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gljc fUsmorth Sribuite. Bismarck. P. T., Dec. 29,18/7. Bismarct To-day we iav before our readers cur holiday edition. The business interests of the city are represented in the advertisements ar.d the advantages enjoyed by our business interests, the location of the citv and 1:- er points of interest arc noted ciisp editorial, or in communication. The preparation of the will be seen, every p^per has, involved much labor, and citizen who wants to pest a-?? ab ent friend on Bismarck and its surroun dings should send copies East. To meet the probable demand a large number of extra copies have been printed, Wood engravings showing the Sheri dan Mouse, Raymond's Block and the TRIBUNE are given, not as advertise ments but to convey to the eye some idea of the appearance of the new struct ures and ot the character of the improve ments that have be'-n made. We run these cuts in and would structure, because we give of the or of can with equal pleasure a cut Custer House, a large thrte sto.y other prominent builc- ings which equally deserve this distinc tion if we could do so. The Merchants Hotel, the Western, the Custer and the Capitol, are all laige and weii conducted,but in proportions, of course, do not compare with the Sheri dan. Among the business houses there arc two at least, J. W. Raymond & Co., and McLean & Macnider which each do a business of over a quarter of a million per annum, ana Parkin & Whalen, J. D. Wakeman and others fall but little be hind. Some idea of the business of the city can be gained from the postal commission report. As shown in that report an immense railroad and river business goes to make up the aggregate. But the TRIBUKE this week speaks for all. Read and send to your friends. jPeinbma Territory The creation of the Territory of Pem bina from the northern part of Dakota is reasonably certain to be accomplished by congress at the present session. Bills lor this purpose are now before congress, and as the measure on _,ht to pass there is reason, of course, jpc th.it i'. will pass. The location and cxlont this terri tory is pretty well uidcvs'oo.i. Its south ern boundary wili be the parp.'le'. its northern the 49th, Us i: th~ Red River of the North and its western ui-e Territory of Montana. 'It will contain about seventy-five thousand square miles, making a territory larger than the Stale of Iowa, and leaving in Southern Dakota full as much ground. The population of the proposed terri tory 15 at present not 'ess than fifteen thousand, and, judging from the progress made the past year, and the public lands taken for actual settlement, five or ten thousand will be ridded during the com ing summer. The proposed territory is almost entire ly adapted to agriculture, and this 3-ear has produced a larger average yield of wheat per acre than any other portion of the United States. Along the Missouri, James, Sheyenne and Red Rivers, and the streams tribu tary to them, considerable timber is found. In the Missouri River country coal is abundant and will soon be furnish ed at from three to five dollars per ton to the prairie regions. Herds of stock mav now be found on the ranges abandoned only a short time ago by the buffalo which lived and grew fat, even in winter, on these prairies which have so often been classed with the desolate lands of the world. The bones of thousands of these ani mals, slaughtered for their hides, to be seen on every hand, and the immense herds of Indian ponies which have been kept in this country without hay or grain prove that its worth as a stock growing region has never been appreciated. But it will be appreciated, and the new terri tory of Pembina will be established. A glance at the map shows that Bis marck, situated at the Northern Pacific crossing of the Missouri, in the nch ag ricultural region found in the basin cf that river, .and within forty miles-,of the geographical center of the proposed ter ritorv, mnst become Its capital—and at no distant day the ihetro^IiaTr of'ne of the richest states in the Unoiri. Judge Kid Jer was recently befoie the proper committee to urge the passage of the Fembina bill, a measure which has passe.! one branch of-congress the oth er at every session lor the past six years, and we are confident he will not let the matter re-t until the work is accomplish ed. As to the name of the territory,we prefer Pcmbi.ia, because the name h.ts been so long associated with this region, and whe.