North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-04-10
WHOLE No. 547.


Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN, the travelling, fish
ing, hunting, agreeable and intelligent
correspondent or attache Of the Mil. Daily
Sentinel uas all over this end Of creation
few weeks ago and he took several notes
of the towns and country. We did not
see any reference to McGregor but we pre-
sumo ho was favorably impressed with our
young city; its superior merit must have
pleased him. Below is brief notice Of
....-- cRksco, -.....
Passing the station Of Ridgeway, and
pressing on still further to the westward,
we come to this remarkable town which is
the present terminus Of the Meow. road,
sixty-six miles from McGregor. Cresco
furnishes, think, the most striking exam
pie to be found anywhere, Of what rail
road can do for town. Eight months ago
everything hereabouts was in state Of ma
ture, or nearly so, the present site of Cres-
co being known as Shocks Grove. Last
summer and fall it SHOOK. of all resem-
blance to grove, and put on the livery Of
juvenile city, and very respectable lit
tie city it makes too. 1t contains some
600 inhabitants. the most of whom find
some where to lay their heads Of night,
and think themselves extremely fortunate
therein. ...
As for business places. l never saw a
town of such quick growth that had half
as finished and substantial and appearance.
have heard much of Cresco, and expected
TO find considerable business, but did not
expect to find such a row Of fine, roomy,
handsome stoies as exist along Elm street
stores that would do honor to Wisconsin
town of twenty years growth. As for
dwellings, they are mostly in prospect, as
are all manner of public buildings, inclu-
ding churches and schools. The merchants
of the town chiefly board at the hotels, and
likes as not, sleep upon bunk in the rear
part Of their main sales"oom. A few have
their families here, and indulge in the lux
ury of quarter interest in dwelling
! house or room at the Durham House.
This is the hotel of which mention was
! made in the Sentinel as having been i'm
ported from Brodhcad, Wisconsin, and set
up here in the twinkling of an eye. 1t is
well kept by w. A. Durham, late Of Nc
Gregor, and presents at 7, 20 in the evening,
when the train comes in, almost the aspect
of IN oil city hotel in the palmiest days of
petroleum.
The railroad stopped here last November
because overtaken by the frosts of winter.
With the first balmy breath Of spring it
will gather up its skirts and march on to
the goal at Austin, just across the line, in
Mower county, Minnesota, where it will
connect with the Minnesota Central, from
st. Paul and Minneapolis. No time will
be wasted in this operation. Even the por-
ton now laid, from Cresco to Counover,
was done without ballasting, and right in
the face and eyes of Jack Frost. The con-
tract to Austin (fifty-fvc miles) is let to
the Iowa and Minnesota Construction Co.
Russell Stage ct. al. and by them sub
let to Messrs, Green 4 Mather. During
the winter, ties are being unloaded at Cres-
co at the rate Of about 1000 per day, for
use in the construction Of the remaining
section. When that is completed, the first
route through by rail from Milwaukee to
st. Paul will have been secured, and it
cannot fail to prove great thoroughfare.
For winter transportation of Minnesota
wheat, pork, neat stock, hides, &C., it will
be very valuable. The McGregor Western
Railway is, as is we'll known, under lease
of ninety-nine years from the Milwaukee
and Prairie du Chen Railway. Its officers
are those of the latter, and of the Milwau-
kee and st. Paul, though, for the special
superintendent of the Iowa road, w. B.
Strong, gentlemen in every way quail
fed therefor. is detailed, with his head
quarters at North MeGregor.