The New International Encyclopædia/Bismarck

BISMARCK, bĭz′märk. The capital of North Dakota, and county-seat of Burleigh County, on the Missouri River, and on the Northern Pacific Railroad (Map: North Dakota, E 3). It has an attractive situation on the east bank of the river, which is here crossed by a magnificent bridge of steel and iron, 50 feet above high water, and contains a fine court-house, several Federal institutions, the State penitentiary, the State Library, and Saint Alexius's Hospital. The capitol, completed in 1894 at a cost of half a million dollars, is the most prominent building. The city controls a very extensive river trade, the principal articles of commerce being coal, with which the surrounding region is underlaid, grain, hides, etc. The industrial establishments include grain-elevators, a large flouring-mill, etc. Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1804-05 on or near the site of Bismarck, which was permanently settled in 1873 and incorporated shortly afterwards. In 1883 it was made the capital of Dakota Territory, and in 1889 was chosen as the State capital of North Dakota. The government, under a general State law of 1900, is vested in a mayor, elected every two years, who has important appointive powers in municipal offices, and a city council. Population, in 1890, 2186); in 1900, 3319.