-: spyken properly sounds well but sug gest Mandan as for being far preferrable to Huron or any name aside from Pembi i. heretofore suggested. Extension cf the North Paciuc. Last fall a corps of engineers was plac ed at wcrk on the X. 1'., west cf the Missouri, with a view to its early exten sion. Several miles of road was graded and we have reason to suppose that suf ficient track will bi laid to receive a quantity cf rolling stock to be crossed on the ice this winter. It is the intention cf the company *.o extend the road next season ifjjcongress extends their grant which has now expired. In that case they will not find it difficult to raise mon ey to extend the road. If congress does not extend the grant and adjourns with out declaring a forfeiture, as it undoubt edly will, money may be raised and the road may still be extended, but there is nothing certain about it, in that case. There are many reasons why the road should be extended and we confidently believe it will be. Extension will surely pay—not an extension ot a few miles— but an extension to the Yellowstone, lcr it will command an extensive trade which is now diverted from it. Montana^is one of the best wheat pro ducing regions in the country, but Mon tana's agricultural products are ruled out of the markets of the world because of its great distance from transportation lines. Millions of tons of Montana ores which cannot now be shipped because of the cost of transportation will become sources of wealth, and Montana beef, so popular here, and at other points on the upper Missouri, will be demanded for eastern market when an extension of the N. P. places it within reach. Cities and towns will spring up as if by magic on the extension, and new ele ments producing trade will be developed, The immediate effect of extension on Bismarck may or may not be to its ad vantage. During the time of extension its business will be increased. Other roads, the Chicago & Northwestern, the Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Southern Minnesota and the Dakota Southern railroads, and possibly others, will surely seek a connection at Bismarck making it 1 a great railroad center and adding much to its wealth. These connections, how ever, will not be made unti! a through trade from the Pacific coast is developed, Causes noted elsewhere, however, ixav call the Chicago & Northwestern to Bis marck at an earlier day than this, and its construction will, oflcourse, add much to our business. So on ths whole Bis marck has reason to hope for the early extension of the oad. Oar Public The increased demand for lands in ti Blvnarck land district for the Iac.t tw:j or three months, is evidence which car.nct bmistaken as pointing to a near futttie (^agricultural wealth and prosperity fcr this community. It hai already been thoroughly demonstrated that no better soil can anywhere be found to reward the husbandman for his labors, and it is equally true that the generosity of the soil does not extend to working itself. The condition is the same here as else where, that the equivalent will not be tendered until the labor is performed* But in no part of the tillable earth can be found land that gives more freely for the labor expended. JThe abundant harvest of the past season, wherever anything like proper cultivation was bestowed, has done much to encourage future efforts on the part of farmers, and before anoth er season passes, thousands of acres of prairie within a radius of twenty-five miles of Bismarck will, for the first time, be disturbed by the plow. Several large tracts were broken the past season, which will be planted or sowed next spring and it is not extravagant to predict that the producing average in this vicinity will be increased nearly ten fold the coming year. Bismarck, as many may suppose who do not know any better, is not merely a point on the Missouri river for the North ern Pacific railroad to run to, but it is surrounded with other advantages which nature was kind enough to bestow, that will ultimately help to develope one of the mo3t prosperous and flourishing towns in'the Northwest. The rail road gand the river are both very substantial argu ments in favor of a big town springing up at this point, but the real wealth which will give its prosperity a perma nency above and beyond any commercial mishap, exists in the soil with which Bis marck is surrounded. Labor is ail that is. now required, with a reasonable amount of capital, to insure an abundant harvest and comfortable homes for thousands. Anything that can be pro duced in New England or the Middle States will grow and mature here, with the advantage that the soil will not re quire nursing for years to come. The is othermal lines are not mythical, r.or were they made only to decorate the Northern Pacific Railroad m: p. The seasons are longer between frost than in the Eastern f-r Middle States, or in Minnesota, and Christmas found us this year without snow, and the ice on the river so slight as 10 render crossing dangerous. The offi cial record at the signal office shows an abundant rain fa'.i through the growing season, and the crops therr.seives, the