lUiU^n^^1^ m{ THE NEW NORTHWEST, BV Mrs. LINDA W. SLAUGHTER. A PAMPHLET STATING BRIEFLY THE ADVANTAGES OF BISMARCK AND VICINITY. Soil, Timber, Climate, Settlements, Business, &c, &c, PUBLISHED BY THE BURLEIGH COUNTY PrONEERS' ASSOCIATION. —&-tifU - 7^-UyC^ Bismarck Tribune Print 1874. c&jtam & silm, § DEALERS IN GROCERIES, DRY GOODS, CLOTHIITG, HATS, CAPS, BOOTS, SHOES. FURNITURE, Hardware, Stoves, Tinware, Crock- ery, Flour, Grain, Notions, &c. Main St., Bismarok, 1>. T. We beg to inform settlers and persons about to locate at this point that we have unusual facilities for obtaining good.s direct from eastern merchants, and are thus enabled to retail at the Lowest PossUjIp J^iiees, and at a very small advance upon the current prices in the States. The following is a brief quotation from our general price list: C A Sugar............................................• ■ 14 Light Brown.......................................««'•• 1-- Rio Coffee.......................................... 30 XXXX Flour, per Barrel................................ 8 00 Tea............................................... C0@1 50 Syrup...........................•.................•• 75@1 35 Best quality Prints.... ..'......................•......... 10 Sheetings............. ............................. 10<& 20 Alpaca..................•.............................. 5D@1 35 Coals' Cotton, three Spools for............................. 25 Gents' Ready Made Suits..........................•.......8 00@30 00 Boots and Shoes at Eastern prices. CLARK & BILL. SALE and FEED STABLE, In I tear oi' the Bailov House, cor. oi Main and Fiitli Streets, Bismarck, ll>. T. FIRST-CLASS HORSES AND CARRIAGES ALWAYS ON HAND, At Reasonable Tersai*. jkuxl trr—'— - —- -•• "-—.■•"■•---."-'""■'"'-.'"»»■■ Watson & Goodhue, DEALERS IN DRY GOOl)^, CLOTHING, Gents' Furnibiung Goods, Boots, Shoes, and WMAUQ&, - -_ ; co™%. »nd unspeakably filthy in n L 1 >t°7 "^ h°USed ln the ASencies> and ™ on government ratios during tha winter, and in spring receive their annuities, includ- ing guns, powder, bares, etc., and depart on the war path; the Aricka HISTORY OF BISMARCK AND VICINITY. 11 rees, and Sioux being hereditary enemies. The former are friendly to the white?. Some of them arc employed as scouts at Fort A. Lincoln. OLD FORTIFICATION. Near the city of Bismarck, lies one of the chief points of in teres, }n this region, being the ruins of an ancient fortification, with traces ©f wall and bastion still wcli defined among the grass-cevered mounds, This stands upon an abrupt hill, overtopping the river, and is admirably chosen for purposes of defence. On the one side it droops, a steep precipice, to tho water's edge. The remaining three sides are encircled by a deep ravine, that effectually cuts it off from the surr*nnding hills, thus rendering it, in its. if, an almost impregnable, natural fortress. It is a place alike interesting to the naturalist and antiquary. It contains many curiosities, in the shape of pieces* of broken crockery, :ii-n>vv-heads, and other interesting relics of the former occupants. The specimens of earthenware found, arc similar in appearance to, and apparently of tb» >am* manufacture as some I have soon exhumed from ancient mennds in Ohio, except one piece, the broken rim of a drinking vessel, that .**. unlike anything of the ki"d 1 have ever seen. This piece is qaito fire- proof; having been in Dr. Slaughter's house when it was burned, it was afterward taken out »f the ruins, entirely unhurt by the flames. The surface of the ground inside the fort, is covered with a heavy growth of grass, and the specimens obtained, are found without excep. tion, on tho little hills of earth thrown up by the Gophers. The place would well repay investigation, :md might possibly add something to our imperfect knowledge of tho aborignies of tho Continent. The only thing known in regard t> the origin of the fortification, is the state- ment made by sosjo Use scouts, th-.u a lierce battle was at one timi fought between the Ariekareos and Sioux at this point; that the Roes retired and entrenched themselves securely on this hill, and were finally victorious. This I think is entitled t) little credence, and from the fact that the remains of pottery, etc., show them to have been the work of » people possessed of a knowledge of several species ef manufacture that arc new numbered with tin; lost urls, I adopt the theory that these, and the many similar ruins throughout the land arc the work of a superior nice, who inhabited the continent year.i before the advent of the nomadic tribes. But to what unknown people, these strange, mysterious souvenirs of a forgotten period once belonged, or by what manner of wen these ancient forts were erected, is one of the secrets of America, that her imperfect, fragmentary records of those early days, refuse for- ever to disclose. 