Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20
letter itOm Minnesota.
A rRu. To TIE RED RIVER COUNTRY.

ing he famous wheat fields of the Red
Rive! aI the North. Everybody that goes
there is inspired by enthusiasm by
what he sc, lhat he must give vent TO it
bv wIitng aEi of course l fall into line
with the rest.
Ii was in the latter part of October that
went A council of Christian ministers
was helI ut Fargo the 18th Of October, to
lay plans for religious work in this rapid
ly d v,oping territory. Half rates were
granted those clergyman from St. Paul
and Minneapolis and free excursion was
given them by the railroad company from
Fargo to Grand Fargo, new town some
eighty miles farther north. The different
railway comp nies, by the way, are very
liberal in grant g especial privileges 10
those who wish to see the marvellous re-
sources of this new country which is'now
SO rapidly filling up. 1t is one of their
methods of ofa1vertising the country. Many
OF these visitors they expect will be so
delighted with the sight of the rich wheat
fields that they will want TO come and
increase the number of them or tell their
friends and have them come. Thus they
increase their traffic for the present and
all the time are making more sure of the
future. 1t is of great Importance to rail-
road and real estate men to keep business
"booming" as much as possible. AS long
as the boom" lasts they are coming
money. When it collapses in one place
they move on and start it anew II mother.
Just now they seem to have tpn4d the
attention of the world toward ilo Red
River and northern Dakota. The tide li
emigration IN this direction is immense
1t is so hard 10 conceive its proportion
anil harder yet to give any one else an
idea cl is magnitude. The st. Paul,
MINNEAPOLIS and Manitoba and the rorth-
crn Pacific railroads run two long passen
ger trains every day each way, each of
them from the cities of St. Paul and Min
ncapolis TO Fargo and yet they could
hardly carry all the emiSrants that crowd
ed on TO them. Often standing room
could with li,ulty be found in one of
these cars so great was the rush. And
this steady stream continued from early in
the spring tn near the close of the season
The freight too was equally great. 1t
was hard work for one seeking transpor-
lion TO find cars. The companies could not
furnish them as fast as they were wanted.
The route over the Manitoba road is
more direct tlan by The Northern Pacific.
There is a saving of about 40 miles in the
distance. But they start their trains over
each route from Minneapolis at about the
same time aud they reach Fargo together.
The price Of tickets are Just the same over
both roads, 50 one company has no
advantage over The her and there is not
l,it to the trayrI.r much choice of routes.
The distance from Minneapolis to Fargo
is 24O II les 10y the shortest way.
l was disappointed in Fargo. | had
heard j.'J claimed a population of some
1000 syD's but could rot SEQ where half
that L." ber could be placed ] know of
cities that 10 not claim more than 5000
that seemed me to be larger than this
But it is an IN ensely active place with a
perpetual throns coming and going.
doubt whethcr anybody knows the number
of their inhabitants. lad heard also that
Fargo was built in the mud and in this |
was not disappointed. The streets are
well nigh impossible. But every one was
filled with wagons which the patient long
suffering horses were compelled to drag
through the mud where it was almost up
to their bellies. The wagon wheels would
be so loaded that they would look like
immense trucks, all the spaces between the
spokes being filled with the black, adhesive
mud. One thing however the citizens oi
Fargo can congratulate themselves on
the hosL comes early and holds on late,
SO that foI good share of the year they
are sure to be on hard frozen ground. II
i wasn't for this | should consider living
IN Fargo intolcrable. And yet man
whom had known in Mantorvl c, Mimi.
and supposed to be a sensible man, went
to Fargo two years ago last March and
bought little spot of this mud 30 by 15C
feet, paying $3.50 for it. This man tolt
me that he was offered II few months age
for this same lot $500, with the privilege
of moving of the buildings he had put
upon it When | heard that statement
wondered which was the biggest iool The
one thai offered the money or the y2e thai
refused it, 5u, it was a drizzly, rain time
then and possibly my judgment may aave
been little cloudy in regard to suct
things Just at that time.
But Fargo is abreast of the times in al
the modern improvements Its streets
hotels and principal business houses are
brilliantly lighted with electric lights
1t has one TO light the whole city 100 fee
high which can be distinctly seen 40 mile
out on the level prairie. 1t has telephone
exchange connecting al. the principa
business houses and many residences. /
has street cars Though when was Their
they couldn't lun ou account of the mud,
two daily morning papers, II lithographine
establishment, TWO national banks and TIVE
private banks with deposits of nearly two
millions, Holly system of water works
acar wheel foundry, besides Touring mills
elevators, agricultural warehouses, etc
Board without lodging is five dcllars pc
week and an ordinary bed Ioom rents TO
from eight 10 twelve dollars per month
saw in the morning paper an advertise
ment for servant girl Offering five dollar
prwtek, heonly stipulation being that sh
ah1uld .nCw how to cook. They do bust
ness .ast hero. For instance few Congre
IA ionol brethren decided to bulda churcl
costing about $50 900, and the contrac
lat