Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 21

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle
Number of Pages: 1432

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The editor in his chair, the reporter in his rounds, each has a share in the great work of en- lightening the world. Close at their side, if in fact he be not all three combined, stands the printer. The printer, whose ceaseless placing of type on type makes possible the labor of the brains of men ; the printer, who garners up the thoughts and actions of men spreads them upon the blank page and sends them to your very door, is he, too, not worthy a place in history? The poet lias well said :

"The printer, and in most cases in the western states he is editor as well, is the adjutant of thought, and thus explains the mystery of the won- derful word, that can kindle a hope as no song can, that can warm the heart as no hope, that word we, with a hand-in-hand warmth in it, for the author and printer are engineers together. Engineers, indeed ! When the little Corsican bombarded Cadiz at the distance of five miles it was deemed the very triumph of engineering. But what is that range to this, whereby they bombard the ages yet to come. There at the case the printer stands and marshals into line the forces armed for truth, clothed in immortality and English. And what can be nobler than the equipment of a thought in sterl- ing Saxon, Saxon with the ring of spear on shield in it, and that commissioning it, when we are dead, to move gradually on to the latest syllable of re- corded time. This is to win a victory from death, for this has no death in it.

"The printer is called a laborer, and the office he performs, toil. Oh, it is not work, but a sublime rite that he is performing. When he thus sights the engine that is to fling a worded truth in grander curve than missile ever before described, fling it into the bosom of an age as yet unborn. He throws off his coat, indeed, we but wonder, the rather, that

he does not put the shoes from off his feet, for the place whereon he stands is holy ground.

"A little song was uttered somewhere, long ago; it wandered through the twilight feebler than a star, it died from the ear. But the printer caught it up where it was lying there in the silence, like a wounded bird, and equips it anew with wings and sends it forth from the ark that has preserved it, and it flew forth into the future with the olive branch of peace, and round the world with melody, like the dawning of a spring morning.

"How the types have built up the broken arches of the bridge of time. How they render the brave utterances beyond the pilgrims audible and elo- quent, hardly feeling the free spirit, but moving not a word, not a syllable, lost in the whirl of the world, moving in connected paragraph and period down the lengthening line of years."

FIRST NEWSPAPER.

Previous to the advent of the railroads, the few settlers then in North Dakota were scattered up and down the Red River valley, with here and there, but none gathered into a community large enough to need or support a newspaper. Of the founding of the first paper in the state, the "Bis- marck Tribune," the following is a brief account : The Northern Pacific Railroad entered the state crossing the Red river in the spring and summer of 1872, and before the winter's frosts had set in the iron rails were completed to Steele, or "Seventeen Siding," as it was then called. The road from there to the Missouri river was graded most of the way. In April, 1873, Colonel Clement A. Lounsberry, a gallant officer of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry during the Civil war, and at the above time asso- ciate editor of the "Minneapolis Tribune," came to Fargo, in the interests of his paper, to write up the salient points of his observation in the country, and to render such services as are generally performed by newspaper men. He was highly pleased with all he saw, and determined to make his home in the rising territory. He then thought to carry out, at once, a plan hie and Oscar Wall, then of the "Lanesboro (Minn.) Herald," had agreed upon, that is to establish a paper at the town that must arise when the railroad crossed the Missouri river. With him to determine a plan was to act. He immedi- ately returned to Minneapolis and made prepara- tions for the purchase of the material for the new office, and May II, 1873, he landed at Bismarck, having come from the end of the railroad line by

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team. He took out a soldiers' homestead, upon which part of the city was afterward built, and commenced the erection of a building. He, with rare prescience , appreciated the future needs of the coming capital, and when the material for his office arrived it was found that he had provided the out- fit for a complete daily paper, including a Taylor cylinder press. These reached the incipient city June 14. On the 6th day of July the first copy of the "Bismarck Tribune," the pioneer newspaper of North Dakota, was issued. It was at that time a seven-column folio, very neatly gotten up, and was run as a weekly until 1881, when it changed to a daily. It has been said of it that it has never missed an issue. In October, 1878, the paper was sold to Stanley Hunter, afterward author of the Spoopendyke papers, but he retained it but a short time, Colonel Lounsberry resuming its ownership in May, 1879. The following article in regard to the pioneer number of the "Tribune" has been gleaned from the "Record," of Fargo, of February and March, 1897:

