MOORHEAD
THE KEY CITY OF THE FAMOUS RED RIVER VALLEY.
A Sketch of the Phenomenal City of Minnesota – The Rise, Growth and Progress of an Enterprising Place – After Dark Days the Morning Comes – A Big Boom Now in Progress – Buildings Springing Up as if by Magic – Splendid Houses, Big Railroad Shops, Fine Post Office, Water Works, Street Cars, and all the Paraphenalia of a City.
There is in all probability no city in the new northwest that is attracting at the present time so much attention and such universal comment as Moorhead, the gateway between Minnesota and Dakota on the two great transcontinental railways. It is appropriately styled the Key City. He who ten years ago visited it, visits now, and shall visit at the end of another decade, will have a history of remarkable growth and wonderful accumulation of wealth, such as the fondest hopes of its early progenitors scarcely anticipated, and which will almost transport him to the scenes of those fairly tales where cities are created instantaneous, gorgeous in their magnificence and ready to vanish at the magicians wand which created them, and will be compelled to command all of his senses to convince himself of the reality of the vision.
In presenting a short sketch of the history of Moorhead, I shall divide it into three parts, viz: The past, the present and the future.
THE PAST.
Ten years ago or a little more found half a dozen men with a very small amount of money, but with an inexhaustable amount of pluck, wintering under canvass within about four miles of the present site of Moorhead, awaiting the location of the line of the Northern Pacific, at the crossing of the Red river. Their patience was at last rewarded by the location of the N. P. where it now lies and the survey and platting of a town site by the “Lake Superior and Pugets Sound Land Co.,” (a wheel within a barrel) which in honor of one of their number and a director of the Northern Pacific Railroad company, they named Moorhead, which gentleman was also the business partner of the then great capitalist and father of the road Jay Cooke. The idea of the town proprietors seemed to be to push prices rather than improvements and as a natural result it was only the few sturdy spirits who had an abiding faith in the future of the home of their choice, which nothing could shake or no misfortune overwhelm that located. Good business lots brought as high as $1,000 each, a sum that rendered them undesirable in the opinion of the average stranger. The road was completed to the east bank of the river in November 1871, and in the spring of 1872 the Northern Pacific Railroad company began the operation of exterminating Moorhead, which policy has been well adhered to by them most, if not all of the time since, but which at present is a little further from accomplishment than it was for the first four or five years thereafter.
The first operation on their part was the removal of all their business – shops, round house, and all possible benefit to be derived from the terminus of a division to the opposite bank of Red River, where they founded and have ever since fostered the now flourishing city of Fargo. Even the small building erected at Moorhead for a depot was allowed to go to ruin, and no pains spared to destroy the town. The natural result was, that a few of the less resolute ones among the business men were induced to remove to the new Dakota town, and the dark days for Moorhead were in truth made darker. To crown all came the great financial crisis, the failure of Jay Cooke & Co., of New York and Philadelphia, who were the N. P. R. R. itself, almost in point of fact, and which for a time checked emigration to or investment in the entire section of country. As the country, however, began to recover from the paralization to which it had been subjected, the liberal policy of the road to bondholders in receiving bonds for lands, soon began to secure the interest of capitalists in the east in this great country, by the proprietorship in its lands, which they thus acquired and they soon began to put in money in developing the country and building cities and towns. For a time Moorhead received only the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table across the river. The few sturdy spirits who had ever a firm faith in the future destiny of the Key City kept steadily at work, and gradually established a renumerative business in the several lines they had undertaken, but the real dawn of the present prosperous era came through the direct medium of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railway. This enterprising company, anxious to have a share in the transportation business of this great initial point to the Red River valley projected and built a line from Barnesville on their through route to Manitoba, to Moorhead and Fargo. Moorhead was reached late in the fall of 1880, and after a protracted litigation the Northern Pacific railroad and Red river were crossed and communication with Fargo established. With the very inception of this enterprise real estate at Moorhead began to look up, and when it was fully realized that this vast and powerful organization proposed to foster and aid the Key City, the dawn of that better day so long waited for at length broke.
THE PRESENT.
Under this head I shall endeavor to give the public some idea of the present status of this remarkable city, its important business interest, public buildings, manufacturing establishments and other features worthy of note. The correct estimate of the prosperity of an locality is formed from the condition and activity of its real estate business. At the Key City in addition to numerous private individuals who handle real estate to a greater or less extent there are four firms who are actively engaged in this important branch of business.
COMSTOCK & WHITE.
