Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-01
STAMBAUGH's TOWN.
How the Stoppage Of the Liquor
Traffic Helped Fargo.

franc helped Farg0,
The REFLECTOR has been asked to
publish the following article written
by j. A. johnson, mayor Of Fargo,
N. D., in regard to the stoppage Of
the liquor traffic at that place. In
the closing sentence the statement is
made that il the citizens did not
stand by him in closing the saloons,
he could not do it. This is the vital
point and has been demonstrated
time and again. The article follows;
By way of illustration Of the sub.
ject Of "How to Run a City Without
Any Revenue From the Liquor
Traffic" will take the cities Of
Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead,
Minnesota. Moorhead has forty.fve
saloons, each paying license Of $500.
Fargo has none, and derives no
revenue from that source; all expendi-
lures are taken from direct taxation
on real and personal property. The
assessors books show that the in.
creased valuation Of Fargo was
t5l4, 964 more in 1899, than it was in
1895; while Moorhead showed a de-
crease OF $6,4 between 1898 and
1899. The two towns are situated on
the east and west banks OF the Red
river Of the North, respectively, and
have equal advantages in the way of
location, transportation charges and
the same class of people live on both
sides OF the river. Pettibone's di-
rectorv for Moorhead and Fargo, for
1899, shows Fargo increased in popu-
lation more than six times as fast as
Moorhead did, in 1898. When the
saloons were driven out of Fargo, it
was predicted that the town would
die, that the rents would 90 down
and the buildings remain vacant, etc.
The facts do no. carry those dismal
prophecies out. More than $1,000
900 has been EXPENDED in building in
Fargo, in the past three years, and
there is not a vacant house or store
in town, that is at all desirable. The
tax rate for the running expenses Of
Fargo have been reduced 25 per cent
in the last four years, notwithstand-
ing the great improvements which
have taken place, and in face Of the
fact that in 1897 an extraordinary ex.
pense, on account Of high water, Of
more than 20 per cent Of the tax levy
for city purposes Of that year. City
warrants that were sold during sa-
loon times below par, are par today
and eagerly sought for. The bonded
Indebtedness Of Fargo, is only $3.50
as against $30Ss for Toledo, o., up
to 1858 for Boston, Mass. During
saloon times Fargo did not have a
single block Of paved streets, while
now we have fifteen miles Of we'll
paved streets with complete system
OF sewerage to all parts Of the city.
In reply to the inquiry as to "How
to run a prosperous town without any
revenue from the liquor traffic. it il
a very simple answer All that Is
necessary is to elect men for the
offices Of mayor and city council who
are both honest and capable, and whc
will look after the city's interest as
they would their own and see that
the revenues OF the city are not
wasted, and men who will see that all
appointive officers perform theil
duties. Let people know that it i:
safe to invest their money there, that
il they do they will not be robbed
see that your town is free from OBJ
iectionable characters, and make il
safe for ladies and children to be on
the streets at all hours and you have
solved the problem. don't know a'
any special credit is due me. sim
ply enforce our laws that have
sworn to do, and the citizens Of Fargo
stand by me in doing so. II they did
not, ] could not do it.
Yours trulv 1 A JuUvsoN