North Dakota AHGP Information

Fargo

The largest and most populous city in Northern Dakota, and the seat of Cass county, is situated on the N. P. Ry., and on the Red River of the North. Founded in 1872. A mere hamlet in 1873, it is now a live, bustling city of 2,700 inhabitants, the receiving and distributing center of the vast arable wheat region of the Red River Valley, a granary unsurpassed on the face of the earth. The city is pleasantly situated and substantially built, is governed by a mayor and common council, and has efficient fire and police departments. It has Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Lutheran churches, and district schools, a First National Bank, a Chamber of Commerce, a Library Association, a Bar Association, a Board of Underwriters, a daily newspaper, The Argus, a semi-weekly, and three weekly newspapers, an opera house, and a music hall. The United States and Territorial courts are held in Fargo. Last year 150 new buildings were erected at a cost of $250,000, among them an elevator of 140,000 bushels capacity. The U. S. land office in Fargo sold over 1,000,000 acres of land to settlers; $400,000 worth of agricultural implements were sold in the place; 51,000,000 lbs. of local freight were delivered to the merchants of the city, and 35,000,000 lbs, shipped east, while 20,000 cars were handled in the yard of the N. P. Ry. within the city limits. The hotels of Fargo, notable among which is the Headquarters, the largest in the territory, and the leading hostelry, have been doing a driving business, as the rush toward the fertile lands of the west has increased travel to an unprecedented degree. All trains arrive and depart from the Headquarters, under whose roof are the telegraph, ticket, and express offices of the N. P. Ry. Fargo enjoys the advantages of steamboat communications with all points on the Red River, and does an extensive business with Manitoba. Exports, wheat, oats, barley and vegetables. Daily stage to Pembina, 120 miles, fare $13; tri-weekly to Breckenridge, 50 miles, $3; semi-weekly to Bonnersville, 62 miles, $4. Three mails by rail daily. Edward A. Grant, postmaster.