Among the four, and a firm who have invested their money at Moorhead and who have been steadfast and persistent in their labors in behalf of the city is the firm of Comstock & White. Mr. S. G. Comstock is an attorney, and has been for years a member of the state legislature from Clay county. He came to Moorhead in 1871, before the iron on the N. P. road was laid to the river. He has followed the practice of law ever since until May, 1880, when he formed a copartnership with Mr. A. A. White, a real estate dealer, who had resided at Moorhead about four years. Since the formation of this firm the gentlemen have been engaged by the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad company in securing the right of way on the line from Barnesville to the national boundary, and its branches, and in the real estate business on their own account. They purchase all of the property they offer for sale, and deed to purchasers directly. In addition to their large interests in Moorhead they own the following town sites on the line of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba road. Sabin, on Buffalo river, Clay county, Minn., ten miles from Moorhead; Kelso, on north branch of Elm river, thirty-five; Hillsboro, on the Goose river, forty miles; Manvel, on the Turtle river, fifteen miles north of Grand Forks; Kimball, on Salt Lake, twenty-five miles north of Grand Forks; Minto, on the Forest river, a very heavy timbered stream about thirty-two miles north of Grand Forks; Grafton, forty-two miles north of Grand Forks, the county seat of Walsh county, on Park river, and Bathgate, on the Tongue river, seventy miles north of Grand Forks, and at the geographical centre of Pembina county. The town of Grandin is the only one which the firm do not own entire, Messrs. Oliver Dalrymple and the Grandin Bros. owning one-half interest. The places above mentioned are prosperous villages, and offer inducements for the opening of a new business for men who want a location in the centre of a fine agricultural country. The firm have their office on Front street, corner Eighth, opposite the Grand Pacific, Moorhead, and while they are largely interested outside of the Key city in town sites and farming lands, of which latter they have a large and choice selection, covering nearly every portion of the famous Red River Valley, which they have bought of early purchasers from the railroad company and government, yet they never lose sight of the fact that this is the best city on earth and holds the key to the great new Northwest, and are ever ready to assist in advancing its interests.
NEWSPAPERS.
In the newspaper line the city is up to the times. The Daily Argonian, published by A. L. Teele, is a brigh enterprising, six column folio, daily newspaper and reflects credit upon the publisher and the city.
BRIGGS & ELDERS.
The firm of Briggs & Elders, attorneys, may also be styled a real estate firm although they are doing an extensive law practice. They have their office in the Opera house block, over the Merchants bank, on Front street and besides a vast amount of choice lots all over the city proper, they have what is known as Briggs & Merrill’s second addition and Elder’s second addition to the city of Moorhead, both tracts being located in a most desirable part of the city, traversed by the street railway company’s projected line (to be built this season) and which offers splendid opportunities for investment. They are practical business men, long residents in this upper country, reliable and curteous, with whom it is a pleasure to transact business.
BURNHAM, HEYWOOD & GOULD.
This firm are attorneys at-law, real estate, loan and insurance agents, carrying the best companies in the world, and have a complete set of abstract books of Clay county. They are men of large experience in their line, have their business well systematized, and pay especial attention to the transaction of business for now residents.
WEBSTER, HAZEN & CLEMENT
are engaged in the law, real estate and loan business, and have their office on the ground floor of the Grand Pacific hotel.
They do a very extensive business in farm loans and make a specialty of investment and sales of real estate. They have just received full control of the Lawndale addition to Moorhead, a most desirable spot for investments. The three gentlemen comprising the firm are all young men, who came from Vermont some two years since and some idea of their abilities may be formed from the fact that they have just concluded the sale of a tract of eighty acres recently platted by which they made within three weeks the sum of $14,000, for their clients, probably the most successful real estate transactions on record.
In addition to the four firms mentioned, Lamb Bros., W. H. Davy, H. A. Bruns, N. Peterson, John Erickson and other private parties, have real estate for sale and all of whom are of the solid business men of the town.
BANKS.
Next to the real estate and law business I desire to mention the banking institutions of the city. Of these there are two – First National and Merchants – both of which have large and commodious apartments, fine vaults and safes and all the necessary parapharnalia for transacting business. The First National bank of Moorhead began business a few weeks since, with a cash capital of $50,000, which will be increased to suit the demands of business. The officers are:
President – C. B. Benedict.
Vice President – F. J. Burnham.
Cashier – J. H. Karcher.
Directors – W. H. Davy, F. A. Eider, John Erickson, H. G. Finkle, P. H. Lamb.
The president being a non-resident, the vice president, Mr. F. J. Burnham, necessarily becomes the acting officer, and, under his practical management, and the able assistance of the other officers and directors, the institution must certainly flourish.
The Merchants’ bank, the older of the two, is a private bank, soon to be organized under the new state banking law. The officers are: President, H. A. Bruns; vice president, W. H. Davy; secretary and treasurer, E. E. Moore.
This institution has already a large business and enjoys the confidence of the public. It has a capital of $50,000, soon to be increased to $100,000.
STREET CAR COMPANY.