"Among the advertisements in the first number of the 'Bismarck Tribune,' 'on first page, next to pure reading matter,' was the Exchange saloon, where gentlemen were offered by White & Regan 'choice liquors, wines and cigars, with quiet and tasty quarters and polite attention.' Morton's club rooms were offered for the accommodation of guests. 'All banking games played,' was the con- spicuous lines. 'The river boys will find in Paul Greene an old-time friend,' was the fly line in the advertisement of the Sazerac saloon. At the Snow Flake, 'Keno every night' was the leading line, and 'Fancy drinks a specialty' took second place. O'Neal & Mullen advertised their concert saloon and dance hall, affording 'choice liquors, fine cigars and pleas- ant associations,' with 'special attention given to fancy drinks.' H. M. Mixter run the Le Bon Ton, with the assurance that 'this is one of the neatest and coziest club-rooms in the city. J. S. Ward assured his patrons that his billiard hall was roomy and tastily furnished, the liquors of the finest brands, and the cigars the best. M. Tippie simply announced the location of his billiard hall, and him- self a dealer in choice wines, liquors and cigars. J. S. Byrnes advertised tobacco, and the Bismarck brewery, with A. Rose proprietor, offered fresh lager beer, equal to anything imported. E. A. Williams, John A. Stayell and Delamater & Bechett were the lawyers. Mrs. Slaughter announced the Bismarck Academy to open July 7. Marshall &

Campbell were in the boot and shoe business. W. B. Shord & Co. took a column to advertise their deposit and exchange bank and general merchandise business. Raymond & Allen were largely repre- sented in their Empire supply store ad. W. A. Simpson was in news and fruit; Clark & Bill, dry goods; Fred Strauss, then, as now, in the jewelry business. Dr. B. F. Slaughter gave a simple an- nouncement as physician and surgeon. R. R. Marsh kept the Capitol Hotel, for even then Bis- marck expected to be the capital. J. MI. Rosier was the barber. Even W. S. Brown, the express agent, advertised, and all paid good, sound prices. Keating & Wolf advertised fruits and vegetables. Foster & Fagen run the bakery, and D. C. Smith was the photographer. J. A. Emmons was post- trader. F. A. Taylor, of St. Paul, was at Bismarck taking views. Among the advertisements left out of the first number of the Tribune because of the non-arrival of material were S. A. Dickey, post- trader, Fort A. Lincoln; Edwinton Lumber Com- pany; Joseplı Barber, gunsmith; Scott & Millett, livery; Asa Fisher, billiard hall; Joseph Deitriclı, W. Sparenberg, architects ; Archer & Richards, con- tractors and builders; J. W. Fisher, sewing machines; G. G. Gibbs, blacksmith. Mckenzie & Truedell were running a hotel.

"By actual count July 9, 1873, the number of buildings in Bismarck was 147.

"Bismarck was a wild, roaring town in those days. It was an all-night town, quiet during the day, with not a soul in the country engaged in farming. Howbeit, Col. C. A. Lounsberry had broken eleven acres of his soldier's homestead, within what is now the city limits, and had planted it to beans; John Jackman had broken five acres on his claim, also in the city limits, and had planted sod crops; Harry Carnhoof, Mike Smith, Jake Houser and Henry Suttle, J. W. Fisher, Col. Harry Brownson, T. F. Singhiser, and a few others, who had taken claims in the vicinity, had a few acres. Oscar and Henry Ward had claims on Apple Creek, five miles east of Bismarck, where Oscar ran a dairy and supplied the town with milk.

"The Espiranza had come in from Benton loaded with furs. The Perimah, the Far West, Key West and Rosebud were going and coming, and the Stockdale lay at Bismarck.

"There were three infantry companies on the hill at Fort A. Lincoln, which required two hundred men and seven hundred carloads of supplies to con- struct."

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COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

OTHER EARLY NEWSPAPERS.

January 1, 1874, a paper was established at Fargo, under the name of the "Express," of which A. J. Harwood was the editor and proprietor. In a short time it was purchased by E. B. Chambers, who changed the name of the journal to that of "Fargo Times." This paper was afterward ab- sorbed by the "Republican."

