St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-09
a CITY's RESURRECTION.
Fergus Falls Promises TO Become
Hummer Very Soon.

4 GFSuS i ais IFOllISSS 10 ESCCsH0
a Hummer Very Soon.
Special TO the Globe.
FERGUS FALLS, Oct. 7.-Of all the
Northwestern cities that have in turn
experienced the glories Of brief and
all too suddenly ended boom, Fergus
Falls has stood up after the collapse
better than almost any of her sisters.
Who OF Minnesota's inhabitants of
decade since but remembers how the
boomers rung the changes on Fergus
assured greatness. and how in the full
ness of time it should be second Min
neapolis at least. But somehow the
prophets failed to deliver the goods.
The boom fell away. while the water
power remained. There were good
times in Fergus two years ago. Prop
erty was high, in demand, and con-
stantly changing hands. A Scotch syn
dictate became largely interested in the
realty of the beautiful little city.
They constructed a fine hotel, the
Grand.a cost, including furnishing OF
S125,000. AT that time it was the finest
house in the state outside the Twin
Cities. 1t was crowded with Specula-
tive guests, and every merchant in the
town was coming money. The inevita-
bile change. however, came to Fergus
and dashed some of its extravaganza
hopes. But this settling process alike
affected st. Cloud and other sister cities
of fair Fergus. But the latter city was
never entirely knocked Out. Certain
far seeing men, realizing that Fergus
Falls would have its day of glory some
time, remained. There has always
been considerable milling done here.
and the water power is reliable every
Il Z I,,, fI,n
there are eXtant many quiet evidences
that Fergus is on the eve or a big resuS-
citation. One of these evidences is the
fact that the Grand hotel, which has
been closed for the better part Of two
years has been purchased by the
Fergus Falls Hotel company, recently
Incorporated company, with DIR. L. n.
Mclean as president. This gentleman
has large property interests mere. He
is known to be in the confidence of
very prominent railroad magnate, men,
berS of whose family are among the
largest local property owners. DR.. Nc
Lean is not only successful practi-
toner. but ShreWd, far-Seeing man of
affairs. Everything he has touched
since he came TO Fergus Falls, eleven
years ago, fresh from alma mater, has
turned literally into gold. He never
acts on impulse, and the fact that he
has been the prime mover IN the rehabili-
tation of the Grand has set the wiseacres
of the town to comparing notes, and
they decided to investigate. So far as
their Investigations have gone they seem
of one mind OH certain subjects, they
declare:
First-That the Great Northern rail-
way will at an early day, despite official
denials, erect monster shops at this
inf l0R.,
amount of land here, and the water
power being, as | have written above,
reliable at all times, it is a natural sup
position that this power will be largely
utilized by the big tranScontinental rail-
road.
Second-During the winter board of
trade will be organized. and an i'm
mense amount of literature showing the
natural advantages Of Fergus Falls as
manufacturing site will be printed and
sent to every manufacturer of the
United States. The work will be done
in systematic, painStaking and con-
scieDtious manner, and persistently fol-
lowed up.
Third-The country tributary to Fer
gus Falls is well known TO be one of the
most fertile, healthy and beautiful in
Minnesota. The scenery is diversified.
There are numerous lakes IN Otter Tail
county, and fish and waterfowl of all
kinds are so plenty that the mere effort
10 take them has become monotonouS to
the people. There are thousands of
people in other parts of the country
who would revel in such hunters and
| fishers paradise.
Aside from the merely surface reasons
whv Fergus Falls ought to increase in
| population, is the fact that there have
| been some recent acquisitions of deSir-
| able realty in the business quarter of
the city. Who is, or would it be more
| proper to ask, who are back of these
| operations, no one seems to know, but
the keen observers of the current
movement look for big advance all
along the line after the holidays. Fer
gus Falls has present population of
about 5000 souls. Its local resources
would support a much larger popula-
ton. If all its water power was utilized
in the next two years by manufacturers
seeking cheap and reliable power, the
| present population would quickly in
crease to 10000. 1t may indeed become
| the Lowell of the Northwest.