Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-15

that since the settlement Of this region there
has never been a single bridge or dam washed
out or damaged. There s also no danger tc
be apprehenGed from ice, as it invariably goe:
out quietly; net in huge masses, but IN small
pieces in half rotten condition. There arr
now three improved dams erected within tht
limits Of the city, which are capable of furn
ishing 5000 horse power. THIS will be NOR,
than doubled this summer, when some Boston
parties and James j. Hill's power Will be i'm
proved and utilized.
| Up and down the river there are also other
eligible points that will be utilized in time
When these other powers are improved there
Will be more than sufficient power to turn all
the machinery now In existence in Minneap
oils. The total amount of power capable OF
development may be inferred from the fact that
the fall in seven miles is one of 200 feet the fall
within the city limits being eighty feet alone.
This power being so we'll distributed over such
large area of ground, mills need not be
crowded together, as is the case in Minneap.
oils.
CHEAP INSURANCE.
And this is very important disideratum, at
present, as the reduction of the fire risk i'm
plies corresponding reduction of insurance
rates, which of late have been such heavy
tax upon millers. The fact that here the
mills can be isolated is a consideration that
carries with it much weight, and, taken in
| connection with the character of the power
| furnished, its amount and uniformity, it is
| no wonder that manufacturers are being at
| tracted irresistably to such an advantageous
situation.
| There is no question at all but that in the
| future such potential Developments will take
place, that the time will come when the mill
ing interests of Fergus Falls will rival, if they
will not eclipse, those of Minneapolis. This
statement is not based alone upon the fact that
| the power is better. Important as is that con-
| sideration there is another equally as influen-
| tial, and that is the proximity to the hard
wheat country, and the excellent railroad facil-
tiles that enable this wheat to be transported
to Fergus. The Red river valley as is we'll
known produces the finest grades of hard
| wheat, and all of this country is naturally
tributary to Fergus Falls. The fertile
plains of Dakota viii also pour their golden
tribute of grain into the elevators of Fergus
whenever the demand is made. Already it Is
an important grain market. There are also
four Touring mills In operation, all of them
possessing the latest and most improved
machinery. The most important of these is the
RED RIVER ROLLER MILL,
Of which Hon. James j. Hill, the vice presi.
dent. of the Manitoba road, is the president.
The manager is Mr.. Andrew G. Tod, late OF
Glasgow, Scotland. Mr.. Tod is gentleman
of wide experience, and conducts the mill
upon the most approved and scientific prin.
ciples. The productive capacity Of the
mill is four hundred barrels per day,
and it is run at its fullest capacity all the time,
so great is the demand for the -four manu-
featured. The flour is really the finest made
in the country, which is due to the fact that
Ill - L.
processes of production, and none but the
choicest wheat of the Red river valley is used
for milling. 1t is mostly shipped direct to
Glasgow and eastern markets, where it takes
precedence over all other brands. In this
connection it might be remarked that Mr..
Hull has recently purchased two hundred
acres of ground directly west OF the
mill, on which is one of the finest
water powers in the city. He is
Scotch and English capitalists are also inter:
ested in its development and are intending to
erect thereon mills and houses. Besides the
mills mentioned there are other extensive
manufacturing industries in existence, a fur
niture factory, large lumber mills, sash,
door and blind factory, pillow shops, and
foundry and machine shops. A party of Bos-
ton capitalists are also making preparations
to erect and have already got the lumber out
for mill which will produce heavy quantities
of building paper. Besides this there are
many other mills projected, chief of
which are large Touring mill,
which the Hon. Carman 4. Newcomb, late of
St. Louis, will build and operate on bis water
power at the east end of town, and lumber
mandatory, which n. P. Clark of st. Cloud,
will erect.
There are many other contemplated i'm
provements of an extensive nature that will
be effected during the coming sesson, incItid-
ing brick blocks, two hotels, residences,
churches and schools. For the purpose of
getting fuller information regarding these
matters the writer subjected Mr.. Robert
Miller to the interviewing pro-
cess. This gentlemen is member
pal real estate men in the city. They are also
financial agents and have the investment Of
large sums of money for English and Scotch
capitalists. Whenever any one wants TO Oh
tain information relative to Fergus Falls, or
the Red River valley, the natives always send
him to Mr.. Miller.
They use him as sort of animated encyclo-
pedia, and, being of an o5liging disposition,
he generally ponds TO all demands upon his
time and patience, even il this results in COM
polling him to make up for time thus lost by
taking it from the hours that should be
devoted to rest. 1t is true that Mr.. Miller is
probably better fitted for imparting such in
formation than any one else In the place, as he
is an old United States government surveyor,
ami tramped through many a mile of Min
nesota country. long before it was SO thickly
settled as at present. He has also been identi-
fed with the interests OF Fergus Falls for the
past ten years.
That The right man had been found was self
evident, as the writer discovered Mr.. Miller In
bis office in the act of inspecting multitude
of plans and specifications Of proposed build
ings. And it might be. remarked, in
this connection that the buildings which
Messrs. Miller & MacMaster alone propose to
erect would be regarded by any ordinary town
as comprising pretty good years record IN
the way of permanent improvement.
But then Fergus Falls is not an ordinary
town. The most important OF these new struc-
lures will be fine hotel which will cost when
completed about SIS ,000 1t will be erected IN
the west end of town. Messrs. Miller & Mac
Master intend that this hotel shall be kept in
the most perfect manner, and in that the
writer considers them to be publicsbenefac-
tors. E. P. Bassford, OF st. Paul, has prepared
for them the plans for several blocks Of hand.
some brick stores. One of these will be the
handsomest edifice used for business purposes
west of st. Paul and Minneapolis. It is to be
double store, three stories in height above
the basement, and will stand on the corner of
Union and Lincoln avenues The style of its
architecture is very striking and ornate. The
front will be of st. Louis pressed brick, q ma
\ tn 1-,s IL