past reason arc .still better evidence that there was no lack of moisture. I The numerous letters received at the land office and by private parties, making I inquiries about the lands in this vicinity, asv.eilas the frequent visits of eastern capitalists with a view to purchase rail road lands, indicate that the tide is now westward in good earnest, and a large im migration may be confidently looked for the coming season. What is greatly needed in this particu lar Iccaii vis a more extended survey of the public lands, for there are to-daj-, nearly or quite as many settlers on un surveyed as on surveyed lands in this land district. Proper steps should be taken to apprise the General Land Office of this fact and sec. re an order for the surveys so much needed the coming season. No lands have yet been surveyed cn tie w. st side of the river, and onlv three or four townships in widt.i. along the line of the railroad are subdivided on this side. As alternate sections, or the odd numbers, are included in the railroad grant, the settler on unsurveyed land is liable to make a mistake in his selection, and, sub jected to the expense of mo\*ing himself and his improvements when the govern ment lines are established. We hope our worthy delegate, Judge Kidder, will r.ake a note of this necessity and ask the commissioner of the General Land Office and the Surveyor General to extend our lines in order that the pre ernptor and homesteader can pick out their claims without danger of trespassing upon railroad lands, and also enable the railroadjjcompany to dispose of the odd scction'' and give title thereto. The Indian Question. There is a feeling, growing probably from ho^e, on the part of those in charge of affairs that the Indian war is over, and consequently, troops have not only been withheld from the points where they are most needed but have been sent out of the Department of Dakota to the Gult because interested parties have magnified the operations growing out ot the raids of a few score ot greasers into a prospect of a war with' Mexico. In the meantime, Sitting Bull, who is uneasy, and as blood thirsty as ever, having been ioinedjby the escaped Nez Perces and by the dis affected Indians from the agencies, cross es the line with impunity and will bejpre pared for bloodier work than ever in esrly spring. Troops have not only been] withdrawn from^the department needing them most, but in the department which ought to wcrk in harmony with this, the Indians captured have been restored to liberty, and their arms and ponies returned to them—this was the case even with the Crazv Horse band—furnishing cause for grief on the part of those disarmed and robbed of their ponies by Terr -, when thev consider how hutch more kindly their more v.vrlike -ar.d tes* deserving ne'Vfhb jrs were treble.!. I5u' it was ever thu«. The Indians do ing -i. Li puniih oar troop or mov in the vra'." oi plundering and murdering the people o:i trie frontier, have always received the greatest concessions, while others, driven to desperation^by wrongs unredressed, receive no consideraticn whatever. Setting Bull is treated like a prince. One'of the bravest officers in^the army is sent to plead with him, while holy fath er accompany to assure him lie will be forgi ver. if he will only return to Ameri can .il. lie insults them and returns uninvited when it suits his pleasure. A little handful of men who have been kept on the frontier marching, camping and fighting all winter long, enduring the rigors of a northe er in shelter tents, are rewarded by having their pay withheld and their numbers depleted by a patriotic congress,and are further chcer ed(?) by a withdrawal of the troops most needed in their support. No! the Indian Avar is not over,and from the present outlook it will require another to be added to the long list of massacres before our government will learn wisdom. The Indian respects only force, and a show of force is far cheaper than it is to lose the lives of such men as those who have, so far, fallen in our In iian wars. If the government wonld learn wisdom from those competent to give it, it would concentrate the Indians on the upper Mis souri river, where they wish to remain, and quarter.the cavalry at or near ^the agencies, but'on the river, where both In dians and troops can be readily reached by supplies,and so strengthen the extreme frontier with infantry that an outbreak would not be thought of. Then strength en the Indians' desire for property by a proper respect for that which he has, and a proper apportionment, with absolute ownership, of the land he occupies, en couraging and teaching work, and our ward for it, ti bloody phase of the Indi an question will pass away. Asa house divided against itself must surely fall, wisdom would suggest that a new ^Department