|y Jfletr) ®| l) L. Many persons going into a new country often meet difficulties in the way of obtaining reliable information concerning the country, and in the disadvantages arising from going alone into a strange place without the aid of a regularly organized colony bureau to give advice and assistance in loca tion and settlement. Those, who contemplate coming to Dakota will always find it largely to their advantage to join a colony. They will then have the benefit of full concert of action, and they will also have the following special advantages over persons who go into a new country alone: 1st, Lower rates of railroad fare; 2d, Lower rates of freight; 3d, A good location selected by experienced men at no extra, cost; 4th, Locating near a place just start ing; 5th, Having a voice in the organization of a new settlement; 6th, Good neighbors, as the bureau admits only good people into its colonies; 7th, Good schools and churches; 8th, Better commercial, social and educational advantages. It will be readily seen, therefore, that the colony plan of settlement pos sesses many advantages over all other plans. It has already been put to a practical test in the West Missouri country of North Dakota, and has yielded the best results—resulting in no fewer than six growing settlements in the West—five in Dakota and one in Montana. The town of New Salem is one of these settlements and is a living monument of the colony system of set tlement. Mr. E. V. Smalley, the well-known journalist and editor of The North west, made a personal investigation of the New Salem colony system in the fall of 1884, and pronounced himself decidedly in favor of this plan of set tlement. In his letter to The Northwest, published in the December num ber in 1884, he says: " NEW SALEM, Dakota, Nov. 10,1884. " The founder of New Salem is J. J. Lack, formerly of Ripon, Wisconsin. Together with a little group of friends living in that place he began to set on foot, three years ago, an agitation in favor of Western colonization, which has since developed no fewer than six settlements—five in Dakota . and one in Montana. The New Salem colony was organized in Chicago in the winter of 1882-3, Mr. Luck having selected the site the previous fall. He found, wholly unoccupied, an admirable stretch of fertile country, reaching from the Heart River to the Big Knife River, a distance of about forty miles, with a breadth from east to west, between natural boundaries of low hills, of from seven to ten miles. Into this land of promise he led the advance guard of the colony in April, 1883. / The principle of the organ ization was individual action and ownership, "and co-operation only to the extent of advancing the general interests of the community. Each mem ber paid twenty dollars to defray the expenses of selecting lands, printing circulars, etc., and each received without further payment, a lot in the town site. Most of the colonists were German-Americans, who had been long enough in the older States of the West to speak English readily and become accustomed to Western life. Among them, however, were many native Americans. There was no purpose to give the colony a German character, and all worthy people, of whatever nationality, were welcomed. The OF NORTH DAKOTA. 6 location proved to be a fortunate one. The soil is a deep, black loam rest ing in clay and holding moisture so well that crops are independent of sum mer rains. Excellent drainage and consequently good health is secured by the rolling character of the surface. Springs of clear, pure water are found in the sides of nearly all the hills. There is no mud in the fall, and the surface of the ground is dried by the wind very soon after the frost gets out in the spring, so that the roads are good- almost the entire year. Of greater importance than any feature of the region, save the soil, is the black lignite coal which is everywhere found. 'Our hills are our forests.' said Mr. Luck, [' Every farmer can get coal within a mile of his house. The cost of the coal, delivered in the town, I learned, is only one dollar and a half a wagon load, holding rather more than a ton. This cheap fuel is an inesti mable blessing to the settlers. Most of them mine it for themselves, shov eling it into their wagons from seams in the sides of hills, and thus warming their houses with no other cost than their own labor. The lignite burns well in ordinary stoves made for burning bituminous coal. At Mr. Luck's house I saw it burning in a self-feeding anthracite parlor stove, making a bright blaze behind the mica plates. J "In the village of New Salem, now a year and a half old, since the first colonists pitched their tents and dug a well for the general use, there are now two grocery stores, a drug store, hotel, harness shop, blacksmith shop, shoemaker's shop, agricultural implement store, lumber yard, land office, Bchool house and church, and about two score of dwellings. A doctor and a minister are among the colonists. In the school there are thirty-four chil dren. So it will be seen that the settlement has already organized itself into a social entity, with the usual conveniences of rural life. There are about 150 families settled on farms in the vicinity. The government lands are nearly all gotten for homesteads for seven miles back from the railroad, and the railroad lands are partly sold. New settlers will find just as good lands as those occupied, but they must go a little farther from town.' Last spring an offshoot of the colony went north thirty-five miles to the valley of the Big Knife River and established a town called Mercer. All the coun try between New Salem and Mercer is excellent for general farming and stock-raising, and so well adapted for dense settlement that the people be lieve a branch railroad from the Northern Pacific line will, in two or three years, run north to Mercer to haul the crops to market. * "I give below the statements of a few of the settlers with whom I have talked in the course of an afternoon's drive: " W. Engelter,from Chicago,IU.—Began plowing lastspring. Live two miles east of New Salem. Raised 300 bushels of potatoes on two acres of sod. Got a fair yield of flint corn on the sod. It ripened by the 1st of October. Did not measure it. Planted some white corn, but it did not get ripe. Raised beans, peas, rutabagas, squashes, radishes and beets in abundance. Cut forty-five tons of wild hay. " Herman Kroeger, from. Dei Moinei County; Iowa.—Settled last year on a homestead and tree claim four and a half miles north of New Salem, and bought a quarter section of railroad land, making in all a farm of 320 acres. Broke forty-five acres last year. Raised this year 889 bushels of oats, ma chine measure,on 28 acres of land, which went 1,000bushels by weight. Put in five acres to wheat, which yielded seventeen and one-half bushels to the acre, and five acres of barley, which yielded 117 bushels. Got over 100 bushels of potatoes from one acre. The soil, in my judgment, beats the black, heavy prairie land of Iowa. It holds moisture longer than anv soil I ever saw. The climate is the healthiest I ever lived in. Began plowing last spring in the latter part of March. Last winter I exchanged weather reports with an old neighbor in Southern Iowa. The coldest day here was the 4th of January, and there the 6th, and it was only nine degrees colder here than there. Have planted catalpa and yellow locusttrees. The latter made four feet of growth this year. THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY INTER-OCEAN HOTEL, MANDAN, MOETOK COOKTY, DAKOTA. " Henry Spinner, from Coot County, III.—Took a homestead claim two miles north of New Salem in the spring of 1883. This year raised 500 bush els of oats on sixteen acres, and thirty-five bushels of wheat on an acre and a half. Keep nine head of stock. There are more pleasant days for field work than in Illinois. The climate is excellent. First Bnow fell last year on the 20th of November. " Isaac Moore, from Kansas.