The new era., 1860-02-09
Notings by the WAY.

wrapping our wolf-robes around US, set
forth for that city of " magnificent dis
tances." The morning was cold, but
tho sun was bright, and the sleighing
was capital. Thinking that few notes
ofobservings, might prove acceptable to
our up country readers, we submit
leaf respectfully.
With the exception Of hurried trip
through, last summer, we had not
&c sighted" the "three cities" for two
years. We could not help, on our late
visit, remarking the evidences of pro-
gress and Improvements made during
that time in Minneapolis, St. Anthony
and St Paul. We will make note OF
them by and by.
UP Country.
All along the way down from Sauk
Rapids, we were grati6ed to see so
many indications Of thrift among the
| iuItHCIS. wv uSSu ~ tTdFti tHIS TOdu
eight years ago. We knew every man
then, and could call him by name
We could describe every log cabin
Each new house built, every new conner,
every new log barn, we hailed with plea
sure. { Now all is changed. The
farms, then few in number, we so we'll
knew, have been SO enlarged and i'm
proved as to leave few traces of their
former appearance. Even portion of
the old road has been deserted. We no
''cc""ggar cross Stony Point" or stop for
the night at Big Meadow" The little
log Inns by the way, where we always
found good fires and warm hospitalities,
have given way to more pretentious
buildings, yet without better fare or
warmer welcomes. Who, Of the " old
Settlers" does not remember with plea
sure the little log house known as Nc
Douglas ? When, after the long ride
from St. Anthony, late at night. we saw
the dim light, glimmering from cut the
little window, what huppiness we ex-
pericnced that safely we had come at
last to the end of our days journey
But the rude cabins, the thatched barns,
with their primitive surroundings, have
gone with the years that have passed,
since we first knew them, and now eight
ye; r; subsequent, we find instead there
of, frame houses, large New Egland
barns, well cultivated farms handsome
ly fenced, commodious hotels, every ten
or fifteen miles--towns with stores, post
Offices, and machine shops-in fact,
everything that speaks of wel-settled
and well-cultivated country.
A' CLEAR LAKE.
Here are several good buildings 4:
two hotels s-Coffiinger's and Stevenson s
"a Postoffice and store. Senator Bald
win has fine residence close by the
Lake shore. 1t is prairie country ;
the land is rich and facile of cultivation
Mr.. Gates, near by, has one Of the
largest farms north of Anoka, and rails
es fine crops--eontinues to live in the
old clog biggin." !"
Having business with the Register OF
Deeds Of Sherburne, we did not stop,
as we usually have done, at Humbolt,
but as we passed, we discovered no new
buildings, though we could not help see-
ing the large two story house kept by
our old friend Brown, as Hotel We
stopped at Putnam's. He calls his
house y" Our Home" That looks ia
mliar, though Putnam is a man of few
words, yet clever gentleman and good
officer. .t e.aa-
ELK RIVER as4.td e5
| Orono is the new name for this place
We like Elk River better, and advise
our friends there to reconsider, and take
back the old name. Everybody knows
where Elk River is, but few anything
about Orono hoe nomine. Here are
good mills, sash and blind factory, a
first rate water power, and a goodly
number of people. We saw our old
friends Jameson and Doonallv hn,