The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-01-19

of Africa, - on the map. There are. however
several distinguishing characteristics by
which the two may be told apart. Fergus
Fails has been more thoroughly explored, and
It's inhabitants affect clothing to . more Appre
cable extent.
IL was in a railroad car that first heard OF
Fergus Falls. Don't know any thing about
Fergus Falls7" said my neighbor with n less
respectful tone than he had before used
"why. you are behind the times" humbly
admitted IL. and asked for information got IT,
too. by tho barrel.
Fergus Falls" he said. els the centre OF the
park region of Minnesota-a land of lakes
groves, pralrics and fertility. The town ID
sure to become one Of the great cities OF Min
nesota, and will tell you why: IL 10 because
the Red river of the north. which runs throu gh
IL. forms here y number OF the best water
powers in the northwest-not one power but
seven or eight of them at short distances
apart. There are five dams already built
within the city limits. with at least two more
powers not yet improved. and only q small
part of the power is yet used. IL lie practi
cally illimitable. And now mark me-" said
my neighbor impressively, mark me there ID
not another water power. good bad. for
over four hundred miles westward from Fer
gus Falls; also. mark this The river passes
through system Of lakes, natural reservoirs
before reaching Fergus Falls, which so re
strains and regulates the flow of water that
it's greatest variation Is not over n foot. In
times of greatest drouth il is not apprecIably
lower, and such a thing as freshet was never
known. In a nutshell" continued my neigh
Dor. painting little for breath. Fergus Fails
has the best water power In the northwest
and conservative though energetic class OF
citizens who are pushing the town to the
front as rapidly as possible. As soon as IL
gets to the front IL will stay there" Here the
Fergus man collapsed entirely and famed
and thanked him at the same time. This ha p
pened several years ago. The following year
went to Fergus Falls myself. and realized
that my railroad companions description had
not been overdrawn. The town is . beautiful
and thriving one. IL has six thousa people
IL has five large -four mills. Its industries OF
other kinds are many and all arc thriving and
growing. Among them are n per mill,
wooden mill, a knitting factory, a razor
strop and sharpener factory, tanning
mill factory, q cheese factory, cheese
box factory-Oh, too many factories and
mills to bother with their names here; but
tt needs great many other mills and facto
ries. which practical men OF any bushes.
capacity could make wonderfully successful
For instance binding Irvine factory would
find here it's earthly paradise. just think OF
the Dakota self binders. few miles west OF
US. and the thousands of tons of binding Irvine
that annually pays large freights from the
east. An oatmeal mill here would make
money. There Is plenty of room and
profit for more -four mills, more wooden
and knitting factories and more paper
mills. In general way. anything into
the construction of W hich wood enters largely
and anything which Is consumed largely In
the northwest agricultural Implement
answer these requirements perfectly, can b
manufactured In Fergus Falls and sold at q
profit far exceeding that of the eastern manu-
featured article OF the same kiBa. farni
ture manufactory would have q picnic. To
the north are iilimitAble forests of pine and ia
the north and east hard woodstock, ash
birch. maple, elm, iron wood, etc, are found
by the thousand acres. Poplar 10 very abund
ant. wood pulp mill would be q paying
venture.
llHere are some practical statements which
the general reader need not bother about, bat
which the manufacturer intending to move
west may nnd interesting: The price Of wa
ter power. with . guarantee O. to the con
stancy Of the amount contracted for, In, on the
average. u Per month per horse power; Ga pen
year. Let the manufacturer hgurs that oui