—Settled last year on Knife River, near Mercer. Raised 200 bushels of potatoes on one acre of ground broken last fall, and 100 bushels of ear corn on three acres of sod. Planted the corn early in June. It all ripened, Raised an abundance of vegetables. The winter set in last year on the 14th of December, and the frost got out of the ground so we could plow the last week in March. The winter was a cold one, but we had a great deal of fine weather in February. There is plenty of good land for homesteading in the Knife River country, both in the valley and on the rolling plateaux. Along the streams are considerable Cottonwood and box elder. Coal is found everywhere in veins of from four to thirteen feet thick. We have an abundance of pure spring water. " /. /. Luck, from Ripon, Wis.—Selected the site for the New Salem settlement after looking over the Northern Pacific line as far as the Upper Yellowstone Valley, and also examining Southern Dakota. Brought out eighty families in the Bpring of 1882, mainly from Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Erected the first building in the colony. Sowed four and one- half acres in wheat this year on sod broken last October, and threshed ninety-seven bushels. Got fifty-threebushel s of barley from one and one- half acres. Sowed oats on sod and got 300 bushels from thirteen acres. My wheat averaged four feet high. Have set out raspberries, blackberries, cur rants, grapes and strawberries. In digging my cellar I went through a seven-foot vein of coal. The whole country is underlaid with seams of lig nite. I believe this tob e the best country for settlers of moderate means in the entire Northern Pacific belt. We have cheap lands, a good soil, a good climate, pure water, plenty of cheap fuel and a luxuriant growth of native grasses for pasturage. The settlement is made up of an excellent class of people, mostly experienced, practical farmers, and is sure to prosper." The management of the West Missouri Colony Bureau is meeting with the most gratifying encouragement in securing members for its colonies. It has the advantage of many years of practical experience in locating settlers and colonies and it has already learned how to derive the very best results for those who join its colonies. Many of the best families from all parts of the country are applying for papers and for memberships. Under the aus pices of this Bureau tamitiesof limited means, including farmers, mechanics, teachers and representatives of all the different professions and avocations, are given a fine opportunity of getting cheap homes in the West. OF NORTH DAKOTA. 7 To move into a new country alone, implies isolation, privation and hard ships, and long years of toil and waiting for the coming of civilization. Colonization carries with it the comforts, blessings and refinements, social, religious and educational, as well as the manufacturing, mechanical, and commercial industries, and the work of their development in a new country always inspires new hopes, new ambitions and new energies. The cost of becoming a member of the colony has been fixed at twenty dollars. The fee is the estimated cost of exploration by a competent committee, and loca tion of colony site, and the incidental expense of printing, postage, and a town lot in the newly laid out town, as provided in .the Articles of Associa tion below. Wherever a colony locates, the tide of emigration follows, and the sur rounding country is rapidly settled as a natural result, and a rapid rise in property values is sure to follow. > Lands near New Salem, obtained at government and railway prices last spring, have risen in value more in a few months than would have been possible in as many years, had the settlement been made in the ordinary way. |gletr) ot frje. (^oloryy- ]©ure OBJECT OF THE BUREAU. The object of this Bureau shall be to organize and gather colonies and to bring them into and locate them in the WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY IN NORTH DAKOTA, also to advertise and develop the agricultural and mineral resour ces, and to locate, lay out and build up towns and settlements in the coun try west of the Missouri river in North Dakota, tributary to the NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD; thus to enable persons of limited means to secure free homes, reduced freight and transportation, to reduce the expense of indi vidual exploration, to abate the privation and inconveniences incident to settlement in a new country, and to carry with its colonies social, religious, commercial and educational advantages. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION GOVERNING COLONIES. WHO MAY BECOME MEMBERS. Section 1. Any person, male or female, of good moral character may become a member of any one colony organized by this Bureau,by paying a membership fee of Twenty Dollars and by signing these Articles of Associ ation. DUTIES OF THE BUREAU AND ITS RELATION TO THE COLONY. Sec. 2. In consideration of the membership fee of Twenty Dollars paid by each member, the Bureau will make contracts with the various Railroad Coupanies leading to the place of location, for cheap freights, fare and low transportation, and lands, select town sites and lands and lay out a town THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY PEOPLES' BLOCK, MANDAN, MOKTON COUNTY, DAKOTA. GEOHGE PEOPLES, Proprietor European Hotel and Restaurant. site for each colony; and as soon as Deeds can be given will deed to each member a resident lot from such town site; and to each actual settler, upon making improvements on his farm in the Colony, in addition to those im provements required by law, or improvements upon a town lot, within one J rear of settlement of Colony, will deed one extra lot to such member, such ot to be in accordance with the amount of improvement made, either a business or a resident lot. SELECTION OF LOT. Sec. 3. After reserving certain lots for public buildings and other pur poses, after the first settlement of each colony has been made, a date shall be fixed by the Bureau on which the selection of lots shall be made by cast ing lots. One member can represent another in the drawing. For such members not represented the Bureau will draw. Those holding the earli est certificates of membership and being present will draw first. POWER OF BUREAU. Sec. 4. The Bureau may make such needful rules as may be deemed best for all concerned and will co-operate with all members in promoting the peace and prosperity of the Colony. OF NORTH DAKOTA. . 9 EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS. Sec. 5. The Bureau will deed free of charge for the promotion of edu cation and religion within the colony, to each organized church or school, upon the erection of a building for such purposes, a suitable number of lots within the town site for the location of such building. CONTROL OF COLONY. Sec. 6. After the location of the colony has been made and sufficient members have arrived to organize themselves, the colony shall rely on its own resources in the ownership of property and control of business. The colony will be under the control of the Bureau until the settle ment has organized and elected its own officers. NAME. P. 0. ADDRESS. AGE SEX . OCCUPATION. DATE. NOTE.—The subscribers will take pleasure in giving any information calculated to benefit any parties who wish to come to this country. The Bureau is now organizing a colony which will be located in one of the fin est and most promising regions of North Dakota west of the Missouri. Par ties who contemplate going to Dakota will find it greatly to their interest to communicate with the West Missouri Colony Bureau. Persons desiring to become members should sign the above Articles of Association and enclose the same so signed with a fee of twenty dollars to either of the undersigned officers of the Bureau: J. J. LUCK, President, New Salem, Dakota, T. K. LONG, Secretary, Mandan, Dakota. 