The Pride of Barnes County is located 70 miles west of Fargo, on the shores of beautiful and inviting Lake Eckelson the richest of the rolling prairies of Dakota and on the main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad. It is the gem city of the prairie and the metropolis and trade center of the Eckelson and Fox Lake country.
Her natural advantages are wonderful, both for a trade center and for healthfulness of location and of climate. For a future large city, no better location could be found. Eckelson is laid out on the high, undulating prairies overlooking the lake and at an elevation of from 30 to 40 feet above the surface, which affords a perfect drainage and, as one has remarked, a cloud might burst upon the town and every drop might run off into the lake as it would from a duck's back; not a drop would stand in her streets. In this respect, Eckelson is superior to most Dakota towns.
For fifty miles to the south and southwest stretches a most lovely scene. As far as one can travel in one day, spreads out lovely green prairies, gently rolling, and here and there dotted with clear crystal lakes, which are in the fall covered with myriads of ducks, geese and brant, and the margins are alive with curlew and snipe. Antelope are yet still plentiful and afford rich sport. Prairie chickens are found in abundance and game dinners are always spread on the tables of the hotels of Eckelson.
On the north and northwest stretches the richest country on earth and Eckelson is the natural distributing point for this vast country. Although Eckelson was only platted this spring, yet today it boasts of many substantial residences, a large school house, two stores, a livery stable, good restaurants, a saloon, two boarding houses, and a large lumber yard, stock yards, water tank, railroad section house already built, and a large hotel contracted for as well as prospects for a flouring mill, sanitarium and college to be erected in the near future.
It is also thought that when this Territory is divided the northern capital will be located at Eckelson. There is no such beautiful site in all Dakota for state buildings, colleges, industrial institutions, etc.
The waters of Lake Eckelson are salt, like Devils Lake and others in line with it and Hudsons Bay. As a pleasure resort it is the finest in the Northwest. At all times of the year there is a visible current in this wonderful lake and as there are fresh water springs on its banks, and as there is no visible outlet, it is supposed there is an underground connection between these lakes and the ocean. Pike, pickerel and bass are abundant and a peculiar salt-water fish not found in fresh lakes or rivers. Two sail boats and a steam yacht are to be placed on the lake in June and the hotel and sanitarium will be erected at once, making Eckelson the great resort of Dakota, both for bathing, fishing and shooting.
All who want a good home and a chance to grow up and grow rich in a new country should not hesitate to invest in Eckelson. The soil is from 18 inches to 3 feet deep and of a rich black character with yellow clay subsoil for 25 feet beneath, which holds the moisture and guarantees an abundant crop of No. 1 hard wheat. At a depth of 20 feet, pure fresh water is found in a gravel strata.
Prices in Mair's Addition to Eckelson are started very low to give everyone a chance, and no one should want for a home in the city or a farm in the surrounding country who is willing to live on it, as government land can be had nearby. For price list or information write to the address: Farnsworth & . . ., Minneapolis, MI.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 315