with Headquarters at Bismarck, or anew district, with Head- quarters at one of the Tongue river posts, should be created, and an officer be given full control of the region liable to be' dis turbed by hostile Indians. To keep the Headquarters of these op erations at St. Paul is bad enough to transferlthe whole business to Omaha, as has lately been talked of, would be infi nitely worse. With Terry or Crook at Bismarck, and Miles,or some other equal- gz Tbis Climate* Our winter thus lar has been cbarac terized by an entire freedom from storms, and such a genial and almost tropical temperature as to excite the wonder cf everybody who has been here to observe and enjoy it. Why is it so? Why is the climate here so much bet ter ,_tban farther east, in similar latitudes? I will fell you. In this latitude, clear around the globe, the prevailing direction of the great under current of the air, is from West to East. Most of the great storm centres move in this direction. It is true that these prevailing winds, or currents ef air, are frequently inter rupted by local causes, which may be either temporary or permanent. Among the former temporary low undercur rents or scud winds, which ma7 blow from any or all directions, while the main storm passes eastward, may be mentioned and among the latter are juntain chains and the valleys of great rivers. In the North Pacific Ocean an im mense current of warm water, cat ltd the "Japan Current," leaves the tropi cal regions south-east of China, run ning north-eastcriy along the shore of Japan until it arrives at the parallel of fifty degrees north latitude, when it runs eastward until it arrives near our continent it then curves a little to the south and arrives at the shores of Ore gon directly west of here, and then the main body of it passes on southward as far as Lower California, when it turns west and joins the great equatorial cur rent of the Pacific, where it is again heated in its passage to its starting point, and again sent round to o_,r western shores: thus ever bringing the wan!) sraUrs of the tropics to heat up and modify the climate of the NWlh Western United States. This r. eujjjent is broader, deeper and warmer ll.an the^uii stream the Atlantic, warms up all Northern Eusvp? in.cd.the. d:m.:ve of -vesu-is- For thousands of miles west of the shores cf ():egon, the winds tasdrg ea.Uva:d over the heitc.l waters of the Jipan current, acquire a tempJiature as y.*ana as summer and bccome Siica with vapor. When they ftrike the const west of the first or coast range of mountains, they warm it up and depos it much of their vapor in the shape of rair so that the winter is changed from cold to a mild, but rainy, season. This warm air passes 011 eastward fol lowing up the great valley of the Col umbia river and its vast and wide spreading tributaries until they inter lock with the tributaries of the M:s souri and Yellowstone river.-:, and then passes on down the great valleys of those streams as far as their general direction is eastward. Of course these winds are making their way eastward, but doing so their direction is varied so as to enable them to follow the low est and least obstructed routes. While at Buford the winds would prevail from the west, or a little south of west, at Bismarck, owing to a change in the course of the river from Berthold south ward, they would come from north of west, bringing the same air which had heated up Oregon and all of the inter vening country over which it had passed. The whole distance from here to the coast of Oregon and Washington Ter ritory is only one thousand miles, and there is no place within the United States where the winds could pass over the Ilocfcy Mountains with so I.ttle obstruction as as on the route just men tioned. Of this distance more than six hundred miles is Jes3 than four thousand feet above the level of the sea, while the highest elevation over which the wind ia obliged to pass is less than seven thousand. The ob struction is so vejy slight as-to permit the air to pass over with but little di minuition of heat or vapor, giving us a milder climate and greater amount of rainfall than in latitudes farther south. From Cheyenne westward there are nine hundred miles of greater ele vation than the highest point west of this place, with so many snow capped ranges as to completely obstruct or cool the heated air of the Pacific and to precipitate most of its vapor, leaving the eastern part of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming comparatively cold and arid, Iv good omcer, in command at Tongue river, backed by a proper appreciation of This Japan current so the situation, and of the disposition of the Indians, all will be well, particularly if the government will permit the extension of the Northern Pacific, which as Gen. Sherman says,has become a great national necessity and will be worth more in the settlement ot the Indian question than twenty thousand men. -j -iriz modifies the climate of Alaska as to make its coatt built if it a perpetual summer with immense rain fall. The islands out from its shores, in that extreme latitude,rarely bscomes colder than 60° Farenheit. Much of the heated air of this northern region the maximum, will not exceed fifty feet to the mile, and it may be run almost on an air line. About two bundled and fifteen miler, only, of road would connect the Black Hills with the North trn Pacific, at Bismarck. This can be built with a thirty inch guage, for $5. 