10 . . THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY Ucrct dearth. } !)«• SHesf HyissouFi ® EXTENT. The West Missouri country of North Dakota has an area of about 20,000 square miles—nearly five times the size of the State of Connecticut and almoBt half as large as the great State of Pennsylvania. It comprises the counties of Morton, Oliver, Mercer, Start, Hettinger, Bowman, Villard, Billings, Dunn, McKenzie, Alfred, Wallace and Williams. MOIOTON COUNTY. After crossing the handsome iron bridge, over the Missouri River, built by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at a cost of $1,000,000, the train enters the county seat of Morton County, situate upon the west bank of the Mis souri, the natural gateway to the rich farming, grazing and mining country lying between the Missouri River and the East Montana line. Mandan, according to the official census of June 30th, 1885, had at that time a population of 2,483. It is beautifully situated in the fork formed by the confluence of the Heart River with the Missouri River, and is pro tected on the west and north by battlements of rugged and picturesque bluffs. The country round about Mandan is a fine agricultural and stock- raising region, and farms are rapidly being opened up. Mandan is a ship ping point for Missouri River steamboats and has the finest NATURAL HARBOR on the river. The city is growing rapidly. It contains six hotels, one built at a cost of $60,000, one daily and two weekly newspapers, five churches, three public halls, good school buildings, a fine court house built at a cost of $35,000, one national bank and two private banks, a 65,000-bushel wheat elevator and a flouring mill of two hundred and fifty barrels capacity per day, extensive brick round houses and machine shops of the Northern Pacific Railroad, it being headquarters of the Missouri division of the road, and many fine brick business blocks, stores and private residences, exten sive brick works, lumber yards, etc. OF NORTH DAKOTA. 11 Leaving the Missouri River at Mandan, the Northern Pacific Railroad runs across Morton County for about sixty-three miles. This is one of the largest and best agricultural counties in North Dakota, being watered by the Big Heart, Sweet Briar, North and South Cannonball, Big and Little Curlew, Dogsteeth, Pointer, Butte and other streams, with numerous tribu taries. From Mandan the Northern Pacific follows the Heart River seven miles west, then leaves the stream, running parallel with it, however, and again crosses its headwaters in Stark County. Heart River, with its numer ous spring-fed side streams, waters the Northern Pacific Railroad lands for upwards of 150 miles. Outcrops of coal appear in many places. After leav ing the Heart River the road follows the Sweet Briar, Badger, Blue Grass and Little Curlew, the fertility of this country being proclaimed by the dense and luxuriant growth of its grasses. NEW SALEM. Twenty-seven miles west of Mandan is New Salem, in Morton County, a living witness of what can be accomplished in the great Northwest in an incredibly short time. The colony, consisting of about 50 families, arrived on April 6th, 1883. The railroad company at once put in a side track, and ten box cars were left for the colonists tolive in temporarily. The "land office" of J. J. Luck was the first building, which was followed quickly by a boarding house by Mr. Henry Spinner, and a hardware store and post- office. The railroad company put up an emigrant house and depot, and other buildings followed in quick succession. Among the first public build ings was a church, which cost $1,200, and a parsonage which cost about the same. According to the official census of June 30th, 1885, the colony then had a population of 620. During the summer of 1885, a COAL MINE was opened about a mile from town, where considerable supplies of coal have been already mined, and shipped to other points. A BRICK YARD is also operated at this point, where a superior quality of brick is made. A new two-story brick school house was erected in 1885, at a cost of $2,500. The first season large crops of potatoes were raised on sod, as well as corn, oats, wheat, and the usual garden vegetables. Rev. Gyr sowed oats on the 17th of May and raised agood crop. On one stem were counted 153 kernels. Mr. H. Kroeger planted corn on the 20th of May and raised a good crop, out of which ne saved much seed com. The country round about abounds in springs of pure water. It is entirely safe to say that within a radius of two miles of New Salem there are as many as twenty springs of water. EXTENT AND WEALTH. Morton County is the first county west of the Missouri River traversed by the Northern Pacific Railroad. Its east and south boundaries are the Missouri and the Cannonball Rivers, making them somewhat irregular, but contains about seventy-six townships, besides the Fort Rice reservation now about opened up for settlement, making in ail nearly 2,000,000 acres. The assessed value of the county has shown an increase in values as follows: In 1880 $ 125,000 In 1881 ------256,000 In 1882 586,000 In 1883 1,137,405 In 1884 1,456,106 In 1885 - - 1,568,772 12 . THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY NORTHERN PACIFIC BANK BLOCK, MANDAN, MOKTON CODNTY, DAKOTA. POPULATION. The population of Morton County according to the United States official census of 1880 was 186, and the territorial official count of 1885 gave Morton County a population of 5477. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. Experience has shown within the last fewyears that this part of Dakota is par excellence the finest district for mixed farming and stock raising in Dakota. Here a peculiar soil combines with the natural climatic conditions to produce a quality of hard spring wheat which cannot be raised south of the North Dakota wheat belt. The wheat raised here is so superior that it has acquired a distinctive designation in the market, and is quoted as " No. 1 HARD." It contains an unusually large proportion of glutinous properties and makes the best flour in the world. The flour made from this wheat produces the largest number of pounds of finest bread from a fixed number of pounds of flour. The hard spring wheat which grades "No. 1 HARD" brings 10 per cent, higher prices than the best wheat raised elsewhere. It is a quick crop, only requiring a period of about 90 days from the time of seeding in the spring to maturity. The peculiar conditions of soil and climate that give this section its superior hard spring wheat are equally favorable for other agricultural pro ducts. The berry of all the grains grown here being unusually bard, full and heavy, the crops command high prices and ready sale. All the wheat grown here finds a ready market at Mandan, where the large mills of the MANDAN MILLING COMPANY turn out 250 barrels of fine flour daily. All the varieties of grains and vegetables common to the temperate zone grow abundant crops iere, and the husbandman is generally rewarded with OF NORTH DAKOTA. 13 large annual yields. Wheat, oats, barley, corn, rye, flax, millet, peas, clover, timothy, potatoes, turnips, onions! beets, cabbage, parsnips and other vege tables yield;abundant crops. Wheat yields from 20 to 40 bushels to the acre, and weighs from 60 to 65 p innds to the bushel: oats 60 to 90 bushels to the acre, weighing from 38 to 44 pounds to the bushel; barley 30 to 48 bushels to the acre, and 48 to 54 pounds to the bushel; rye 35 to 50 bushels to the acre, and weighing from 56 to 62 pounds to the bushel. Corn is a good crop, the hard flint varieties being best adapted to this section. The soil and climate favor the growth of unusually large vegetables, fine in flavor, with heavy yields to the acre. Potatoes yield from 150 to40 0 bushels to the acre. Onions from 300 to 800 bushels to the acre. MINERAL PRODUCTS. i The whole West Missouri country is underlaid with rich veins of superior LIGNITE COAL, averaging in thickness from three and a half to eighteen feet. This coal is so plentiful that farmers help themselves to coal at an expense only of dig ging and | hauling the same. It is a splendid fuel and besides the local consumption, it is extensively exported to towns in eastern Dakota along the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. It is retailed in Man dan delivered in the cellar at .