North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-01-29
WHOLE No. 589.

w AAOA0 ANVs OoOs
About Me0regor.
WILLARDS. WHrrxokr, Esq, travelling
for the Minneapolis Daily Tribune, throws
together some favorable notes of our city
and its people. We clip and condense
from the Tribune:
McGREGoR, Jan. II, '6S.
Mr.. w. opens by contrasting the present
comfortable mode of winter travel by
Rail, in one day, with the old, slow coach,
five-day trips Of year ago. He then
proceeds:
These, and many moro, were tho reflec-
tions that passed through my mind, after
landing in this thriving city. Here we
have saving Of FIVE days time, to say
nothing of the comfort, ON which will
leave the reader to place his own estimate,
which will vary according to the cash in
each individuals pocket.
The completion OF the road between
Minneapolis and McGregor has added
new interest to both places, and few
words in reference to the latter may be Of
interest to many Of your patrons. MEG.
is situated en- the west bank of the Missis.
sippi, and is the only place Of any impor-
tance between Lansing and Dubuque, o
distance of nearly one hundred miles, and
is the market place for large, populous
and fertile portion of Iowa. The approach
from the west is down grade for thirteen
miles: and then yon arrive at North Nc
Gregor where you take free bus to the
Evans House, kept by mine host g. H.
Flanders, where every attention is shown
the guest, and the best Of fare and beds
furnished. One thing you may be sure of
mo pains will be spared to make them
comfortable, and no one is allowed to miss
train, either east or west, through the
neglect of any one about the house.
After quoting pair Of pleasant para
graphs from Chicago Times correspondent,
Mr.. JONES, (who was lately here) stating
that "McG. is great in longitude but slim
in latitude, and that if you climb the
bluffs back of the Evans House you will
be able to see beautiful landscape, and
also be enabled to look down the smoke
stacks Of steamers lying at our wharf,
that last was whopper for JONES, tho
WHIT. proceeds as follows:
From the reading of the above one
would suppose that there were some bluffs
there, but it is o mistake. The gardens
| there are not bit sleeper than the roof
Of the Episcopal church in your city, or
the roofs of Episcopal churches generally,
and as for their height, take it on a clear
day, their tops can readily be seen with
the naked eye. AS seen from the river,
or from its approach from the depot, Nc
Gregor presents rather an unfavorable
view, but when you are once in its streets,
you will be greatly surprised at the activ-
| ity and bustling on every hand. Last
Wednesday, although one of the coolest
days of the season, Main street was COM
| pletely packed from the city scales as far
up as the bluff, and from thence nearly a
half a mile up the rayine, with farmers
teams, most Of them loaded with pork
Over one thousand hogs were brought in
to the place on that day, and nearly nine
hundred of them were weighed on the
city scales, for purchasers in the city, the
remainder going over the river to Prairie
du Chen. 1t is no uncommon sight to
see Main street so blockadcd that it is i'm
possible for team to pass another for
nearly an hour at time, and farmers
have had to come as early as four o'clock
in the morning in order to get their pork
weighed. From thirty to forty thousand
hogs are handled here during the "pork
season." besides immense quantities of
poltry, great deal of which is already
finding its way to Minneapolis and this
is bound to increase until the country
around Minneapolis becomes more of a
producing country.
| The city of McGregor is closely and
subs antially built city, and the size of the
place is no indication, compared with 9TH
er towns, of the amount of business trans
acted. Large and spacious wholesale and
retail establishments line both sides Of
Main street, of which, however, too
limited acquaintance prevents me from
mentioning as should like, or as they
deserve. The population numbers about
four thousand and is ruled by a city gov
ernment. Five school houses, and six
churches are among its public buildings,
the Congregational being one of the neat
est churches in the State. 1t is 45x95
with u twenty-five foot ceiling, carpeted
throughout, and heated from beneath, and
is soon to be furnished with stained win
dow glass.
Aside from the present road, two more
are contemplated and will undoubtedly be
built at no distant day, one running along
the bank of the river to Dubuque, the 9TH
er west to Sioux City, which will make it
the most important railroad point in the
State, and add greatly to its already fertile
and populous tributaries.
| The community are just now talking
over gift enterprise to take place on the
10th Of March, ,.pext, projected by Mr.. T.
j. Gilmore, formerly Of the McGregor
Ne,cs in which some lucky person is going
to get handsome brick block situated on
Main street worth eight thousand dollars,
all for one dollar. No doubt is expressed
here Of the honesty of its protector, and
many of the leading citizens are investing
quite heavily. There is no doubt but what
it is an honest transaction and those in
vesting in it will have q fair chance at all
the prizes.
Its newspaper men, however are its
crowning glory. being men Of unwonted
energy and congeniality, who always
make one feel at home and wish that they
cod be with them more. Two weekly newspa-
pers furnish the local news for the people.
The Times, democratic paper, is the old
est, and was established in 1856 by Col.
A. P. Richardson, Who is now one of its
editors, and more jovial and free hear
ted man never showed quill or pencil.
Long life to you, Colonel, and may horses
never back over the bluff again while you
are behind them, and put another she'd
light" OR the end of your nasel organ.
The McGregor News is nearly as old, and
its editor, Mr.. r. Tompkins, claimes to
have been the second man in the United
States who hoisted the name of Grant for
the presidency. Having placed his name
at the head Of his paper on tho first Of
| Apr;1 12Ef Mr. Toun,ok inc hos a bonpv