Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-05-11

short distance from the town and j:
negotiating to get more land. He ha.
already got the fever bad and will
very soon be one of the bonanza farm.
ers. [ was very glad to meet them
and was welcomed like unto liking. "
Mrs. Rosholt is little lonesome vet
for the more civilized part of the
world but is fast becoming contented.
Last but not least of my old friends
whom I met was Billy Heart, the
banjoist. l found him in Fargo, a
charter member of the firm of Her
ring & Hart wholesale ami retail deal
ers in fresh and salt meats, fish,
vegetables, game, etc. They employ
five butchers and a book-keeper, sell
on an average four beeves per day and
other small meats 10 proportion. They
/ have paid on real estate within the
past six months SIS, 400. This amount
is out of the profits of their business
I saw weighed and delivered to one
Hotel, for one days rations $50 lbs Of
meat at Is cents per pound. Billy
looks very natural. He has just sold
$50 acres of unimproved land for ST.
500, being one of the early homesteads
proved upon; has all manner of con-
idence in the future of this part OF
the Territory; has been successful in
the selection Of partner for life.
lives in brick house, and in the
language of the poet is glad he come
Clark Taylor lives somewhere near by
has called Tor me here during my alb
sence, have not yet seen him, neither
have. [ seen j. f. Lunt or Dick Hussey,
but expect to call on them this coming
week.
I cannot well close without making
a few remarks about Fargo, the Me
tropolis of Dakota. Every one knows
its location therefore to shorten, will
treat upon few of its merits only.
Fargo claims population of 5000,
is nine years old since its first building
which was tent. The first boom in
this place was the building of the N.
?. railroad to and through it, and said
company making it their headquarters
for distribution, in order to sell their
lands, being every odd section along
the road 40 miles on either side. 1t
was necessary for them to advertize.
They did and consequently brought
from all parts of the states and else
where people and capital. Moneyed
men very soon learned that this was a
rich agricultural country and the land
when bought at 81 so per acre from
railroad company with their bonds at
from II to 60 per cent. discount, was
a good investment, the first purchase
averaging not more than 81 per acre
Many came and invested largely, some
farmed on the "bonanza" plan, found
that paid also, they became excited,
called their friends to the feast, they
came invested and extended invitations
and so it goes even yet and will until
every foot of this rich soil is under
the pillow. In consequence Fargo was
headquarters, has been ever since, is
now, and in my judgment will continue
to be. Those landlords built up Fargo
to advertize the country and they
saved no expense, costly business and
resident buildings, school houses,
churches, water works, fire department,
electric lights inside and out on iron
towers 40 feet high, street railway
and macadamized roads now going in,
new additions being plated and for
sale every few days, property advanc-
ing from 20 to 500 per cent. yearly,
according to which particular direction
the draw is, first a rage in one part of
town then in another. Everything
dear and cash is their basis of exchange
for wants. The streets are thronged,
hotels and business houses oyerrun,
dwellings, stables, sheds, or even the
naked grounds rent for at least so per
cent. on the investment. Around the
outskirts you will find an army of
new arrivals looking up lots and sites to
build on, those are the folks that
arrived two weeks too soon, and others
who wish to get relief from the busy
hustle of the city 60 a little farther to
build and live in comfort and quietness.
[ was here last May, was offered lots
for 5000, that now sell for $4,000,
(see what [ lost).
I could write four days and a half
about the wonders Of Fargo and not
get them all in, but as [ have already
written at considerable length, more
than you will probably care to bother
with, will bid you adieu.
w. T. KING.