$2.50 per ton, and sells at the mine at New Salem and Sims at the extremely low price of $1.50 per ton. It is also be lieved that extensive reservoirs of PETROLEUM underlie large portions of the West Missouri country. Already oil wells are successfully operated south of us in the Black Hills, and we have here the same geological formation. Several gentlemen who have had large experi ence in the OIL REGIONS of Pennsylvania have taken this matter in hand in good earnest and expect to find not only oil, but also EXTENSIVE GAS WELLS of natural gas, which, when discovered, will afford cheap light and fuel for extensive manufacturing enterprises. Between New Salem and Mandan a SAND STONE quarry was opened in the summer of 1885 on the tree claim of Rev. Father Martin Schmidt, where a superior quality of stratified stone is easily gotten out, which is now being used for building purposes. A large portion of the stone trimmings of the new court house at Mandan was made of this local stone. This industry is as yet only in its infancy. North of Mandan in the bluffs along the Missouri there is a deposit of limestone where a SUPERIOR QUALITY OF LIME was burned during the summer of 1885. All the lime used in the construc tion of the Morton County court house was burned at this establishment. WEST MISSOURI CLIMATE. The climate in this part of Dakota in regard to its salubrity and com fort of residence for man is widely misunderstood. The climate is excep- 14 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY MERCHANTS BLOCK, MANDAN, MORTON COUNTY, DAKOTA. tionally healthful, with general exemption from malarious and pulmonary diseases, and its qualities in all seasons of the year permit and support sus tained physical activity. It is less rigorous ana much more agreeable than in lower latitudes in Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and the New England States. The atmosphere being dry is less chilling than the saturated atmos phere of the Atlantic Coast and the humid atmosphere of the Middle and Southern States. There is leBS snow fall in North Dakota than further south in the Territory, and further east in the same latitude. One of the causes tending totempe r the climate in this belt of country is the influence of the Japan current, a great stream of equatorial warmth, which flows from the Indian Ocean along the coasts of Asia and Japan, and northeast erly through the Pacific Ocean, and strikes the coast of Washington and Oregon. The prevailing warm sea breeze, from these tropical watere, known as the "Chinook" wind, gives to the Pacific Coast its equable climate. Blowing inland, up the valley of the Columbia River and through the mountain passes, down along the great valley of the Missouri River, the winds penetrate far into the interior, sensibly tempering the entire basin drained by thiB giant stream. The average mean annual temperature of this section is from ten to twelve degrees warmer than the Red River Val ley. The following table shows the TEMPERATURE for the months of October, November and December, 1885. at Mandan, Dakota, at 3 o'clock P. M. or each day, and is a true index of the temper ature throughout the whole West Missouri country: OF NORTH DAKOTA. 15 TABLE OF TEMPERATURE—DEGREES ABOVE ZEBO. Day. October. November. December. 1st 76.0 33.0 50.5 2d 56.6 34.8 43.3 3d 49.0 32.0 39.0 4th 42.0 32.3 : 13.0 5th 41.0 34.3 22.8 6th . 64.6 30.2 5.9 7th 41.0 26.7 15.7 8th 62.0 36.1 10.0 9th 71.0 42.8 13.6 10th 73.1 48.0 16.9 11th 48.2 32.0 . 11.7 12th 55.0 31.4 9.8 13th 60.0 24.8- 6.1 14th 71.4 26.9 33.0 15th 71.6 32.8 25.9 16th 59.0 39.4 28.8 17th 47.2 30.4 38.1 18th 48.1 27.0 32.8 19th 41.0 44.6 39.0 20th 42.9 46.6 . 43.7 21st 5S.3 49.1 38.0 22d 59.0 35.0 46.0 23d 63.0 34.2 30.5 24th 55.8 31.0 29.6 25th 66.2 36.0 41.2 26th 38.4 34.0 51.0 27th 33.2 46.0 40.5 28th 40.6 35.0 41.6 29th 50.0 34.2 22.7 30th 50.0 39.4 20.3 31st 45.3 33.0 Means. 53.9 35.3 28.7 An erroneous impression prevails throughout certain parts of the East that this country is frequently visited by great storms and cyclones, known as " blizzards." A long series of experiments by the United States Signal Service shows that North Dakota west of the Missouri River is entirely ex empt from cyclones or great storms—it being outside of the cyclone or storm belt. There is no record of this part of Dakota ever having been visited by a cyclone, and "blizzards" are a thing largely of the imagination. The weather is always so that persons and teams can be comfortable out of doors. OLTVEE COUNTY. A drive of nine miles due north from New Salem brings the traveler to the Oliver County line. This is one of the youngest counties in Dakota. It was organized by the Territorial Legislature in the winter of 1885, and .16 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY. frfv-»t_ -- _ __ . — • WEST HOUSE BUILT 1U MANDAN, CHKISTF.NED IN EARLY DAYS "THE ARLINGTON." It was built by MaJ. T. J. Mitchell and was torn down several years ago in opening a new street [Photo, by Z. GILBERT, Mandan.] offers a fine field for settlement. All that has been said of Morton County is true of Oliver County. It lies on the same West Missouri slope, is watered by the same system of streams and is penetrated by the same veins of rich lignite coal. After crossing the county line about six miles we come to the VALLEY OF THE SQUARE BUTTE CREEK, the garden spot of the West Missouri country. Here there is already a bunch of settlers and here there will be in time a substantial town and set tlement All the land is well adapted to mixed farming and stock raising, and a few years will see the most marked change in this section. To ascer tain what development will take place in Oliver County one needs only look back and see what has been accomplished in Morton County. History will simply repeat itself and the past history of Morton County will be the future history of Oliver County. For farmers of limited means A NEW COUNTY is the proper place to locate. It gives them a chance to get in on the ground floor, tohav e a voice in the growth, development and organization of the county and to gist cheaper lands and many other advantages that they could not have in an older county. Oliver County is destined to be A GARDEN OF AGRICULTURE. The farmer can drive to market at New Salem or Mandan and dispose of all his products at a good advantage. Then, too, new towns will soon spring up within the county which will give him a market still closer to his home. The country is settling up so rapidly that will soon build into Oliver County to carry out the abundant crops of the farmers locating therein. The country lying north of New Salem for a dis tance of fifty miles running through Morton, Oliver and Mercer Counties is OF NORTH DAKOTA. VTEW ON THE HEART RIVER—MANDAN IX THE DISTANCE. [Photo, by Z. GILBERT.] all a gently rolling prairie of rich black loam from one to two feet in depth, with a marl clay subsoil exceedingly well adapted to mixed farming.