000 per mile, or $1,075,000 for the the whole line. The country along this 'ine is well adapted, generally, to cultivation, and wfth a railroad, would soon be settled by farmers and stock raisers. Thirty four streams are crossed between Bis marck and the Hills, and most of them have timber along their banks, though not in large quanties. At about seven miles from Bismarck the line strikes the coal deposits, where a vein of four feet in tbickncss has just been opened. As soon as this seven miles are completed, it would have i^ot only the City of Bismarck and Fort Lincoln to supply with coal, but fuel, for the use of the Northern Pacific as far as the Red River, together, with the settlers in all the great wheat giowin^ icgion along the Red River val ey. The N. P. is new bringing Ohio co *l from Daiuth at a heavy cost, for u-e between ihe Hei River and Mi.-..-«.uri. Wiih the nairow guage read completed, coal can Ot- iaid down in Bismarck for S3 per fist. Co.5 «jf a fine quality, and in abundance, is found in the Black Hills, which is said to :i to any found west of Pennsyl va:. :. I ho amount of freight going Kills from Bismarck, the past r-eis.rtn. has been over tons, Another season we nny look fr a larger quantity, as licit but lit.) miiis i:i IhhI 'V ic.:: -. in :L rvn iy is: v'- »vo i: Uut tiie ino.-t iuipoi tant thing, i:i the way of freights vr .1 railroad, is th« .silver ores f'ouTi hi the Jiiaek Jliiis. The quantity oi'tht-e, is almost inexhaustible, and on an I average they wiii yield from $30 to $7-3 per ton. Owing to the difficulty of separating the metals from these ores, they are, comparatively speaking, of little value. In Swansea Wales, th .-y have a secret process cf seperating them, and*consequently we see hun dreasMjf tons of such ores, every suin meiV landed at Bismarck from the steamers, .consigned to Swansea. These are Montana ores, and are hauled near ly twpihendred miles in wagons to Ft. Benton on the Missouri, and there snipped twelve hundred miles to Bis marck, thence by rail and steamship to Wales. The yield of precious metals is increased sufficiently to more than pay all this additional transportation. With a railroad to Bismarck, every re turning train could be loaded with ores narck, __ loaded and bullidni Limestone of the best ty for liine, is also found in the Hills, while all the lime used in Northern Dakotm, has to be brought from St. Paulj or made from boulders gathered on the hills and no limestone is found '•in place" on cr near the Northern Pacific. Pine is also abun dant, though not of No. 1 quality, but still "common" and "dimension" stuff couid be supplied to our prairie set tlers at much less figures, than are now paid for Minnesota lumber. Petro leum has also been discovered, in the Hills, and with a railroad, it will be come an article of export in large quantities. Salt and sa.t springs have also been found, and salt ia another article upon which the transportation is the principal -itemr of cost. qualit' Black' copper and iron, especially the first and The Northern well afford to relinquish, if necessary, their claim to so wonld come witbih their limits. line will bring an immense accession to their business. In view of all the ad vantages that would accrue to their road, they can afford to furnish the money needed to boild the line. The statement has been made, sab rosa how ever, that Flood & O'Brien are secretly buying op the silver mines in the Hills, in which case they ro3y be induced to take hold of the narrow gmge railway, so as t- get an oritlet from the Hill?. Our citizens who hive iken hold of this enterprise, mean »j!jsir.e?s, and they are detcnr:!n—' t« '•-Y* th:r road passes over the low ranges of '»oun irZct and well marked trail ieiding tains between §the coast and British 3 a the great valley of the Saskatchewan SiOriiT the DC 5!fitKie-". Bissaarak to Tcagas River. As shown by the report of the Postal Commission Committee, published else where, the d:?tance to Fort Ksogh (Tongue River) from Bismarck fs onlv 250 miles. Though there is a {0n2- i'ae surveyed line of the .North Territory, bringing along with it vast Pacific, made by the several military amounts of vapor to heat up and water expeditions which have been sent to the .. Yellowstone Country from Bssmirck, or ratfaer from Pt river and other portions of country 1 distant, the mail3 and scpplij-s for northwest of us, from which we are warded for the important n»*»itary 3 re3t ciiini constantly experiencin advantages. Oar climate has been-and must re main a desirable one for farming and grazing. W. T. five mile* 1 posts in this region are sent via Ft Bti ford, 230 miles nortwest, and from that point in a soutwestarly dire?.