1878: Taking refuge in Canada, it was reported that Sitting Bull’s band was nearly starving. It was expected that they would surrender if it was allowed that they could keep their ponies.

1899: A bill which would regulate and restrict marriages passed the State Senate. According to the bill, a commission of three physicians would be appointed in each county, with their duty being to examine all applicants for marriage licenses, in order to assure that each individual is fit, both physically and mentally, enough to enter marriage.

1903: A pure food bill passed without opposition. The bill’s intention was to “prevent adulteration, misbranding and selling of unwholesome foods and beverages.” Food and beverages would go to the Agriculture college at Fargo in order to be inspected.

1905: The house passes the state fair bill. The state fair would be removed from Mandan, N.D., and instead be alternated between Fargo and Grand Forks.

1919: Townley Bill, which established one official newspaper in each county, passed the State Senate. At least 200 county newspapers were expected to be forced out of business by the bill.

1923: North Dakotans won’t be made to wash their feet. While a rider to a bill would have made it mandatory for state citizens to wash their feet on a weekly basis, the state legislature refused to push it through.

1931: Capitol Trolley service ends.

1936: After a devastating drought over the past three years, state farmers were finally looking forward to an optimistic crop season.

1953: North Dakotans allowed to dance in the dark. A bill that would have outlawed dancing in the dark was struck down. Those who were for the law said that dimly lit dance places allowed people to drink on the floor, without being seen.

– State legislature allows drinkers to buy a round for their friends. A bill in the Senate, which was struck down, would have prevented the barroom amenity of buying the next round of drinks.

Lewis and Clark, the Corps of Discovery, 1805 at Fort Mandan
Preparing for travel, several men were sent upriver in order to chop down cottonwood trees, which would be shaped into canoes. Meanwhile, back at the fort, news of Indian conflict reaches Lewis and Clark.

Arriving at camp, a small group had brought with them letters from the Arikara Nation. While they stated their “peaceable dispositions” toward the Mandan and the Corps, they were wishing to settle near the Mandan in order to join with them against the Lakota. Reports had circulated that bands of the Lakota were preparing for war against the Arikara.

Prince Maximilian sojourn at Fort Clark, 1834
A severe storm out of the northwest continued throughout the day. Taking shelter from the wind, Prince Maximillian observed as Carl Bodmer spent the day painting local American Indians.

Chardon at Fort Clark
1835: Keeping a close count of the rats he killed each month, Chardon had claimed 34 for February.

1836: The Mandans commenced building fortifications around their village.

1837: While the Mandans arrived at Fort Clark with fresh meat, there were reports that cattle was scarce in the area. Chardon had also killed 89 rats during the month.

1838: Only 16 rats had been killed by Chardon.

1839: Considering February to be a summer month, Chardon reported, to his surprise, that a strong wind from the west, and snow fall, continued. A total of 41 rats killed that month.