- It is well watered by numerous streams, and SPRINGS OF PORE CLEAR WATER abound everywhere. It is generally believed that a railroad will belbuilt through this country north from New Salem to the Knife River some time .in the near future. Two years ago there was not a single wagon trail to be seen leading north of New Salem. Now there is a GOOD WAGON ROAD running north a distance of 45 miles through Oliver and Mercer Counties to Mercer City and beyond, over which a team of two horses can easily draw a ton at any season of the year. All along this level highway the traveler sees dotted here and there comfortable farm-houses and well im proved farms, showing the substantial and rapid manner in which this country is being settled up. 18 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY. MEBCEB COUNTY. Adjoining Oliver County on the north and lying along the west bank of the MissourilRiver is Mercer County, with rolling surface, underlaid with coal, watered by the spring-fed Butte Creek and Knife River, their branches and other streams, is a splendid agricultural district. The town of Mercer, the centre of the Dakota colony, is a growing town. It is situated on both sides of the Big Knife River where the river has a fall of eighteen feet, thus affording the best natural WATER POWER in Dakota, sufficient to grind all the wheat grown in this section. The surface is somewhat more rolling than that east of the Missouri River, and is therefore more varied and picturesque. The soil is a rich loam with clay subsoil similar to that in Morton and Oliver Counties, and is equally well adapted to wheat, other grains and vegetables. THE VALLEY OF THE BIG KNIFE RIVER is the garden part of Mercer County. Here considerable has already been done in the way of settlement, and abundant fine land yet remains to be taken up by the industrious settler and converted into comfortable homes. The county seat of this county is' at Stanton, a growing town on the Mis souri River. It has a hotel, and a live newspaper, the Stanton Pilot, which is doing good work in developing the resources of the county. Both Oliver and Mercer Counties are attached to Morton County for judicial pur poses, and the DISTRICT COURT sits at Mandan on an average of three or four times each year. Mercer County is rapidly developing into a rich and prosperous county. Here is found the RICHEST COAL VEIN IN DAKOTA, a vein of solid coal averaging eighteen feet in thickness. in vsfenepaneroll I Morton, Mercer and Oliver Counties constitute one family. Morton is the mother county and Oliver and Mercer are her children. The whole country was originally embraced in one county, and is in every respect the same soil and climate, and possesses the same natural advantages and resources. They must naturally grow and develop together, and whatever helps one helps the other also. All through this part of Dakota the country is a rolling prairie crossed by streams', the edges of them being lined with wood. The soil of the prairie is black loam to the thickness of one to two feet, with a splendid clay sub soil. Plenty of splendid water, which is easily reached, and plenty of fine FARM RESIDENCE OF J. J. LUCK, AT NEW SALEM, MORTON COUNTY, DAKOTA. 20 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY springs; and for fuel, most every settler finds on his claim a vein of coal from one to four feet thick, which he can get out at a very small expense, and which is preferred to burn in stoves to wood, of which it takes one cord to equal a ton of coal. This lignite coal can be got out of the aide of almost any hill in Morton, Mercer and Oliver Counties. Those using it in cook and heating stoves say that they prefer burning our lignite to Eastern soft coal, as it does not make the soot and gas that the latter coal does, and burns nicer, with a bright flame and no smell. In comparing it with wood it is more compact, far easier handled, and can be put away in much less space than wood, and it burns quite as nice and free as wood. There is also plenty of good brick clay, which many settlers simply form and dry in toe air, and which makes a fine, solid brick for inside work, and which they use for inside walls, making the home very warm and solid. By using it simply with outside sheeting, it makes a home cost but little money. They can plaster or paper on same without any trouble, but it is used by a good many without doing either. Fine qualities of BRICK BURNED WITH NATIVE COAL are also made at several places in Morton County, which are sold at Man dan, New Salem, and Sims, from $5 to $14 per thousand, depending upon the quality. A superior brick clay is found all through Oliver and Mercer Counties, where the home market can be abundantly supplied with native brick. WEST OF NEW SALEM. SIMS. Going back to New Salem where we left the Northen Pacific Railroad and following the road west seven miles we come to Sims, a town which according to the official census of June 30,1885, had a population of 407 people. This is the headquarters of the Northern Pacific Coal Company, where large mining works are operated. Here also are extensive pressed brick and terra-cotta works, where superior wares are made and shipped to all points along the line of the railroad. Sims has a good hotel, church, school house, dry-goods and grocery store, blacksmith shop, and all the facilities for a progressive town in the West. GLENDLUN. Thirty miles west of New Salem is Glenallin, a flourishing settlement of about 350 people. It has three stores, a hotel, church, school house, a good.conntry around, and plenty of native coal abounds. It is one of the most prosperous new towns west of the Missouri. Twelve miles west of Glenullin is Hebron, a prosperous settlement located in 1885. Considerable progress has been made here and already the settlers have a fine church, store, hotel, depot, telegraph office, and other buildings. Two miles west of Hebron the Northern Pacific Railroad crosses the county line into STARK COUNTY, A rich and prosperous county adjoining Morton County on the west. OF NORTH DAKOTA. T$axt ©Jjttrfr* KaW fo ^Jafair) iSarjas. THE LAND LAWS. GOVERNMENT LANDS. UNDER THE HOMESTEAD ACT A citizen, or one who has declared his intention to become such, can homestead 160 acres by filing his application and affidavit at the local land office, and within six months thereafter commencing settlement and improve- ment, and continuing the same for five years. The only cost is the United: States Land Office fees, which are $18 for 160 acres. A soldier, having served in the army or navy during the war of the rebellion for over ninety days, can obtain 160 acres of any ofth e public lands by filing (himself or by an attorney) a declaratory statement, and, within six months thereafter filing his affidavit and application, commencing set tlement and cultivation, and continuing the same five years, less the time he served in the army or navy—Buch time in no case to exceed four years. His widow con take advantage of the above. In case of his death in the army, the term of his enlistment is deducted. . BY PRE-EMPTION. The Pre-emption law gives to any citizen of the United States, and to those who have declared their intention to become such, 160 acres of land within the limits of land granted to any railroad company, at $2.50 per acre, or, outside of railroad limits at $1.25 per acre, on condition of actual cultivation and residence thereon. Within ninety days after commencing settlement a declaratory statement must be filed and a fee of $2.00 paid, and within thirty-three months final proof must be made of actual residence and cultivation of the tract. RANDAN '"/; 5„- !=* i: ts: 3L»"W EMV\XS^ lt-87'W. RTdCW.—JJ-MLW, B. S3 W. \ K, 82MT/ B, 81 W. I a SO W. FT. Ill 'geSCftUTIt L Wagon Roads- Northern Pacific Railroad. Proposed Railroads. 