In July, 1875, George H. Walsh, who had been publishing the "West St. Paul News," moved his plant to Grand Forks and established the "Plain- dealer," and presided over its destinies for two years, when he was succeeded by N. W. Spangler. From then on the paper changed hands quite often.

The "Republican," a weekly journal, was estab- lished at Fargo in September, 1878, by Major A. W. Edwards, J. B. Hall and A. W. Hall. A year later Major Edwards severed his connection with the Republican, and November 17, 1879, established the "Daily Argus," the pioneer daily of North Da- kota, and still one of the leading papers of the sec- tion. In February, 1881, the "Republican" was changed to a daily also.

Among the pioner papers of North Dakota was the "Jamestown Alert," instituted at that thriving town in the fall of 1878. It issues both daily and weekly editions.

The "Grand Forks Weekly Herald" was first issued June 26, 1879, by George B. Winship, and has had a long and generally prosperous career.

"The Northern Pacific Times" was established at Valley City in 1879 by Dr. S. B. Coe. In June, 1882, formerly connected with the "Pioneer Press,' of St. Paul, he purchased the paper and changed its name to the "Valley City Times," and made it a daily.

The "Mandan Daily Pioneer" was established in 1881, by Frank H. Ertel, who afterward, in 1883, sold it to Tuttle & Wilson, and later it passed into the hands of a corporation.

The "Daily News" was instituted at Grand Forks in the spring of 1882, as a morning paper, with Hon. H. C. Hansbrough as editor. Shortly after it was changed to an evening paper and finally dis- continued, Mr. Hansbrough removing to Devil's Lake.

The "Jamestown Capital" was first issued Febril- ary 24, 1882, as a weekly. It was changed to a daily in September of the same year.

The "Mandan Times" began publication on the first day of July, 1882, and announced in its first issue that its politics would be independent Repub- lican.

The publication of the "Dickey County Leader" was commenced by Wesley Moran, the first issue appearing June 2, 1882.

The first issue of the "Ellendale News" appeared May 31, 1883, published by S. C. McDonald.

The "La Moure County Progress," another of the early papers of the state, was established in 1883 by William G. McKean, the first issue appear- ing June 30.

The first paper published in the German lan- guage in North Dakota was undoubtedly the "Pio- neer," which was inaugurated at Jamestown in 1883, by A. Stimbach.

These were among the first. To go into detail with each and to speak of every paper would far exceed the limits of this history. Now each town, village or hamlet throughout the wide expanse of North Dakota's fertile plains has its local news- paper, each with a history of its own. The annals of these journals are so interwoven with the life history of their editors that for a more detailed story of their birth, ups and downs and final tri- umphs, the reader is referred to the biographical de- partment of this work, where will be found the sketches of nearly all the prominent newspaper men in the state.

ofs of offs

CHAPTER XI.

EDUCATIONAL; THE COMMON SCHOOL; UNIVERSITY AND NORMAL SCHOOL.

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In no other country in the world do education and educational matters assume the importance that they do in the United States. When the stern and rugged Puritan landed on the bleak and in- hospitable shores of New England, upon which he sought an asylum where, to use his own words, he "could worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience," he brought with him, besides the light of religious liberty, the seed of our noble educational system. Scarce had he erected his church altar than he began to make preparation for the instruction of the rising generation. Laws, among the first made by that little community on Massachusetts soil, were for the institution and gov- ernment of the common school. With the growth of years, as our country has expanded, so has the school system become greater, until now there is 110 state in the union but has made more or less ample provision for the instruction of its youth, not only in its humbler form, but in the walks of higher education.

In this respect the state of North Dakota is, in no respect, behind any of the older states. In- vestigation into the facts and figures relative to the growth of the school system of the state will con- vince the most skeptical that few of the states have encouraged education to a greater degree. A very

able article written by the governor of the territory, L. K. Church, in a communication with the depart- ment of the interior, in 1887, gives the statistics for that year. This, of course, was for the whole ter- ritory, before the division.