12 HJ6T0RY OF BISMARCK AND VICINITY. INDIAN fiKAVJBYARD. Near Bismarck is an Indian burying-ground, constructed not in the (usual fashion—of poles and sticks—but the bodies, of which there seemed o have been originally, some twelve or more, had been securely fastened to the limbs and boughs of trees, comprising a scrubby little thicket, in a sheltered ravine between two hills. Though years must have elapsed since they were placed there, yet niaiy of the skeletons arc in perfect preservation, and are still firmly held in their places, by the deerskin ligaments, that were used to bind them on the knotty branches. Others have crumbled apart, and fallen to the ground, which is literally strewn with bony fragments. These are said to be the remains of Arickaree chieftains, who distinguished themselves above their fellows in the great war with the Sioux, and were thus thought worthy of so rare and hon* dred a burial place. BEAR RIB. Elevated upon four forked poles in the centre of the Post Cemetery at Fort Rice, are the remains of Bear Rib, a celebrated chief of the Onk- papas, and life-long friend of the white men. On his death bed, he prophesied that droves of the pale faces would soon overrun the country and drive the Indians still further westward, and calling his warriors around him, ho counselled them to cultivate friendship with the whites, aatke only way to preserve their tribes from extermination. II is last request, that his body might be placed in the white man's graveyard, in order that his spirit might watch over and protect the inmates of the Fort was religiously complied with by the Commandant of the Post. The body of Bear Rib lies in state, upon a platform in the centre of the Cemetery, surrounded by the graves of murdered soldiers whom his own people laid low. Bear Rib died in 1808, and his prophecy is already fulfilled. SEmEAtEVM.—BISMAHCK. This city, the crossing of the railroad and river, and future cauital the new Territory, was originally named Edwinton, in honor of Edwin M. Johnson, the first chief engineer of the Northern Pacific Railroad. It is pleasantly situated one mile from the Missouri, about eight hundred miles above Sioux City, and five hundred and fifty nvles west of St. Paul, hence easy of access by both land and water. Edwinton was laid out by Mr. G. W. Sweet, on behalf of tho Lake Superior and Puget Sound Land Company, in May 1872. Tho first bnildings were erected in June 1872. . inr!8l8\>the t0WD' WaS by direction of General Manager Mead, of the N. P. R. R.? rechristcned in honor of Baron Yon Bismarck. Prince 18 BISTORY OF BISMARCK AND VICINITY. Premier of the German Empire. In June 1872, the first settlement was made. By the first of the fol- lowing January, thirty buildings had been put up, including stores* dwellings and stables. With six or eight exceptions, those erected were mere log "shacks," designed for temporary use, and costing on an aver- age, not more than one hundred and fifty dollars each. Some two' hun dred people wintered here. In April 1873, building again commenced, and by the time the rail- road was completed to Bismarck, June 5th 1878, aboafc forty additional cheap structures had been put up. At the present writing, Feb. loth 3374, Bismarck has a population of 1200 inhabitants. The aggregate value of improvements up to present date- is $250,000 Some two hundred additional houses have been erected, making in . ah about three hundred buildings. Bismarck now contains 6 Hotels, 18 Saloons, 3 Sh»e Stores, 1 Hard- ware Store, 1 Tin Shop, 1 Jewelry Store, 3 Billiard Halls, 2 Blacksmith Shops, 1 Bowling Alley, 3 Livery Stables, 3 Meat Markets, 1 Drug Store, 2 Bakeries, 2 News Stands, 3 Barber Shops, 1 Bath, 1 Confectionery, 2 Liquor Stores, 1 Brewery, 1 Bookstore, 1 Gunshop, 5 General Stores, 3 Restaurants, 3 Carpenter Shops, 4 Warehouses, 2 Churches, 1 Telegraph Office, 1 Newspaper, Book and Job Office, The Bismarck; Tuibcne, and one Parsonage., The buildings of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, add much to the appearance and business of tho town. These consist of Engine House, Depot, Warehouse, Water "IV)k and Platform, the whole valued at $20,000. The Lake Superier and Paget Sound Land Company is likewise represented by several substantial buildings. The Military Station, Camp Hancock, consists of Officers Quarters, Post Hospital, and Barracks for oise company of soldiers. There aro in tin town, 0 Lawyer:;, 1 Editor, 2 Physicians, and i Minister, and thess in addition to those already cnuraeralou, make up the inventory of industrial pursuits on the pari of the inhabitants, all of whom, with scarce an exception, belong to that active, energetic class of business men, who give life and vigor to any pursuit in which they may engage. You can read success in tho determined, earnest way in which they push forward their schemes of public improvemonfe. A vacant lot lie3 idle in the morning, by noon it has found a ready pur- chaser, and ere a week it is crowned with a comely dwelling. CHURCHES. The. two churchss already in Bismarck belong to the Presbyterian 14 HISTORY ©F BISMARCK AND VICINITY. and Congregational denominations. The former was erected at a cost of $2300, and is a fine structure. The latter was, during the summer, used for a schoolroom by the Bismarck Academy. Both of these build- ings are creditable to the town and to the church organizations which they respectively represent. Other denominations arc moving in tho matter and during the coming summer it is proposed to erect three new churches of the Catholic, Methodist and Episcopal denominations. iBE BISMARCK SABBATII SCHOOL. This has arisen from a very small beginning. Tho first