St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-01
DAKO T A
FARGO THE KEY CITY
Of the Rising Commonwealth
OF the Peerless Wheat
Region.
The Natural Advantages OF
Its Location and What 1t
Promises.
Hasty Glance at the People
and What They Have
to Show.
The Leading Business Men
and the Lines Of Their
Activities.

FARGO, n. D., May 3l.-Much has
been said and written of Fargo, but
more has been left unsaid. Usually in
making write.ups OF a town OF country
It is in the hands of interested parties,
who take especial pains to bring some
particular feature of business to the
front, and leave out most of the prom
lnent establishments of the city OF coun-
Try, as it may be. In the following lines
it is our purpose to leave out nothing
which ought to be said in so brief an
article, but to give exact facts and estl-
mates to the best of our ability.
Fargo is situated on the west bank of
the Red River of the North, is now
about thirteen years old, and contains
within the corporate limits nearly, If
not quite 5000 people. The location is
the center of the justly celebrated
RED RIVER VALLEY,
rich in all that goes to make wealth
and prosperity for those who invest in
its productive soil, or engage in bust
ness to supply the demands of its con-
Stantly increasing population. Sur
rounded as Fargo is. by this immense
tract of the world-famed No. l hard
wheat producing soil, and likewise a
country already famous for her cattle
raising facilities, it would be remarkable
if she did not prosper, and in few
years become, not only the leading city
of the valley, but of both DakOtas.
She now stands at the head OF the list,
and it would seem apparent that this
supremacy will always be maintained
until Fargo becomes the great city OF
the Northwest.
Besides the advantages Of the richest
and best producing soil in the world, she
holds the railroad key to all North Da-
kota. The railroads now constructed
and in process of construction will per-
meate the state in all directions, start
ing from and terminating at this point.
This will evidently make it the whole
sale center for all the merchants OF a
country bound to show more wealth
within the next ten years than any
country of the same age on earth. An
other thing which adds greatly to the
future prospects of this young city is
the enterprise and vim Of her people;
They are the ''gemS" of the Eastern and
Southern population, who have found
the plodding ways of the old home too
cireumscribed for their ambition, and
have come to the great ''alkali
desert" to make their homes and
fortunes. There is nothing slow
nor slothful about them, no drones in
Fargo's hive. Time and time again
they have demonstrated their abil-
ity to grasp and carry forward
any enterprise which judiciouS judg-
ment dictated, and they have in every
instance sprung to the wheel and given
it whirl forward. and success has
always followed. This has been the re
suit of the enterprise, unity and good
fellowship of her people. They all
CAME HERE TO WIN.
and are bound to do it. We speak OF
this because in the building up of a city
much, andwe might say all, depends
upon the unity of sentiment among the
people. Here it is fully demonstrated
that in union there is strength.
But now to what Fargo has already
done. With that reverence which
should actuate all men, we first turn to
the churches, the forerunners and ac-
compartments of all civilization.
and South. where the church bell
was familiar sound, and its
solemn notes reminded them OF their
duty to God as well as to themselves;
and no sooner had this idea winged its
way among the incoming population
than churches were under way, bells
ordered and the Sunday morning call
was heard from dozen places where
people assembled to worship and pray
as their consciences might dictate.
Then schools were needed for the
children and started Immediately with
themost competent teachers, and have
progressed from that time until to-day,
when Fargo presents one of the finest
opportunities for the education of the
young of any city of its age in the coun-
try. The high school building proper
is magnificent structure of brick, with
water works and every convenience
which recent invention can furnish.
IN addition to this is what is called
the North side school building. another
fine brick, equally as well arranged as
the high school building, but on a
smaller scale. Then comes the Wash
ington avenue school, the Island Park
school and the Fifth ward school, and
with fine and most appropriate build
ingS for the comfort and convenience of
pupils: every building well heated, and,
what is just as essential. well venti-
lated. In the employment of teachers
our people have gone upon the principle
that 1.-The best is cheapest" and have
not now in their employ a single
teacher at salary of less than sos per
month, and increasing from this to $3.50
per month, making pay roll of about
$500 each month. Very few, if any,
cities of the age of Fargo can make such
showing. Added to these educational
advantages are the kindergarten, con-
Quoted by Miss Laura p. Birchall, and
the convent school in charge of Superior
Agnes, both of which are fourishing in
situations. From the best Information
at hand there are in attendance at
school each day at least 1000 children,