This institution will build the coming season three miles of track on the principal streets of Moorhead, connecting with Fargo by a pontoon bridge. It is incorporated under the statutes of Minnesota, and is officered as follows: President, H. A. Bruns; vice president, R. R. Briggs; secretary, E. E. Moore. It will connect the new shops of the Manitoba road and all of the present residence and business portions of the city, and will transfer, as before stated, to the Fargo system.
RAILROADS.
The Northern Pacific railroad gives communication east and west with all parts of the country. The Southwestern railroad, a part of the Northern Pacific system connecting with the fertile James river valley. The Moorhead & Northern railroad, thirty miles of which will be built this summer by a local company along the east branch of the Red river. The Moorhead, McCauleysville and Breckenridge railroad, and last but best and most important of all, the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad, completed to a point near the boundary line, some twenty miles west of the Red river at Pembina, where it is to be met by a line down the west bank of the river to Winnipeg and a connection with the Canadian Pacific making Moorhead the end of a division on this great trans-continental international system of roads, and with the other lines mentioned making Moorhead the greatest railroad center northwest of St. Paul.
STEAMBOAT LINES.
The Alsop line plying between Moorhead and St. Vincent, and the Grandin line to the Grandin farm represent a not unimportant feature in its commercial advantages.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Churches – The following societies have church buildings:
Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist and Baptist, some of which are very commodious and even elegant.
SCHOOL BUILDING.
A fine edifice costing $20,000, in which one of the best graded schools of the west, which fits its pupils for the seminary or college, is taught, speaks volumes for the city.
POST-OFFICE.
A fine building of St. Louis pressed brick, with Kasota and Ohio blue stone trimmings, with French plate glass front fifteen feet high, planned by Architect Bassford, of St. Paul, and erected by its owners Messrs. Finkle & Davy, is not only a credit, but a great ornament to the city. It will be furnished with the best Yale furniture and cases and will be opened in thirty days, no degree of cold having as yet been experienced sufficient to prevent plastering.
BRUNS’ OPERA HOUSE.
This is one of the most delightful halls in the state, is 50x70 feet, contains 500 chairs and a stage with drop curtain and five sets of shifting scenes.
HOTELS.
Of these Moorhead has five, two of which are worthy of especial mention. The
JAY COOKE,
erected, owned and operated by John Erickson, esq., is located on Front street between Seventh and Eighth streets, and would be considered an acquisition to a city of 100,000 people. It is managed by Ed. Thomas, Esq., of New York, and is deservedly popular. It was begun in 1880, was opened in the spring of 1881, and will be entirely completed in a short time. It is of brick, three stories in heighth and contains eighty-one sleeping rooms, large office, parlors, billiard room, sample rooms and other apartments, and is furnished first-class throughout. The first or main section is 42x104 feet, with a wing two stories in heighth, 36x50, while the last erected portion is 36x60, three stories and basement. The proprietor, Mr. Erickson is one of the earliest settlers here, who came to Moorhead penniless, and who now, in addition to the hotel, owns a $20,000 brewery, a block containing a general store, furniture store, butcher shop, sample room and laborers’ boarding house, owned and operated entirely by himself; a farm of 3,000 acres, 1,600 of which he cut wheat from the past season; owns stock in the First National bank and a vast amount of real estate. His fortune has all been carved out by his own skill, energy and perseverence, and is a sample of what can be done in this great country.
THE GRAND PACIFIC.
The erection of this splendid hostelry, its elegant furnishing and sumptuous fare is doing more to advertise the city than any and all the rest of the institutions which Moorhead possesses. It was built magnificently, furnished luxuriously and is kept sumptuously. It is built after the Queen’s Anne style of architecture and is a model of beauty. It is located on Front street, Ninth and James, and fronts on each. On James street the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad’s broad and spacious platform reaches the north entrance. The building is 156 feet long by 140 wide. It was designed by L. S. Buffington of Minneapolis, architect, was erected by H. A. Bruns and is operated by John Baugh. In its conception the owner designed to build a hotel perfect in all parts. Large, high sleeping rooms, spacious halls and corridors, office, parlors, dining room, sample rooms and all other hotel apartments are the result. In its equipment nothing but the best was desired, or had. Heated by steam throughout; lighted with gas, bath rooms adjoining sleeping rooms, and luxurious parlor and bedroom furniture, velvet and Brussels carpets, and in short anything rich and comfortable which money would purchase is the result. Nothing but the rich, elegant and beautiful are to be found within its four walls. It is built in the form of a hollow square, the office one story high and lighted by skylights occupying the center space. As you enter from either side you are at once impressed with the vastness of the space allotted for office and halls, and find yourself able to move without the inconvenience one usually experiences about the office and corridors of some of our first class hotels. Its suite of rooms, comprising bedroom, dressing room, sitting room, closet, bath room with hot and cold water and water closet, heated by steam and lighted by gas, suggest an idea of comfort to which ordinary hotels are utter strangers. The proprietor, Mr. H. A. Bruns, has exhibited a remarkable sagacity throughout. Any man of means can build a fine hotel under direction of furniture dealers and upholsterers who understand it, but it takes a pretty level headed man to select a manager who won’t run the institution into the ground. That Mr. Bruns is just that sort of man is evidenced by his selection of Manager Baugh. St. Paul people, and, in fact the traveling public of the Northwest, are too familiar with his capabilities as a hotel man, to need any introduction to him. It is only necessary to say, that he has brought about him a thoroughly competent and experienced corps of hotel people, who understand every part of their duties, and who make the comfort of their guests their first thought. Courteous treatment and prompt attention to the wants of patrons, is the first duty he requires of his subordinates. There are 104 sleeping rooms in the house including nineteen suites of three and four rooms really adapted for small families. In every particular in construction, equipment and management the Grand Pacific hotel of Moorhead is perfect and a model of its kind, furnishing a table unrivalled by any house northwest of Chicago and Milwaukee, and will of itself do more for Moorhead than anyone who has not seen it can imagine. Manager Baugh is ably assisted at the desk by Chief Clerk David K. Edwards, late of the Metropolitan, St. Paul, and H. S. Hyndman, late of Boston, night clerk. All Manitoba trains stop for mails at the Grand Pacific.