meeting was held on Sabbath, August 25th, 1872. There being but few children here at that time the meetings for the first year were very informal, being held in summer in my tent, in Camp Hancock, and in winter in the Post Hospital. These little gatherings would have looked oddly enough to eastern eyes, and very unlike a Sunday School; the children being seated wherever they could find available space, the elder ones on the tops of trunks, packing chests and army boxes while the very little ones were seated on the floor, that is, the ground covered with a carpet. The instruction given was purely oral, there being no books obtainable, yet no teacher ever found more willing minds or interested listeners. On May 11th, 1873, the school was formally organized under tin; name of the "Bismarck Union Sabbath School," nn ; officers elected with its former teacher as Superintendent, which post was accepted with the stipulation that the school was to be independent and thoroughly un- ^cctarian in character, embracing all denominations, all sects and all creeds, and resting its teaching wholly on the broad ground of "Lore to God and good will to Men," should utterly ignore ali doctrinal issn»: and sectarian diffidences. The school is new in a prosperous condition, and ! is a comfortab'* and even elegant meeting place, together with an excel. :it library. Its success is gratifying, yet chief among the ma.iy pleas it pictures that this western life has stored away for memory io bring back in days to come, is tho thought of that little group of happy, bright-faced childcrn who assembled each Sabbath morning, under the battered army canvasi and sang their little hymns of praise. It was the child; on, who in their first humble meetings in these western wilds;, laid tho foundation of the Church, and thug beac-ne the unconscious pioneers of the ciu-,.' of Christ. VllO BISMARCK ACAOIiMV. On July Tin. Ib'io, a private school was opened in Bismarck, under the above name. Having been the founder of this institution, I can well attest, that while, pecuniarily, a failure, it was in all other rejects, quite as successful n« its most enrnest friend could desire. HISTORY OF BISMARCK AND VICINITY. 15 In August, the Academy was merged into*the public free school of the Bismarck School District, a school organization having been, in the meantime, with much difficulty effected. Although attended with the usual amount of discouragement and vexation, incident to the disorgan- ized state of a new community, this school was taught successfully for a term of four months. It is proposed, during the coming summer to urect a Union School Building, and inaugurate a system of graded .schools. THE BISilAECK TRIBUNE. This popular representative of the people of Bismarck, was estab- lished by Col. C. A. Lounsberry, formerly of the Minneapolis Tribune, and the initial number issued, July 11th, 1873. With the exception of "The Mechanics Far West," published for a few months during the sum- mer, by the laborers employed at Fort A. Lincoln, it is published farther west, than any other paper in this section, and can justly claim to be the pioneer newspaper of Northern Dakota. PI.EASAXT OEOVE. A thriving little village with the above cognomen has sprung up at the old steamboat landing on 4,Tho Point," five miles below Bismarck. A steam ferry plies between this point and Fort Abraham Lincoln. The extensive buildings of Maj. Dickey, Post Trader, at the Fort lie just op- posite. The town contains some twenty buildings, ranged in a semi- circular street facing tho river. Some of the houses are quite roomy and substantial. There is 1 dry goods store, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 res- taurunt, G saloons, and 1 boarding nouse. This will doubtless become a town of importance. Ic is located in the timber, A steam saw-mill is running successfully some miles below. APPLE CBEEfc. A settitiaent of some note has been made on the banks of this beau- tiful little stream, some sis miles east of Bismarck. Several estensive dairies are here in successful operation. From these well managed estab- lishments the people of Bismarck are each morning supplied with rich cream, pure, fresh milk, and newly churned butter. During the whole of last summer, I received each day, at my own kitchen door, the nicest of fresh butter at 35cts per lb, and pure milk at lOcts per qt. It is conceded that the finest farms of Burleigh County are located on Apple Creek. The gardens at this settlement, though planted late, were highly productive. The total valus of improvements at this point are estimated at $6,000. Ifi HISTORY OF BISMARCK AND VICINITY. PAINTED WOODS. Painted Woods is the oldest settled point in Burleigh County, it being the old half-way mail station between Forts Rico and Stevenson. A number ot Canadian woodchoppers located here at an early day and established a woodyard for the convenienco of steamers plying the Mis- souri River. Tho adjacent country it well-timbered, principally with oak and cottonwood. There are still several woodchoppers' camps hers and in tho immediate vicinity, the settlers being chiefly engaged in out- ting and cording wood for tho steamboat trade. This !.; likewise a fruitful field for tho hunter and trapper, game of ail kinds bein