Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1857-01-24

on the north side of Rum River and made his res
idencs in the old og-house erected by Orrin Rice.
on the left of the road. Here he remained alone,
his only neighbors being the Indians who ocoa-
sonally stopped at his house while on their hunt
ing expeditions, and occasionally teamster or
two on their way to Fort Ripley or to some Of the
up.river settlements. In the Spring of 1853 no
made sale of portion of his claim to the
Messrs. Woodburys and Farnham. Immediately
on concluding this sale, the propretors began
their task of surveying the town, laying out sts.,
and erecting buildings for the accommodation OF
newcomers. Soon after the frames of one or
two houses were erected, and then came COM
pany Of workmen, engineers, &c. who had been
sent ont by Government to erect bridge across
Rum river ut this point. In very short time the
bridge was built, not much embclishsd it is true,
but fully answering the wants of the public. As
soon as the first start was made, everything went
on swimmingly. Early in June party went up
Rum River and cut the lumber necessary for
dam. The work was soon begun and in the fell
of 1853 a dam was completed 400 feet long and
10 high. On this dam two Saw mills were erect.
ell, and by Spring the whole was so fur compile.
ted that the mills were put in operation. but
scarcely had they commenced running when the
river, which had risen very high in consequence
of the Spring rains and thaws, gradually under
mined the dam and ut last forced its way through
it, and in one short hour the work of months was
destroyed. The proprietors, however, instead Of
mourning their loss set themselves to work to re-
pair the damage. Within few months from the
time Of the disaster, the dam was rebuilt, and if
possible is better than the FIRST.
During this time other improvements had been
going on. A large frame house had been erected
for Geo. W. Branch, who for some time made it
his residence. He subsequently disposed of it to
J. S. Shaw, who built an addition to it and open
cd it as hotel. store and blacksmith shop
we're erected as we'll as several dwellings.
During the winter and Spring of ls54-5, Mes.
srs. Woodbury. and Larnard erected on the South
bank of the river, q substantial Grist mill, .
sluice having been built on that side of the river,
nearly 100 feet long. This mill, which cost about
$500, was destroyed by FIRE with grain to the
amount of $1,000, just one month after starting.
Not in the least daunted, tho proprietors began,
in June Of that year, to rebuild the mill, and it
was completed by fall at a cost of $l3,500. It
il now the best mill in the Northern part of the
Territory-the main building being "a By 60 and
three stories high. The propelling machinery
consists of three driving wheels which set in mo-
ton three separate run Of stone. Two run OF
stone are used for wheat and one for corn, beside
having one separate bolt for buckwheat. The
capacity of the mill is 100 pounds Of -four per
hour or 80 bushels corn feed or 20 bushels fine
meal per hour. 1t is fact worthy OF notice, that
none but Minnesota wheat is used here, and that
it makes excellent -four.
j. S. Woodbury. had built the same year
mill, but unfortunately did not get the machine
ry by the specified time. Late in the full of 1855,
it arrived, but too late to do anything that fall
but in the winter it was put up ready for opera
ton in the Spring. Before anything could be ac-
complished, the great food of last year c56,)-
carried away the dam bodily together with thou
sands Of logs, proving serious loss to all con-
cerned. The mill, which was ready to run, alone
remained, the double saw-mill which was on the
dam having been carried away by the food. The
owners Of the remaining mill Immediately built
a steam one, few hundred rods above the dam.
which they succeeded in putting in operation by
July. 1t contained a double engine, IA inch CYL
Under, "a inch stroke, and four circular saws, shin
gle and lath machines. This is an excellent mill
season. The new dam, which is now nearly COM
pleted, is one of the strongest We have seen in
the Territory. 1t is 400 feet long and l6 feet a.
bove low-water mark. In the center is rol-way
100 feet long, and teet lower than the main body
Of the dam. Through the middle Of this is q
sluics, two feet lower and 20 feet wide, enabling
logs to pass over at the lowest stage Of water
Is feet deep, extending 100 feet up and down
stream. Below the dam is an apron 100 feet wide
and about 30 feet long, sloping gradually down
the river, 80 that logs can be Aoated along with
out the least difficulty. J. s. Woodbury. & Co.'s
mill, containing Knowles Circular Saw, one up
right, lath, single and planning machine, is now
in operation, and two new mills will be erected
in the Spring. In addition to these there are on
the right bank Of the river, two sash, door and
blind factories one owned By Blodgett 4 Lewis,
whose work is of the best quality. The factory
owned BY Smith & Hascom, runs saws and one
planer, and turns out good work.
Below the Bridge is the Agricultural Tool Fac
tory of Craig & Hendrix. They have Is horse
engine and very complete machinery, turning ont
all kinds of work, from wash.board to plow
from clothes pins to a wagon Wheel. On the
I" Point" Messrs. Robbins & Son have q steam
saw-mill, of fifteen horse power, which, though
small, does good work. Next season it will be
improved. Across the Mississippi at this point,
Messrs. Robbins, Hoyt, and others have . swing
ferry in operation.
The other business establishments in Anoka are
two notes.-the st. Lawrence House. kept by
Mounts & johnson, and the Travellers Home
one Livery Stable, 8 Real Estats agents j. B.
Shaw, s. Wheeler Shaw, and Geo. Smiley. One
Notary Public and Architect, G. II. Smith two
Wholesale and retail boot and shoe and cloth
ing establishment, D. Y. Jones & Co. a general
assortments-J. W. Putnam, II. l.. Ticknor, J.
F, Kupper & Co. and J. B. Shaw, beside black
smiths, tailor and shoe shops.
Religious matters in Anoka are we'll attended
to. There are three organizations, Baptist, Meth
odist and Presbyterian. There is also School
House built, and q school is in operation. There
are in the town between 90 and 70 dwellings and
more are going up. Next Spring this will be one
of the busiest and most thriving towns above St.
Anthony. So far it has pushed ahead without
the aid Of gas, Is it is commonly termed, but tho
propristors have relied more on the atural ad-