North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-12-23
WHOLE No. 636.
Correspondence Of tho Milwaukee Sentinel.
NORTH McGREooR, Iowa,
Dec. 5th. 1919

: NORTH MCGRE0OR, Iowa,
Dec. 5th, 1868.
From Cresco to this place ia ride
only four hours duration. The rou
traverses one of the richest and most Pre-
ductive regions Of the West, and is dottc
with towns and villages Of considerabl
population and unprecedented entcrpris,
The villages of Rid geway, Counoyer. Cal
mar, Ossian, Castalia, Postville, Luan.
} Monona, all indicate a good deyre
Of prosperity, and exhibit unmistakaLl
evidences Of rapid and substantis
growth. The scores Of team
which crowd the streets of thes
respective villages proclaim their impol
tance as commercial centres, aud u
markets for the grain products of North
ern Iowa. The entire route of the Mime
sofa Central Railway lies through
section OF country rich in agriculture
resources, and one which, when fully de-
veloped, will be unsurpassed in tho grea
Valley of the Mississippi.
Tha village Of North McGresor ia al
unpretentious one, and is scarcely hear,
OF east Of the Mississippi River. except a.
the western terminus Of the Minnesota
Central Railroad. But few people hay,
any correct idea of its real Importance a,
business place, or its advantages as
manufacturing town.
North McGregor is nearly opposite the
city Of Prairie du Chen, and one mile
north of the City Of McGresor. 1t is al.
most hid from view by the high blufrl
which surround it on three sides, and
nestles costly ut the foot of hills which
| tower full three hundred feet above the lev
ell of the river. In front Of the town roll.
the majestic food of the ..father of W aters, >
whose western shore at this point is ex
tremely favorable for the landing of ferry
boats and steamers. On the west the only
means Of ingress or of egress, is the
narrow gorge made by human hands, and
through which passes the railroad, up
whose heavy grade ponderous trains load.
ed with every species Of merchandise
drag their slow length along" for q
distance Of thirteen miles, or until they
reach the level Of the great prairies which
characterize the northern portion of the
State Of Iowa.
The location Of the village Of North
McGregor is a peculiarly romantic one.
shut in as it is by ram ges Of hills, that
since creations dawn haye encircled the
little basin on whese irregular bottom the
busy little town is built. About two hun.
dred acres Of land comprise all that can
be devoted to building purposes, and
through its centre courses modest little
stream, which pours its small volume of
clear water into the mighty Mississippi.
On the south of the village, a wide und
convenient wagon road, constructed at the
foot of a high range Of bluffs, and close
to the borders of the river, leads to the
City Of McGregor, between which places
an almost hourly intercourse is kept up
through the day.
North McGregor contains population
OF between eight and nine hundred, and
is adorned with several first class business
establishments which are doing much to
give the place that degree of Importance
for which nature has evidently designed
it. The railroad buildings here are fine
structures, and were built with view to
the growth and prosperity which must ere
long distinguish the place. The II. r..
Co., have an extensive machine shop at
North McGregor, and keep in constant
employ about one hundred hands, mostly
in repairing broken machinery. They
have heretofore made the construction Of
freight cars branch of their business
here, but have suspended operations in
this direction for the present. The loco
motive department of the machine shop is
under the charge of Mr.. A. G.. Cole, an
accomplished machincst and courteous
and oblisihg gentleman. Mr.. George
Keen has also foundry and machine shop
in operation here, and is the proprietor Of
the shops used by the Railroad Company.
The agricultural warehouse of Messrs. S.
& II. Ruble is one of mammoth proper
tons, being built of brick, 50 by l2u, and
finished in the best style of modern ar,
chitecture. The business Of this firm ia
very large, aggregating over 500, 900 per
year. The Messrs. Ruble are from Beloit,
Wisconsin, where one of the frm still
resides, and where they are well known as
among the most extensive and successful
business men in the west. The large dry
goods store Of Mr.. +. +. Munson is fine
structure, and its enterprising proprietor
does an extensive business. The sume
may be said Of II. G. Dahman & Co., who
are engaged in the dry goods and grocery
business, and of MIR. A. Z. Stevens, and
A. p. Lipe who are having an excellent
trade. North McGregor is becoming dis.
tinguished for its manufacturing facilities,
and for the amount Of lumber, lath,
shingles, doors and blinds already turned
out by its manufacturing establishments.
The large Law and planning mill Of w. &
j. FlcmEing is an institution Of which
any place might justly lie proud, having
the capacity to cut 10000 feet Of lumber
per day, and Of planning from ten to twelve
thousand feet in the same length of time.
The sash and blind factory of Messrs.
Seely & Shaw does also. an extensive busi-
ness, and consumes annually at their fac
tory over 100000 feet of lumber. The
lumber yard of Mcssrs. Hayt Il Burdick is
an extcncivc one, and their stock Of sash,
doors and blinds is one Of the largest and
most complete on the west side of the Mis-
sissippi River. Their sales Of lumber
exceed 100000 feet per year, and their
stock of sash, doors aud blinds supply
many towns along the line of the McGregor
Railroad. The extensive business Of this
firm is under TIE able management of Mr..
A. j. Courtney, an experienced salesman.
North McGregor, like other tewns of its
size, enjoys the luxury o. a good brewery,
and Messrs. kargleder l. Rasche are doing
u prosperous business in the manufacture
Of the popular beverage. (Messrs. X. & II.
are much nearer to the City Of McGregor
than to North McGregor, but Of that, no
TIAEs.)
AS extensive rs are the manufacturing
institutions of the place, their extent and
Importance is perhaps equalled if not ex-
celled by the wheat traffic o: the place. a
large proportion of the cereals grown in
MinnAsnta and Northarn Iowa
finds its outlet to eastern markets through
North McGregor. The large and conyen-
isntly arranged elevator owned by Gen.
Lawler, of Pr. du Chen, and located at
this place, il in constant use to the extent
Of its capacity in receiving and discharg.
ing grain. This mammoth building is 60