BLOCK OF STORES.
Mr. F. M. Blines is building a block of ten stores on Ninth street, fronting the Grand Pacific, the larger part of which are already rented. They are two stories high and are veneered with brick.
MANUFACTURES.
Although comparatively little has as yet been done in this city, the little accomplished is important. The
MOORHEAD ROLLER MILL,
owned by Mr. H. A. Bruns, manufacture 120 barrels of flour per day, which is all shipped west to Ft. Benton, Miles City, Deadwood and other points but can’t begin to supply the demand. Recently two car loads were shipped via Ft. Benton to the Canadian Pacific advance engineers on Bow river, Manitoba.
STEAM PACKING HOUSE.
Mr. Peter Czizek, one of the liveliest of the live men of Moorhead, has a very perfect butcher shop and packing house, doing all the heavy work and cooking by steam. He did a business last year of over $60,000, and has made every dollar he possesses since he came here. He buys his stock entirely in St. Paul, and only the best.
BRICK MAKING.
In the past season 7,000,000 brick were made at Moorhead, and to-day none can be had at $25 per 1,000. The Lamb Bros. made of this number over 3,000,000. Eight years ago they began by making 150,000, the first ever made here. They are very much similar in color to the famous cream brick of Milwaukee, and are superior to any brick manufactured northwest of St. Paul. The gentlemen own and operate also a large livery, feed and sale stable, which will hold 120 horses and seventy-five tons of hay, and are heavily engaged in the wood business, having over 1,000 cords of dry wood now on hand. They employ sixty-five men the year round.
THE FUTURE.
And now having given a very brief and imperfect history of the past and present of Moorhead we come to its future. What this is to be is of course only to be conjectured from its present and projected institutions.
First - The city will extend their system of water works owned and operated by the city to such an extent beyond the one and one half miles of mains already laid as may be necessary, and to the 1,500 feet of hose the fire department now has to render it perfect under, the head given by the powerful engines already in use under the pressure system by which their mains are filled.
Next the Manitoba company having already acquired thirty-eight acres of ground adjoining their tracks, and within the city limits, will at once begin the erection of their shops, round house and other buildings necessary for their great system of roads in the Red river valley.
A joint stock company, with a cash capital of $30,000 (thirty thousand) and who have their grounds and side track already down and 1,500,000 feet of lumber purchased, will erect and operate a planing mill. A 150 barrel per day flouring mill will be erected this season. Twenty-five million feet of stumpage having been secured on the Otter Tail river; a mill which can cut 5,000,000 feet yearly will be built at once.
A company, entitled the Moorhead Gaslight and Fuel company, with a capital of $40,000, is already incorporated and the stock all taken. A building association, with a capital of $100,000, also incorporated, will begin to make loans within thirty days. Several firms, who state their intention to be, to open a wholesale business in different lines, will make their beginning this season. With these and other present and prospective improvements, it is not difficult to predict a most prosperous future for the Key city. Most happily is it situated to become the great distributing center for the great fertile region to which it holds the key and a vast commercial business in the very near future is predicted.
In conclusion I must be allowed to say that the inhabitants and business men of Moorhead believe in their city and make known their faith by their works and wish it to be publicly known that they feel a great friendship for the management of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad which came to their rescue so timely and propose this toast: “The St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad company and the Key City, their interests are mutual; their success certain.”
Source:
The Saint Paul Daily Globe
Thursday Morning, January 19, 1882
Volume V, Number 19, Page 1