The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-09-06
n. n. Excursion.

| N. IL. ExcNrs10n.
! By invitation of Supt. STRONG of the Nc
GregorT w stern r. r. the writer and large
number of the citizens of McGregor with their
wives, sweethearts, sisters, little ones, made the
first passenger trip to CouNovER, the terminus
the Road and the point at which the "Decorah
Branch" commences. Counoycr is also called
( ..Ihe Junction" The train left its depot at
| North McGregor about 8, in charge of Capt.
| SHERwlN and arrived at Counovcr about III
where an excellent dinner was provided at the
Porter Hotel by the lberality of the Supt.-
A ride through this most beautiful and, at
present, grain-covercd country, clicits enthu.
siastic praise from all travellers. When we
| say that the earth does not exhibit its superior
in beauty and fertility we say only the truth
We have no space this week to describe the
"golden grain" the 'undulating face ofnature"
the ''charming landscape" Nor can We detail
the social richness Of the trip: there were
several nuggets on board, among whom, at the
risk of rejecting on the rest Of US, we name
Strong, Sherwin, Hunting, G. L. Scott, Parish
ofN.Y, Charley Walker, Basset, Gilchrist
of Milwaukee, and-well, everybody was
lively, but the gents named made leetle more
"git mp and dust" than the balance Of us-the
| train was circus out and back. The incidents
of the way cannot be detailed in less than two
! or three columns. The ladies and children
enjoyed the trip very much its a good thing
to give them this pleasure frequently. It
will add color to their faces, courage to their
hearts, and smiles of grateful affection will pay
husbands, fathers aud beaux for this pcrfor
| nance of duty. But we started for Counover,
and have not yet reached that interesting can
di,iate for City hood! Three miles this side Of
the present terminus we found CALMAR one Of
the protest towns on the road. 1t surprised US
to see such old and such substantial improve
ments. At this point the Company will con.
struct a side track 1900 feet long; the work is
about being commenced aud if Mcdonald gets
| the job it will be but short time until it is
completed. Some conflict of feeling and
rivalry of interest exists between Calmar and
Counover, the latter charging that the former
cannot be made station for at least t,co
years. 1t is now a stopping place, and as the
centre line of this 1900 foot side track is
already staked Gt was done last week by As
sistant Engineer IIungerford and we are told
the Calmar boys got slightly happy over iD /;
we see no reason to doubt the ultimate estab-
lishmeut of permanent depot there. In ad.
dition TO this, it is not denied that large tank
will be constructed there
Thus much in defence Of Calmar. Our in
terests are at Counover, but if this statement
of facts Injuries us we cannot help it. The
TiMrs is not an organ of any Company, Cor
poration, Party or Faction. We believe "The
Junction" will make lively town-indeed it
is already so-and we see only weakness in
attempting to depreciate point which is near
enough to be its rival. But, more Of this
another time. D ~ .s----> rs "f.E
The train reached Counover, much to the
| qualification of the dwellers on the road, and
there, right in the woods or brush, "scarce half.
made up," stood western village of only six
weeks growth! After, dinner, as aforesaid at
Porter's, in company with our valued friend
Conductor Moncrief, Of the Freight and Con-
structon Train, we looked over the town dur
ing the half hour Sherwins train had to stay.
The appearance of the build-up indicate great
hurry; brush cut aud uncut, lumber piled in
vast quantities and in great confusion. houses
peeping out from among thestrees as though
they had just drapped, depot building of large
size going up, elevator ditto, "Walkers line"
with Cameron of Decorlh as Captain, passen-
gers inquiring for DEBORAH, New Oregon and
other places west; baggies and horsemen,
carpet-sacks and trunks, women and children,
all tumbling round, nude US think of camp
meeting, landing of the Pilgrims, the discovery
of America, the striking Of lead in Idaho,
the taking of Richmond, or anything else in
that line of excitement. Already ITO lots
have been sold by the Proprietor. c. E. Brooks,
of Ossian, and they are going off as rapidly as
deeds can be made for them. Two weeks ago
there were 30houses up and the hammer and the
saw are all the time in most vigorous exercise.
1t is estimated that Jan. 1st will find 100
houses at Counover! Some of the best men
on this or the other side Of the river have not
only bought but built there, and established
themselves in business We name few who
are we'll known to our readers. In Lumber
there are Seely & Shaw, Hayt & Burdick,
Fleming g. Bro and E. A. Burdick. Produce
dealers, ]. C.. Blackman, Glchrist & Co.,
Flower & Bro. and Hunting d Reynolds
Agricultural Implements, Carter 4 Bro
Hotels, Porter and McNamara. Merchants,
Williams e. stowcll, Lyons g. sheckner. j.
S. Angler. saddiery and Harness. Scott e.
Co, Tanning Mills. E. A. Miller, Drugs
A Burrill, blacksmith. w. R. Davis, Cabinet
maker. N. Elliott, Livery
This article is long enough, and we close
with the hope that the two towns will drive
along together and finally be one-it will not
take long to build city three miles long.
Many improvements in the Road, attributable
to Supt. Strong, would be noticed, but another
time we can do the job better The party
reached home in safety, with the kindest wishes
to the officers OF the Road. a
The Lacrosse Democrat is getting funny
to the late Grant excursion. but beg to say
| that we were not "asleep at Winona," nor did
we have any conversation with GRANT relative
| to "Brick." We like humor, though we have
no ambition to figure in the brilliant magma
ton Of any one where Imagination is all there is
of it. Gen. Grant said but little to any one on
the passage, and zoe certainly Gid not obtrudc.
Many persons were solicitous to draw out the
Lieut.. General and were unsuccessful: the
writer was not of this nun Der. We do not