The Redwood gazette., 1902-03-05
"A VISIT TO FARGO.
incidentally, Some Pointers on the Tax
Code Work.

globe, but it is surprising what
can take place in that period, and
probably nowhere is this fact more
in evidence than by a visit to some
western town.
Eighteen years ago it was the
fortune of the writer. to have been
resident of Fargo, the leading
city of North Dakota. At that time
it was a booming city, where people
came and went in a moment, where
enterprises we're promoted and
dropped in night, where buildings
were erected in a day to fall in a
wear, and where stability was little
thought of.
The Fargo Of today is certainly
as distant from the Fargo of Is
years ago: with the exception OF its
people, as the west Of 100 years ago
and the west Of today.
On the evening Of Feb. 10Th, to-
gether with H. A. Baldwin and g..
A. Jaehring of Redwood Falls, the
writer was a passenger on the
Northern Pacific train that left ST..
Paul shortly after s clock. we
arrived at Fargo at ) o'clock the
following morning, and three hours
later arose and repaired to the Wal
dorf Hotel. the finest hotel west OF
St. Paul until the Pacific coast was
reached and. all things considered,
probably as fine as any hotel In st.
Paul. This hotel was one of the
structures that grew out OF the ex-
tenSive fire at Fargo a little more
than a decade ago. It was con.
structed by Fargo merchant, who
today is estimated as worth nearly
a million dollars. and who eighteer
years ago was but one of the many
merchants struggling for fortune
in that northwestern city. The ho
tel is modern in every particular
and aside from it's modern features
it's cuisine is certainly equal to any
thing l have ever enjoyed
Eighteen years ago the Head
quarters Hotel was the leading ho
tel in that city. That structure
was a victim of the fire fend, anc
standing today where it stood be
fore the fire is the handsome depot
of the Northern Pacific railroad, re-
garded as one of the finest depots
in the northwest. The great fire OF
decade ago swept everything on
Broadway from Front street down
to the depot OF the Great Northern
railroad. 1t was regarded as one
of the greatest catastrophes that the
fire tiend has been held to account
for in many year But from that
fire, phoenix-like Fargo arose in its
new and remodeled condition. And
certain it is thatthe fire fiend proved
blessing instead of setback, for
where frame buildings once stood
there now stand handsome brick
blocks modern in every way and
filed with enterprising merchants
of all classes, who take particular
pride in promoting the business in
terests of Fargo as well as the
beauty and other striking effects OF
the town. A drive around the resi-
dence portion of the city, showed
that handsome residences, worthy OF
city several times the size of Far
90, has been erected and were oc
cupied by merchant princes who
were enjoying all the comforts OF
these handsome homes in princely y
style. Where once the handsomest
residences were located in the
southern aud southeastern portions
of the city, they now seem to have
been transferred to the northwest
ern portion. where certainly the
finest residences are now located
and the extreme end of Broadway
is street of beautiful homes.
Shortly after our arrival at Fargo
we were taken in charge by Colonel
H. c. Plumley of the Fargo Forum.
and one of the veteran newspaper
men of North Dakota. Mr.. Plum
ley seems to have constituted him
self committee on reception of
visitors to Fargo. for, as soon as he
heard of our presence he called
upon us and offered US his services.
Que of the first Institutions visited
was rho maOnifiainnt MaSonio fnn,A