Northern Pacific Railroad

Northern Pacific Railroad. . On July 2, 1864 President Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress creating the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. , Following closely the route taken by a government expedition in 1854, the northern railroad route to the west coast would eventually pass through the Dakota Territory. In anticipation of where the NP was likely to cross the territory, many were watching the land north and south of what is now Fargo. , In 1871, the Northern Pacific successfully secured the land on both sides of the Red River, and announced this as the crossing site. In early winter following the announcement of the crossing point, the Northern Pacific began construction on the bridge. At the same time construction on the bridge began. "Fargo on the Prairie" was established as the headquarters of the Northern Pacific engineers. , "Fargo on the Prairie" was a tent town built approximately at the present intersection of Broadway and Front Street (renamed nearly a hundred years later to Main Avenue). The railroad engineers and surveyors and their families lived here. , Eventually, Thomas H. Canfield sent a telegram to railroad official J.W. Taylor (dated September 22, 1871). In the telegram, Canfield announced that the settlement on the west bank of the river was named Fargo, after William G. Fargo, a director and financial backer of the railroad and a partner in the Wells-Fargo Express Company.