WEST FARGO HAS A FUTURE
MASS TRANSIT FOR WEST FARGO?
As of April, 2010, through the office of the West Fargo Mayor, I had been informed as to why the City of West Fargo did not want Mass Transit at that time because; if Mass Transit would be introduced into West Fargo, it might just create a solid business anchor but, at the same time though, it would interfere with the present tax structure. As an idea of Mass Transit, some might consider it to be a tax incentive while others might look at this as being a solid tax asset for the community. Regardless of "the point of view" you might choose, facts are, West Fargo has a growing community and has a great need to expand upon a much lacking Mass Transit System. Which is needed on both ; a Short Term Reality and upon a Long Term Necessity. Both of which can be related with this "Breif" History of the Mass Transit for this area and what it had done for our economy.
The first Mass Transit for the area was the Wells and Fargo stagecoach in 1852.
It was because of their Mass Transit, at that time, many new businesses had also been brought into the area. As was recognized back in 1869 by the Honorable John Burbank, whom was the Governor of the Dakota Territories at that time. His comments were later verified by the Contracts between William Fargo, the U. S. Government, the Northern Pacific Rail Road Company along with the Natives of the Sisseton and the Wahpeton Sioux Reservations, (by the Fall of 1870)...
Mass Transit improved the area so much that by 1871, the RailRoad had reached up to the East Side of the Red River and William Fargo had bought the town of Centrillia on the West Side of the River. By June the sixth, 1872, the Northern Pacific Rail Road had crossed the Red River coming into the Territorial Town of Fargo. Then, to help with the development of the Land, the U.S. Congress passed a new Bill, putting a cost reduction on shipping rates and a cost cut for freight in 1873. Which, in turn, allowed the farming industry with its goods, grains and livestock, to finally become an economically sound and profitable business in these great United States. This had a flock of settlers and farmers flourishing into the Territorial Town of Fargo.
By 1874, George W. Cass, President of the Northern Pacific Rail Road, along with Northern Pacific Board Member, George B. Cheney, had created "Bonanza Farming"
(in the areas which are today recognized as the towns of Casselton, Mapleton and the West Fargo areas.). By 1875, the Wells and Fargo Company had introduced another Mass Transit into area with their Stagecoach Taxi. By February of 1876, West Fargo had a new Rail Road Station Stop along the Train Line for an outstanding commerce with the sales of Farming Goods, Grains, Livestock and Lumber.
By 1877, Fargo had a Fire Department, the Cass-Cheney Bonanzas were a great success and another train line out of New York came into the area. Making the cities of Fargo and West Fargo, the fastest growing areas in the Dakota Territories.
W. Fargo & H. Wells
William Fargo had insured the growth of his City as well as the surrounding areas by instilling his Mass Transit plans for the towns of Mapleton, Casselton, West Fargo, Fargo and Harwood. He had accomplished his success by showing how being intelligent was not a gift but a privilege. A privilege which he had used, (with a lot of hard work), in order to achieve a betterment for the American Frontier. Fore it was from Mr. Fargos' envision that, the Dakota Territories became and, still are today, the greatest piece of backbone for American Commerce.
All went well for many years, until the unfortunate passing of William Fargo in 1881. Fore it was shortly after his death, his City became overridden with dissoluted politicians and an infestive group of corrupted Engineers - who had, by 1882, gone against the wishes of William Fargo. As they had acted with malicious intent, by changing the size and the actual path of the Red River, through the Fargo/Moorhead pass, (in order to insure flooding along the primary riverbanks.).
The first major result from the altering of the Rivers path was just as William Fargo had predicted when the first horrific flood of 1897 devastated his once great city. Leaving a mass of disaster which compelled the Rail Road Companies at that time, to remove a lot their businesses and services out of Fargo and its surrounding areas. Which then left the City of Fargo with quite a bit of abandon track and a large number of abandon depots.
ND Governor P. White U.S. President B. Harrison
Resulting from that great deluge, the City of Fargo sought plans for reconstruction.
Under the direction of North Dakota Governor, Frank White, the City of Fargo was able to ascertain a good number of State` and` Federal Grants, `which had, `by 1904, set up and had put into operation, Electric Trolley Cars. And by 1908, those Mass Transit Trolleys
not only ran through Fargo but, they had also gone into and through the adjoining cities
Rolling the City of Fargo back onto the the tracks of success...
Again, all seemed to be running well for many years but then, in 1937, due to some internal criminal activities within the Fargo City Government, those Electric Trolley Cars were shut down and put out of business. Also resulting from that felonious crime, other businesses in the area, as well as in Fargo, began leaving. Of course, it was shortly thereafter, many of the residents began leaving the area as well, which caused the City of Fargo to almost go Bankrupt.
It was because so many people had left this area of the United States, it became the most under populated area in the Country for over thirty-five years. This was confirmed and verified by the Federal Government, The U.S. Department of Commerce and by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
It was not until 1974 that another new effort towards reconstruction for the City of Fargo began. The New Direction of success was set forth under the management of the "Fargo-Moorhead Council of Governments". Which worked well with their original plans and Bus routes because, it allowed the cities of Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead along with the surrounding areas to have had an excellent coverage. But, as time moves on, the bus routes and administrations did the same. It has been because of those bad changes with those Bus routes, that profits also began to disappear. Ever since then, the Mass Transit business for the Area has had troubles. And, once again, like the 1930's, scrutiny has come into the picture as a once great Mass Transit has questionable activity concerning a losing budget.
Even with this said dilemma though, our present local representatives, as I see it, are failing to recognize how the North Dakota State Legislature as well as the United States Federal Government, have told our two Cities how they want to give us State and Federal Grant monies and how they want to give the City of West Fargo, funds for Mass Transit. As both, the State of North Dakota and the United States Federal Government have documented and declared how, (like the 1880's), the cities of Fargo and West Fargo are
are the fastest growing areas in the State of North Dakota. Which is, (as it was in 1904), according to the State Legislation, makes these areas eligible for quite a large number of State and Federal Grants.
As of Friday, June 24, 2010, I had met with the primary City Officials here in the City of West Fargo. I was told how they are trying to work with either Matching Grants or with Loan Grants. Neither of which would do this City any good so, I tried to explain to them what a Federal Grant really is, as well as what an actual State Grant is. Yet, for reasons unknown, none of them could comprehend this information. So I have made several phone calls upon the conclusion of the meeting.
Upon the conclution of my phone calls with our State and Federal Representative as well as phone calls made to other appropiated Branches of our great Government, I was informed that this Community of West Fargo will have information concerning several diferent State Grants and several different Federal Grants which can be used for our City to perfrom the much needed realities such as building our missing Mass Transit., As well as Grants for constructing our much needed Water Purification Facility, along with Grants for Road Repairs, Community Improvements and a list of other needed areas.
I will be acting accordingly by continuing to address these issues and concerns for our community. Fore even though I was not elected, I will not stop working to improve our community issues. Because, unlike the current Mayor who has expressed how he will do all in his power to insure useless delays with more excessive taxation, I will do all I can to make sure his ideas of ruining this City are stoppped. I do not agree with him and I would like to see this community have a change for the better. If you would also like to help improve our community, then I ask that you write letters to our Mayor and too our City Commissioners demanding that they build our much needed Water Treatment Facility and demanding that we have a much needed Mass Transit System. All of which I know for a fact that our City of West Fargo can get Grants for this community and make this City of West Fargo improved without giving us any more taxes...
Any questions or comments, please direct to:
Peter Karl
P.O. Box 5031
West Fargo, ND 58078
Email : endeavors@gmx.com