The governor commenced by showing that the enrollment of scholars in the school, which was in 1875, 4,428, out of a total of school age in the ter- ritory of 8,343, had increased to 87,131 out of a total of 109,475 in 1887. The whole number of teachers employed in 1875 was 208; in 1887 they numbered 4,924. The value of school property in 1875 was $24,926, while in 1887 it had risen to the magnificent sum of $3,265,590. The expenditures for school purposes for the two years were, respect- ively, $32,603 and $1,633.561. The governor goes on to say :

"This shows somewhat the remarkable growth made by Dakota and her school system during the twelve years, beginning with 1875 and ending with 1887. Not only do these figures show a vast in- crease in the school population and a consequent increase in the number enrolled, but it shows that in proportion to the whole number, a larger per cent. of the children are enrolled in the schools ; and fur- ther, that those enrolled are attending more regu- larly than in the fore part of the period covered by

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these statistics. In 1875 only 53 per cent. of the children of school age were enrolled in the schools, and the same per cent. in 1879. In 1883 the per cent. had increased to 62, while the report of 1887 shows that 79 per cent. of the school population attended school for the whole or a part of the year. During the year 1879 only 25 per cent. of the school population were in regular attendance at school. The per cent. of the population attending regularly in 1883 increased to 37, while in 1887 we make the magnificent showing of 53 per cent. attending every day for the whole term of 112 days. In this respect Dakota leads nearly all of the states.

"The whole number of teachers has increased from 208, in 1875, to 4,924, in 1887, but the aver- age wages, for the same period, shows a slight decrease for the male teachers, while the wages of the female teachers has increased from $25 in 1875 to $30.36 in 1887.

"The school population multiplied thirteen times during the period from 1875, and at the same time the number of schools multiplied twenty times. In 1875 there was one school for every forty pupils of school age, and in 1887 there is one school for every twenty-eight of the children of school age. These figures explain in part the more general and regu- lar attendance during the last years of the period, but only in part. Much of the increase in the at- tendance is doubtless due to the increase in the wealth of the people. Many parents in the early days were compelled to keep their children at home to work in the various capacities on the farm. The steady prosperity of these years has given many more of the comforts of life, and has enabled par- ents not only to do without the services of the chil- dren, but to provide them with books and clothing necessary to attend the schools. The real object and best results of the public school will be more nearly realized in that community where the largest proportion of the population comes most directly under the influence of the school. In these items Dakota bears comparison with any of the older states of the east, which surely argues that she has accomplished much in the few years since the organ- ization of her school system."

In the official report of P. F. McClure, commis- sioner of emigration of the territory in 1887, that gentleman says :

"Probably no state or territory in the union has had such a remarkable growth as Dakota. Surely, none has accomplished so much in the same length of time ; indeed, many have not achieved such head-

way in a far longer period. What we have done is shown in our growth; what we are is best shown in comparison with other states.

"In school population, Dakota leads Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ore- gon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and all the terri- tories.

"In the number of her teachers, Dakota is ahead of Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Caro- lina, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia.

"Dakota has more days of school than Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New Hamp- shire, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Ten- nessee, West Virginia or any of the territories, except Arizona and Utah.

"In the value of her school property, Dakota exceeds all the states and territories except Cali- fornia, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ne- braska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wis- consin.

"In the amount of expenditures for the support of the public schools, Dakota is in the lead of the same list, including Connecticut.

"But it is in the proportion of her children en- rolled that Dakota stands most favorable compari- son. Upon careful comparison with the reports of the other states and territories for 1885, it is found that Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are the only states that show a larger proportion of their children en- rolled in the public schools. Many of them are far below Dakota in this most important particular. With the exception of the states of Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ne- vada and New Hampshire, Dakota leads the van in the proportion of pupils enrolled that attend regu- larly. ·

"When it is considered that Dakota's popula- tion is scattered over such a wide area, that she is supposed to be more unfavorably situated as to her climate, and that her soil has, until a few years ago, been considered useless in maintaining civilized life -this feature of the report is, perhaps, the most surprising to those unfamiliar with the work of education in this territory, and the most satisfactory to those interested in the educational progress of Dakota.

"These are statements the people have a right to be proud of, and the more so when it is understood

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that every dollar of the school fund is raised by a direct tax, there being no fund available from the disposal of school lands until after statehood is at- tained."