3ionJ.3/.yjnyA R,. Jngr-i.qiCTgB JP -.». AYMOND 24 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY LEHFELDT'S HOTEL, AT NEW SALEM, MORTON COUNTY, DAKOTA. UNDER THE TREE-CULTURE ACT. Citizens of the United States, or those who have declared their inten tion to become such, who shall plant, protect and keep in a healthy growing condition, for eight years, ten acres of timber on any quarter-section, or five acres on any legal subdivision of eighty acres, or two and a half acres on any legal subdivision of forty acres or less, shall be entitled to a patent for the whole of said quarter-section or legal subdivision of eighty or forty acres, at the expiration of said eight years, on making proof of such fact by not less than two credible witnesses. The Land Office fees for 160 acres are $18. PRIVATE LANDS. Settlers who preferto buy their lands outright can do so. The Northern Pacific Railroad land grant extends throughout Morton, Mercer and Oliver Counties, and choice railroad lands can be bought all the way from $2.60 up to $4.00 per acre. In the immediate vicinity of Mandan land is considera bly higher, but fine land can be had within five miles of Mandan as low as $8.00 per acre. (glerjfcFal lr)toi»rr)afi0i). The following letter is from a farmer near New Salem: "NEW SALEM, Morton County, Dakota, Jan. 17,1886. "GENTLEMEN:—A few years ago I wished to find a good home.' ?After some inquiry I found that a colony was going west, to New Salem, Dakota, OF NORTH DAKOTA, 25 which I at once joined. With the assistance of Mr. J. J. Luck I fonnd just what I wanted, and secured a good home for myself. New Salem has an excellent location. The soil is a deep, black loam. The drainage is splen did. Springs of pure, clear water abound everywhere. A greater advan tage than any feature of this region is the black lignite coal, which most every fanner has on his own land. This cheap fuel is a great blessing to settlers in this county. We have a good church and splendid schools, and will soon have more. Our summers are perfect, and there is nothing for the most timid to fear in our winters. Those who wish a good, cheap farm and pleasant home, with good society, can be accommodated here. Yours, truly, T. MORITZ MOHGENBTERN." SOCIETIES. The Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of Druids, and the Grand Army, all have excellent organizations in Mandan. The John B. King Post, No. 73, Department of Dakota, G. A. R-, was organized August 18,1884, with a charter membership of 26, and has had a steady increase in numbers since then. The post meets regularly every first and third Tuesday evenings of each month. The Emerson Institute was organized several years ago at Mandan for literary and dramatic purpoBes. It has a fine building, with good stage and scenic equipments. ... CHURCHES. The following letters from leading clergymen explain themselves: CATHOLIC. "ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, MANDAN, Jan. 19th, 1886. ' 'As early as 1880 the Catholicpeople of Mandan and its vicinity received a priest in the person of the Rev. Father P. Cassidy, who was sent by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Marty, 0. S. B., of Dakota, at once responding to the earnest request of these early settlers. Though the congregation wae very small at that time, numbering about 50 to 60 souls, the good will of the laithful, com bined with the ardent zeal of their devoted pastor, enabled them already, in the following year, to build a good and substantial frame church, 25x50, and parish house 21$x27J, on a very suitable block of ground about six blocks northeast of the stately N. P. R. R. depot. The chuich grounds were partly donated by the N. P. R. K. Co. In July, 1884, Father P. Cassidy was offered the pastorate of James town, Dakota, by his Rt. Rev. Bishop, where he to-day enjoys the esteem of a large congregation. Responding to the call of the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Dakota, the Rt. Rev. Abbot Alexius Ed el brock, O. S. B., of St. John's Abbey, Stearns Count}', Min nesota, took charge of the parish at Mandan and the missions tributary to it, and replaced Father P. Cassidy by Father Martin Schmitt, O. S. B., from St. John's Abbey, Minnesota who for nearly two years has attended to the spiritual wants of his flock, both in Mandan and the extensive missions, with true apostolic zeal. The Catholics well kept pace with the develop ment and progress of this West Missouri country, and, as they increased in number, so have they with increased liberality shared to secure a solid basis for the congregation financially. A Catholic fair held in Mandan in November of 1885 netted the nice sum of $1,077, which well covered the remainder of the church debt, as well as the many improvements necessity had called for. "At present the congregation has 350 members. In the fall of 1885 the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, from St. Joseph, Stearns County; Min nesota, opened a parish school, near the church, which is in a flourishing condition and gives general satisfaction. 13657 NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD DEPOT AT NEW SALEM. MORTON CODNTY, DAKOTA. NORTHERN PACIFIC ROUND HOUSE AT MANDAN. MoaTox CODNTY, DAKOTA. NORTHERN PACIFIC CAR SHOPS AT MANDAN, MORTON CODNTY, DAKOTA. THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY. 27 "Being assured of the good feeling and satisfaction prevailing generally in Mandan and in the many prosperous colonies in the fair West Missouri country, I may here add that whole townships of the finest land, well adapted by nature for both agriculture and stock raising, are yet awaiting such settlers who will use enough wisdom and judgment to put in some thing, and have the heart and the will to see their efforts crowned with success and happiness. The climate is very healthy owing to the dry atmos- here and the absence of stagnant waters that cause some localities of the Stales to be rather unhealthy. Many diseases, such as rheumatism, incipi ent consumption and various neuralgic diseases have been readily cured by the salubrious air of Dakota. 1,] " REV. MARTIN SCHMITT, 0. R. B., " Mandan, Morton County, Dakota." MANDAN, Jan'y 18,1886. "This pamphlet I look upon as a truthful representation of the character and resources of the West Missouri country, and I am glad to give it my personal endorsement for two reasons: First, because I believe its state ments can be relied upon by those who read it, and, Second, because it contemplates gathering people into communities or colonies where they may enjoy the privileges of schools and churches without the delay occasioned by promiscuous settlement. "No frontier pastor can fail to note the apparent disregard of religious interest with which church-going Eastern people select their Western homes. I say ^apparent,' because the disregard is only apparent; but it is accepted as a foregone conclusion by many that they must in coming west for some time at least be without the privilege of both church and school. The result, I need scarcely say, has in many cases been disastrous to the spiritual life. Without the means of grace many have ceased look ing for the ' city that hath foundations;' their love hath waxed cold, and when at last the nearest pastor learns of them it is as those who ' used to be Methodists.' Is there a remedy? I think there is, and I shall briefly outline it. "First. God's grace—without it man will'fall away,'no matter how favorable the surroundings. A new class of temptations will present them selves, to which you are as unused as you are to your new surroundings, and you must' walk with God' or suffer spiritually. Second, the colonization plan. Let our people gather into communities of sufficient strength to at least become a class or society on a circuit, and if possible to support a pastor who can go out from them to the ' Macedo nians ' with which they will find themselves surrounded. Bring a local preacher. No country ever presented a wider field for a consecrated lay preacher. "Third, if the colony plan be not feasible, settle within reach of a Method ist society. For the benefit of those who will read this with the question in minds,'Where have we Methodist societies?' I will say, At Mandan, where the writer is pastor, we have a Methodist society, and comfortable church property worth three thousand dollars. Following the N. P. R. R. ten miles west to Marmot there are a number of Methodists who will no douot in the spring be gathered into a society. At