The New York herald., 1869-12-07
THAT CARDIFF GIANT.
The Boundless West Clnims Him-Hc Comes
from an Iowa Gypsum Quarry-ssMyste-
riOus Changess mt Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Low nac 1

The Boundless West Clnims Hm-Hc Comes
from an Iowa Gypsum Quarry-sslMyste-
rious Chanses'' mt Fort Dodge, Iowa.
FoRr DODGE, Iowa. Dec. !, 1859.
The citizens OF this place believe that the giant,
said to be found in OnOndagua county, N. Y, and
hundreds OF years old, was made from an immense
block OF gypsum eleven to twelve feet long four TO
ve feet wide and two to three feet thick taken from
here year ago last June July, for the following
reasons-Frst. the gypsum is Of that peculiar kipd
which ia marked characteristic OF our gypsum,
as shown In the analysis OF DR.. -, given
In the newspapers; second. the unexplained and
mysterious character Of the dongs and objects OF
the "party" when here, and who obtained and took
away the "great block Of GYPSUM" third that after
gypsum had laid In the water three MONTHS being
very great absorbent OF water, you or geoogist
could not tell whether 1t had been there three years
or 800 years; fourth, being familiar with gypsum
manifestations and pecuiarlties, they know, from
their familiarity with gypsum, that the gypsum
quarries In the vicinity where the giant was sup
posed to be found, did not furnish the gypsum
block for making it, because Its quality Is different
and those quarres could not furnish block large
enough.
Twin give you an outline sketch Of the 'partyn
that obtained the ''great block of gypsum and
shipped it from here, via Montana, by railroad to
year.
Early in the spring OF 1868 two men the larger
one passed fy the name OF HuD came to Fort Dodge
claiming to be anxious to get into the Gypsum bust
ness,n and that they desired TO obtain very large
block OF It, take 1t to New York, get up stock CON-
panY and ''make good thing Of ttn Shortly after
their arrival came rather stylish man and wife,
who boarded IN private family. The man soon be-
came Intimate with the men OF whom have been
speaking He passed by the nano Of Glass. lie
came from Syracuse, N. Y, and Is believed by the
people OF this town to be the artist who made the
"giant" out OF the big block. The move
ments Of strangers. especially peculiar, are
watched py the 0ank officers to guard against
bank robbers; hence the movements OF the party
were closely scanneu. After looking around much
they finally bought one acre OF gypsum quarry, pay
ing for 1t 500, nomlnay to OBTAIN specimens TO
show the public what extraordinary line gypsum
ana for tem IN New re pocK We
they started from here with 1t for Boone, TO take tie
railroad TO Chlcag0 weighed nearly or quite eight
TONS 1t took them about month to get IL tO
Boone forty miles rom here, on account or the roads
and the heavy weight of the block. From fhe time
been looking in the papers TO see what became OF
our "eig block OF gypsum. We think we 'smell
6omethlngo III the "wonderful stone giant"
The city OF Fort Dodge is situated the east bank
OF the De5 Moines river, Webster county, Iowa. aud
Sioux City Railroad runs through the city, the Des
MOines Valley Railroad Is complete 10 within SIX
teen miles OF here, and Is being pushed on rail-
road from Fort Dodge to the lumber regions OF Mill
nesota IS being actively canyassed. About Sl00 900
stock subscribed at one meeting OF the citizens
called for the purpose OF talking the question
They In Minnesota want our coal, winch Is mex
hausJiDle, and OF the best quality OF bitumn1is
coal. which we can deliver at the railroad
OF three dollars per ton, and pay US; 1t costs Them
now eighteen dollars per ton; while lumber with
them Is only worth from twelve TO thirteen dollars
per thousand, 1t Is worth thirtY-ye dollars per thou
sand here. SO you see the cars would have full
freight both ways; there would be no ''dead cars'
either way. Our gypsum Is equal 10 any IN the
world, and our lime rock makes a firm quality OF
lime, and Will last until burning lime VIII be done
on large scale in common with things In general.
We have eight churcnes three school houses, the
.HIgh School," i've doctors. nine lawyers, and one
of the best buildings In the state. We are willing to
compare young ladies with those OF the Atlantic
States. We have lots of fun, and good feeling pre-
walls. The people are mostly from the Eastern and
Middle States, but the West Improves them. They
are not cramped up, breathe free have large IDEAS
and large hearts. They propose to furnish 'stone
giants' at $25, 600 q PAIR To any extent