-*!'*'* I7' miles, increasing the distance nearly one bai', a:id the tiise for both marl and supplies several days. The necessity for dinct m-wl com munication has been felt, and, since Sept. 1st, 1877, the war department has Bismarck and Black Hills iiaiiroad. The route from Bismarck to the __ Black Hills is admitted, by all who oafd'the's-am of $i"s¥/forward have traveled over the Sidney, Chey enne, and Fort Pierre routes, to be the one that nature has marked out as emi nently feasible, for the construction of a railroad. It has no heavy grades ing important messages over ine ne we suggest, from Bismarck t«» Tongue river, which expenditure would have been unnecessary, had the Post Office Department made proper c-intrart for forwarding the mail over this route which congress has already established. Croakers may denounce '.he country, as they will, but nearly tvery foot of land between Bismarck and u-.? How stone, except five miles of bad 5 .sids or. the Little Missouri is suitable tor agri cultural purposes, particularly, for Slock growing, and wili be occupied as soon as the government will p..r:uit its occupation, and make ti«« cs.-ssary survey?. Indeed settlements already extend twenty «idd m-ies up valley of the Heart river, ar.d ttc bs.-inching out in the surrounding country. Aside from the advantages resulting to the settlement, to follow this Iin-, ihtr ser vice is a military necessity, a id we re fer confidently to the military authori ties, believing that they will sustain this view of the case. Missouri River Coal. C'nas Thompson is now supplying the Bismarck market with nken fiom a point within four miles Bis marck. The vein is two fct-i .:r»i six inches. The coal has been in uss at Bismarck three winters but 1. rt-r as extensively as this winter We have used it in the TRIBUNE office »w--» wint ers and are now usirtg and arc. with it. The steam w. operated with, it ice su.min:. engine was at 01^? 1. :irr r-i -t marck to Farg'i win Knife river an ciiif:t Openui two years ot 1 I This road is of such impor that congress oagbt to make a of ten sections of land per mile, grant to aid in its construction^ lern Pacific Railroad, lowed across the I r»e Lv last named, are found there in inex troops. hau*:ib!e quantities. In short, the Black Hills contains more minera A man scntcncci to be wealth, and of greater diversity, than any othe^ region of the same area, upon the face of the globe, and all that is to a it re in to a Bismarck, is short-line of fafilroad, a little over two hundred miles in length I could it wer a„ this cn Tncr r.-£ /. wen:, to the Black by t:i-i- Indians, n:. dor:•.]. This On! 'A general us- becau.- to scoure ths ncccs-ury ucHitic.--. The coa! hi- for fuel r.t Ft. Mt-jvtr. years and has givon will come into -*»ii uc and on the X-»r!h i'aeiS.-. ... extent, on the river, ,n day. It has also been n-:-• nidi and in the Q. 51. dep""-' Lincoln. When smeiiii.^ established at Bismarck ii •. for that purpose, and for in of ail kinds. 1 The public schools wt!l :::. Wednesday, *nv- Fi. :t:ir probably. .V r. been engaged to tea-i il because he comes wi.l and tbe board liaVK will preserve order, winter's the main ... and that he is in cv«-ry fied. Mis3 Ward is a Is believe, to teach ei hrr we behevea majority vrou: with her in either. WUVt* 1 tion of a third school ha* termined, the board think it advisabl--. Tr •... however, that the priiii*. b. en overcrowded, an-i 1. were sent out itji ria '.V-J 7 rs.d 1 •!.: to "nas »irer? it, wh-.*e p. not willing to send thein 1. School, and of necf^st:, forccd to private s?h'.»o: of a lack of facilities vr fe!t, that we have urg-. ment of an interned at. which we hoped wou!«i -1 charge of Miss Ward, le or sotne other equally eon son in charge of the pr rr. There is little room I part of blocd-thirsty^paTi u-.' Mexico, as Ihe .Mexican* row Lead, I ilyin the pursuit of raltlc -V-. Tti :»»g .* 1 re per ton last week, insisted upon {he c:ng done at precisely eleve =0 he could "be in hc!I for dln: :r/ .ul Plowing on Christmas on the North Pacific. Think of it. y~ erect Je ers! See telegraphic columns :br "trther particulars. Gen.Sheridan doei not beiis-vc -Vtrlrsjj 1 Bull has returned except on orjtome a bv:Tj .o hunt errand of that natu. r.