Sims, thirtv-five miles west of Mandan, there is a small class recently organized. At Richard ton, one hundred miles west, the pastor at Gladstone, Rev. Wm. Cook, preaches reg ularly once in two weeks. The next point west is Gladstone, where we have a good society that has recently completed a church building. Dick inson is about one hundred and twenty-five miles west, and there also Mr. Cook preaches regularly every two weeks. North of this place sixty miles, 28 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY. ' . at Stanton, on the Missouri River, we have a few Methodist people, and also west of that place ten miles, in the Knife River valley, we have three or four families near Mercer Cite, but as yet they have not been organized into classes, though the presiding elder will doubtless do so soon. Coming back to Mandan and going southwest twelve miles to the Little Heart Val ley, we have a few families who are Methodists, and a community that would welcome more Methodist people. Beside these we have individual members and single families so scattered over this entire country as to make it impracticable to mention here. "C. W. COLUNGE, [Signed,] "Pastor M. E. Church, "Mandan, Dakota." SEED WHEAT. "Office of the Mandan Roller MM Co., Mandan Dak., Jan. 21,1886- "J. J. LUCK, Agent, New Salem, D. T.: "MY DEAR SIR : In reply to yours concerning seed wheat, would say: We propose to have in store 5,000 bushels or more of choice Scotch Fife wheat for seed. This we shall sell at the actual cost to us, and so far as pos,- sible, shall wont cash for it. But realizing that what helps the producer also helps the manufacturer, we shall in all cases where parties are unable to pay for their Beed, arrange to let them have it on easy terms, charging them the same price, and taking their note for the amount bearing twelve per cent, interest per annum and secured by a chattel mortgage on the crop, or other property if the purchaser prefers. I think this'will meet with the approval of your people and you may consider yourself authorized to make such sales. If the farmer prefers it the note can be paid in wheat when the crop matures. " Yours truly, "CHAS. H. HOOD, General Manager." f^T:^1:'/"; ; ;; ':'%y-i- •.•••.;•.*'<•• S| Sip1* ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AT MANDAN, MORTON COUNTY, DAKOTA. BEY. FATHER MARTIN SCHKITT, O. B' B„ Pastor. [Photo, by Z. GILBERT, Mandan.] 30 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY H. R. LYON, Pres't. H. VAN VLECK, JR., Cashier. M. LANG, Vice-Pres't. O. T. ROBERTS, Asst Cashier. FIRST NATIONAL BANK MANDAN, DAK. ' PAID UP CAPITAL, §50,000. SURPLUS, $15,000. A General Banking and Exchange Business Done, Collections Made. Money Loaned. Taxes Paid. School, County and City Bonds Bought and Sold. Interest Paid on Time Deposits. CORRESPONDENTS: UNITED STATES NATIONAL BANK, New York City; MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK, Chicago; MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK and CAPITAL BANK, St. Paul. DIRECTORS : H. R. LYON, L. E. REED, M. LANG, JOHN GUNN, WM. CANNON, WARREN CARPENTER, JR. H. VAN VLECK, JR. HEEGAARD & HOKE, DEALERS IN HARDWARE, STOVES AND TINWARE, P-axnps, "Wood Stools:, FIELD AND GARDEN SEEDS, Mandan, DaL OF NORTH DAKOTA. 81 ' HANAUER & BARTH, PKOPRIETORS Chicago Square Dealing Clothing House, The Leading Clothiers in the WeBt Missouri Country. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN Clothing, Gents' Furnishing Goods, EATS, CAPS, BOOTS and SHOES, and everything pertaining to Gents' Ware. NEXT DOOR TO THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, MANUAN, .... DAKOTA. N. B.—Orders by mail promptly attended to. McDOUGAL & GUM, DEALERS IN Hardware, Stoves, Tinware and Firearms, MANDAN, - DAKOTA. 32 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY BIHGENHEIMER & TAYLOR, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL SEALERS IN Drugs, Medicines, Paints, Oils, WINDOW GLASS, WALL PAPER, BLAXK BQQSS» SCHOOL BOOKS, FANCY AND PLAIN STATIONERY. ORDERS BY MAIL PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO. JOSEPH MILLER, REAL ESTATE AND ABSTRACT AGENT. Correct Abstracts of all Lots ana Lands in Morton County. MANDAN, - DAKOTA. OF NORTH DAKOTA. JOHN PORAN, Staple and Fancy Groceries, PIONEER BLOCK, MA1VDA1V, - DAKOTA. GERMAN AMERICAN ML A General Banking and Collection Business Transacted. BUY AND SELL FOREIGN EXCHANGE. EMANUEL STREICKENBERG, JR. \ «• « "M"T\ A -vr Tl A XT ARTHUR STREICKENBERG. / '" r\ IN XJJXIH, .Ll/l ti. CHARLES E. MEECH, Cashier. . ELBEIDGE C. COOKE, Prat. THE NORTHERN PACIFIC BANK. A general Banking and Loan Business Transacted. Capital, $25,000. ' Sui,P1,ls «nd Undlrided Profits, $3,000. MANDAN, DAKOTA. W. A. LAUTERMAN & BRO., DEALERS IN Lumber, lath, Shingles, Pickets, Shutters, Mouldings of all kinds, Building Paper, Carpet Paper, Lime, Cement, Plastering Hair, Doors, Windoios, Storm Doors, Screen Doors, 84 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY PIONEER FUHUITURE STORE, C E. IDO"T7\7- «S5 S03STS, Dealers In all kinds of FURlYITXmE, MATTRESSES A2HTJ> MIRRORS, Have constantly In stock a fine assortment of Pillows, Bed Room and Dining Boom Furniture. Picture Framing done to Order. KAKBAH, DAKOTA. BEST, E2LYTDN & CD. Montana Meat Market, DEALERS IN GBOCEBIES, PROVISIONS, OYSTERS, FISB:, CONTRACTOR AND I. CUMMINS, BUILDER. Plans and Specifications Furnished if Necessary. MANDAN, DAKOTA. . OF NORTH DAKOTA. 35 J. O. SULLIVAN, CASH, DRY GOODS, GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS, CARPETS AND FLOOR OIL CLOTH, CURTAINS, <£c No bad accounts. Money made by those who buy for cash. MANDAN. DAKOTA. DUNCAN & HILLES, AT EASTERN PRICES. MANDAN, - - DAKOTA. FRANK J. MEAD. ELDOK J. STEELE. AMERICAN. GERMAKIA, of Philadelphia. O Finest Sample Room in the City Connected. liALAJXJDJLEr, - DAKOTA. 38 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY HENRY W.' COE, M. D, PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, OFFICE: • PEOPLES' BLOCK, MANDAN, DAKOTA. E. W. READ, M. D. Homeopathic Physician and Surgeon, PIONEER BLOCK, MANDAN, DAKOTA. (Diseases of Children a Specialty.) . C. F. KING, M. D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, OFFICE, PIONEER BLOCK, MANDAN, - - DAKOTA. PLETTENBERG & RENKEN, Contractors & Builders, MANDAN, DAKOTA. T. K. LONG, f\[[opney and C°cin^ell°i° at Isaw, Office, Pioneer Block, MANDAN, DAKOTA. District Attorney for the Second Subdivision of the Sixth Judi cial District of Dakota, COMPRISING THE COUNTIES OF MORTON, MERCER, OLIVER, STARK, HETTINGER, BOWMAN, VILLARD, BILLINGS, DUNN, McKENZIE, ALLRED, WALLACE, WILLIAMS. OF NORTH DAKOTA. Uy DR. ©. D. KING, JDlRirci'TIIISI'TIRIYI To save tfte natu- ^ J^ A • T Teeth extracted ral teeth is its mis- £| WB LA f) « tcitfcowt j>ain /,„ sion. No charge ^ WT\ fi t| Tl ^ toe o/ /or examination Ml J »S^ U V V o/«eet/*. •rl| \ * f NITROUSOXIDEGAij, O^re in JPio»icer Block, MANDAN, DAKOTA. THE PIONEER JEWELER, Dealer in Watches, Clocks and Jewelry, MANDAN, D. 'I, GEO. GIR/U'ITSnEI^IrJ^LIDISIR,, Dealer in GROCERIES, FLOUR and FEED. Proprietor /,/ City Bakery, opp. Depot, MANDAN, Dakota. N. B.—Orders by mail promptly attended to. Lowest Market Priot* BELLOWS & CO. Dealers in AGEIGULTDKAL IMPLEMENTS, AND ALL KINDS OF Farm'Machinery, Farm Wagons, &c. MANDAN, - - DAKOTA THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY THE TIM ES Eight-Page Paper, Of Large Circulation in West Dakota, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE FARMING CLASS. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE UPON APPLICATION. JF3?±oe $2.00 !>©!• "X"©ao?