The potency of the country school for good, and its influence as a factor in our stirring national life, were duly recognized by the general govern- ment when bestowing statehood upon North Da- kota. By the enabling act that brought within the sisterhood of states that vigorous young common- wealth, it was endowed with half a million of acres of land lying within its borders, in addition to the regular school sections, 16 and 36, in every congres- sional township within the state, and five per cent of the proceeds of the sale of all public lands in the state. This was given exclusively for the cause of education. From these sources has arisen a fund which, by constitutional provision, cannot be divert- ed from the benefit of the schools. The interest arising from it is apportioned annually among the various districts, but the principal, protected by suf- ficient safeguards, must remain forever untouched.

The amount of this fund invested in farm mort- gages, district school bonds and state bonds on June 30, 1898, was $688,774.19, and the cash on hand at that time was $109,506.25. The amount of money paid to the various districts from the state tuition fund for the years 1894-98 is as follows : For 1894, $317,564.74; for 1895, $366,258.56; for 1896, $308,514.74; for 1897, $400,748.64; for 1898, $412,288.72. The fund is increasing more rapidly than the population, and there are now schools in the state whose running expenses are entirely paid by the money received from this fund.

The following exhaustive and able article re- lating to the phenomenally rapid growth of the schools of North Dakota was written by Professor Merrifield, of the university, and published in the Grand Forks "Daily Herald" of June 27, 1899. It is worthy of a close perusal and of preservation. "North Dakota was admitted to statehood No- vember 3, 1889. Few people realize how rapid has been her progress along educational lines in the nine years intervening. June 30, 1889, the total enroll- ment in our public schools was 30,024; June 30, 1898, it was 67,376, an increase in the nine years of 142 per cent, as compared with an increase of 109 per cent in Idaho (the state making the next largest gain), 71 per cent in Colorado, 61 per cent in Mon- tana, 41 per cent in Washington, 33 per cent in Minnesota, and 14 per cent in South Dakota. Dur- ing the same period there was a falling off in the

school enrollment in Maine, Vermont, Kansas and Nevada, ranging from a loss of I per cent in Ver- mont to 8 per cent in Kansas. Between June 30, 1889, and June 30, 1898, the number of school dis- tricts in this state increased from 927 to 1,177; the number of graded schools, from 38 to113; the num- ber of schools of all kinds, from 1,470 to 2,333; the number of school buildings, from 1,401 to 2,304, with an increase in value from $1,209,228 to $2,132,- 738. In 1889 the average daily attendance was 16,156; in 1898, 41,155. In 1889 the aggregate days of attendance were 1,915,370; in 1898 (and these statistics are most significant as indicating the increase in length of the school year, as well as of the numbers in attendance), 6,295,751. In 1889; 1,884 teachers were employed, at a total sal- ary of $309,213.94 ; in 1898, 3,637 teachers were em- ployed, at a total salary of $680,175.36. The total expenditure for all purposes was, in 1889, $596,- 680.97 ; in 1898, $1,385,934.17. The number of dis- tricts having six months or more of school was, in 1889, 927 ; in 1898, 1,676.

"That the standard of scholarship has kept pace with the increase in enrollment and the improve- ment in material equipment is evidenced by the fact that in 1889 the number of pupils in the state study- ing civil government was 449; in 1898, 20,110; the number studying algebra at the two dates were 202 and 1,123, respectively; geometry, 54 and 714; natural philosophy, 52 and 494; Latin (none re- ported) and 359.

"In 1889 no high school in the state prepared students for the freshman class of the state univer- sity. In 1898 there were nine schools which afford- ed such preparation. Prior to 1891, the high schools had no common course of study and no co- ordinating central authority. In October, 1891, the 'Fargo conference' of high school principals and county superintendents, with the endorsement of the state association at its meeting the following De- cember, agreed to adopt the so-called Minnesota plan of examination and inspection of high schools. The essential features of this plan, including a high school board composed of the governor of the state, the superintendent of public instruction and the president of the state university, were embodied in law in 1895, and at the recent session of the legisla- ture a standing appropriation of $4,000 a year was made for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the high school board and for giving a small annual grant to the classified high schools, thereby making them free of tuition to all pupils resident in the

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Compendium history and biography of North Dakota; a history of early settlement, political history, and biography; reminiscences of pioneer life, Part 21

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle Number of Pages: 1432

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, G.A.Ogle
Number of Pages: 1432