_ J. E. CATES, Proprietor, MANDAN, DAKOTA. THE "TIMES" IS EQUIPPED WITH THE BEST MACHINERY AND MATERIAL FOR A.UL KINDS OF WORK. OF NORTH DAKOTA. WM. S. CROSBY, C. H. SOUTHER, "—;J~£ K SOOD, President. Treaa. * virI\ Manager. The MANDAN ROLLER MILL COMPANY, Merchant Millers. CAPACITY: 250 Barrels per Day of tlie Strongs f.atetlt Flour in the World. HIGHEST MARKET PRICE — ALWAYS- =sra-~- IF-A-IID FOE "VT-JTE^-TI MANDAN, DAKOTA, U. S. A. 40 THE WEST MR380URI COUNTRY Morton County Democrat and HEW Salem fld¥nEalE« The Only Democratic Newspaper in North Dakota West of the Missouri River. Contains 48 Columns of Reading Matter each week. Subscription $2 per Year. In German, English and Scandinavian Languages, DONE AT EASTERN PRICES. WILLIAM BORGEN, Publisher and Proprietor, NEW SALEM, DAKOTA. OF NORTH DAKOTA. 41 PERSONS DESIRING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE West .Missouri Country of North Dakota, SHOULD SUBSCRIBE FOR THE MANDAN IT CONTAINS MORE NEWS OF DAKOTA THAN ANY OTHER PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE TERRITORY. DAILY AND WEEKLY EDITIONS. 'Daily, $9 a Year; "Weekly, $2 a Year. SAMPLE COPIES FREE. Also FINE JOB WORK. PIONEER PUBLISHING CO., MANDAN, DAKOTA. 42 . . THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY ' ePI^oto^pap^er3, Wishes to inform his numerous old as well as new customers that he is better prepared now than ever to please any and all who may favor him with their patronage, and also that they will find a full line of carefully selected Frames, Albums, Brackets and such other articles as constitute a Complete Stock of Photographic Goods. He is also prepared to do all kinds of Copying and enlarging, either in India Ink, Crayon, Water Colors, or Oil Fainting, and his aim will be to make the best pictures that care and skill can produce. 'STUDIO-MAIN STREET, . MANDAN. DAK. • J. J. LUCK, GENERAL Real Estate, Loan and Insurance AGENCY. Railroad Lands, Town Lots and Improved Farms Bought and Soli Settlers Located on Government Lands, and all other Land Business Transacted. NEW SALEM, Morton Co., Dak. OF NORTH DAKOTA. 43 BUSINESS MEN! Emigrants! Tourists! and Land Seekers! IN FACT, AIX, CLASSES OF PEOPLE, SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT THE Northern Pacific R. R. —FROM— ST. PAUL or MINNEAPOLIS, IS THE LINE TO THE FARMING & WHEAT LANDS MINNESOTA —OFAN— D DAKOTA!! ROUND-TRIP LAND SEEKERS' TICKETS To Jamestown, La Moure, Devil's Lake, Bismarck, Cooperstown and Milnor at greatly reduced rates, To PORTLAND, OREGON, ALL PRINCIPAL POINTS IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY & OREGON! AND THE ONLY LINE BY WHICH THROUGH TICKETS CAN BE PROCURED TO TACOMA, OLYMPIA, SEATTLE and BRITISH COLUMBIA. THE PIONEER LINE RUNNING THROUGH PULLMAN SLEEPING CARS ! THROUGH EMIGRANT SLEEPING CARS! and THROUGH COACHES! AND THE ONLY LINE RUNNING DINING CARS TO THE PACIFIC COASTt! Meals in Dining Cars only 75 cts. each. No extra charge for accommodations in Emigrant Sleepers. THE ONLY RAIL LINE To the Yellowstone National Park !! Special Excursion Rates During the Tourist Season. folders, Time Cards, Maps and General Information furnished on applica tion to the undersigned, CHAS. S. FEE, Gen. Pass. & Ticket Agent, St. Paul, Minn. 44 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY T-fcAJii CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY COMPANY Owns and operates 6,000 miles of thoroughly equipped road in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota. It is the SHORT LINE and Best Route between all principal points in the Northwest and Far West. For maps, time tables, rates of passage and freight, etc., apply to the nearest Station Agent of the CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY, or to any Railroad Agent anywhere in the United States or Canada. JR. MILLER, A. V. H. CARPENTER, Gen'l Manager. Gen'l Pass, and Tkt. Agt. jr. F. TUCKER, GEO. B. BCEAFFORD, Ass't Gen'l Manager. Ass't Gen'l Pass, and Tkt. Agt. W. E. POWELL, Gen'l Emigration Agt. MILWAUKEE, WISCOKSIS. OF NORTH. DAKOTA. 43 ^Aa ••R.'GIxARK, DRUGGIST; PIOHEEB BLOCK:, IIVE-A-ZCSTO-A-ICT. PATENT MEDICINES, PAINTS, OILS, GLASS, SCHOOL BOOKS and STATIONERY. FRANK FARNESWORTH, DRY GO©E)SDEALER IN . , HATS, CAPS, CARPETS, Grents' IF'ia.raaisliiaa.g' Qoocls, Etc., Etc., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, PIONEER BLOCK, MANDAN, DAK. T. J. MITCHELL, Attorney-at-Law. Special attention given to business before the LOCAL LAND OFFICES, U. S. LAND OFFICE, IN CITY OF WASHINGTON, D. C, and the Secretary of the Interior. HE ALSO EXAMINES LANDS, MAKES SELECTIONS AND LOCATES SETTLERS, ETC. Has been longer engaged in the business, and has had GREATER EXPERIENCE Than any other attorney West of the Missouri river. Write or call upon him at MANDAN, DAKOTA. 46 THE WEST MISSOURI COUNTRY. LUMBER AND FARM MACHINERY. I sell the following in the line of farm implements, machinery and miscellaneous goods: Breaker Plows, I Stubble Plows, Threshers, Grain Drills, Sulky Plows, I Gang Plows, Mowers, Land Rollers, Shovel Plows, Harvesters, Horse Rakes, Walking Cultivators, Wagons, varying in prices ac Riding Cultivators, cording to quality. Combined Riding and Walking Buggies, Spring Wagons, Cultivators, Potato Diggers, I Corn Shellers, Disc Harrows, Fanning Mills, Feed Mills, Spring Teeth Harrows, Wind Mills Steel Teeth Harrows (for pumping water and grind of all sizes. ing grain). Broadcast Seeders, Feed and Straw Cutters, Hand Corn Planters, Sleds, Cutters, Riding Corn Planters, Running Attachments for Bug Binding Twine, gies and Spring Wagons, I take pleasure' in announcing to the public of the West Missouri coun try that I am prepared to supply all their needs in the line of Lumber and Building Material, at prices as cheap as the cheapest, and with goods not excelled in any market: Lumber, Doors, Building Paper, . Lath, Windows, Carpet Paper, Shingles, Storm Doors, Lime, Pickets, Screen Doors, Cement, Shutters, Plastering Hair, Mouldings of all kinds, Mixed Paints, in all Shades, Wooden Eave-Troughs, ready for use. I am also engaged in the manufacture of Cottonwood Lumber, which can be used for many purposes in building, I shall sell the same at considera bly less than Pine lumber. It is for sale at yard in Mandan, at mill eight miles north of Mandan now, and will be in all towns west of Mandan in the coming season. I would also say to parties in the East contemplating settling in the West Missouri country, that I am prepared to furnish lumber at prices that will compare with Eastern prices, freight added, and that I carry a full line of Farm Implements, which have been tboroughly tested and found the best adapted to this soil, which I will sell to you as cheap as anything you can buy and bring with you. And, besides, in my line of Farm Implements you will get what you need, while in many cases farmers find tools they bring from the East very unsatisfactory. If you settle in this country, please call on me before you purchase, and bring this pamphlet with you. FRANK I. ELLISON, MANDAN, DAKOTA. EVERYBODY , SHOULD WEAR . LOVE RING'S CUSTOM ' •,"'•• Wautenptiast Shoes, both for ladies' and gen tlemen's wear. They are the most comfortable, stylish and serviceable shoe made. Physi cians recommend them. . PRICES. Ladies' Hand-Sewed French Calf Waukenphast .....$o 00s ' Will not jjet through. Tipped or Plain Toe, Ladies' French Kid Waujcenphast.. 0 00 Ladies' Straight Goat Wau kenphast Shoe, Dongola Tap : 4 00 Ladies' Genuine" Dongola Hand-Sewed Waukenphast Shoes.... 6 00 Gents' Waukenphast Shoes, . our own custom make, . French calf-skin fronts S 00 Warranted not to to crack. Gents' French Calf Wauken phast Shoes.. 6 00 ' All our Waukenphast shoes have very soft, thick, flexible soles. These goods we send C. O. D., on approval, to any address. THE GREAT SHOE MAN, LOVERING, 3«6Wrtasha St., opp. PoslofUcc, St. Paul, Minn. 'WARREN/CARRENf ER/Jr;: .. LYMAN N, CARY;; MAHDAH, DAKOTA, ||: /j • REAL ESTATE & FIN A*NCIAL : : 'AGENTS: - • • :; Improved Farms, .Railroad Land, and City Property •FOE SALE. Money. Invested and Loaned for . .. • Non-Residents. ANY INQUIRIES REGARDING ; NORTHWESTERN DAKOTA Will be promptly and fully answered. • «V7Jn ;.:,-:•*.;. •-.-:. \- m*B#9*m • 642 .M7 F33 1886 •«?£.