The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-08-05
A RIDE IN THE COUNTRY.
Crops, a Railroad Town. Akc.

Last week 1t was announced that the new
railroad from Streator to Fairbury had been
and the road was to be turned over
to the c. B. Il q, and that on Tuesday the FIRST
regular trains were to start. We were invited
to be on hand with note book and pencil to job
down a description Of the doings then and
there to be had.
On Monday. while getting ready for trip by
the cars, our friend Nelson Russell, travelling
agent for Fairbanks Scales, came past our Office
with fue span of bays and an easy running
carriage, and generously offered US ride to the
new road at Cornell Station, to which point he
was going. DESTROYS of seeing the country and
to get some idea of the crops, We accepted his
offer aud started. We had heard much talk of
the splendid prospects for corn and of the fine
wheat and rye already harvested, but were not
prepared for the magnifcsutly bountiful crops
on every hand. Miles and miles away, as far as
the eye can reach on each successive ridge, is an
uninterrupted stretch of corn. The whole count.
ry in the entire 35 miles OF our travel seems to
be continuous corn field and of the most lux.
urious growth, while here and there are patches
Of wheat, oats and rye, in many places of such
rank growth that it was difficult to harvest.
On every farm may be seen numerous stacks of
grain. In short, for many years there has been
ne such crop as this furnishes.
The new railroad from Streator to Fairbury,
81 miles, 10 completed, and construction trains
pass daily. The road runs through as rich q
country AZ can be found in Illinois It is all
improved-not . vacant lot remsining-,hough
in one place We saw quarter section Of virgin
prairie, but it was fenced.
We arrived at Cornell from Streator. It is
called Cornell" after the owner of the land on
which it stands. By wagon road it is Is miles
ns. and 13 from Odell.
On the the 22d of June the town was laid out
into business lots, 24xlO0 feet, each with 4
front on street and rear upon an alley. Resi-
dence lots are each 60xl2O feet. The streets
running north and south are half mile long,
from section to half section line, connecting two
| important county roads. The streets are lO6
feet wide, and large public square is donated
| to the public. We mention these facts only to
show that when Q town is started on good
plan, and having other natural advantages, i,
must succeed. and this has beyond all prece
dence in this locality.
| On the I'D Of June last it was . ecrn6eld and
few acres of upland pasture; now it has two
excellent country stores, four dwellings, black
smith shop, meat market, saw and planning mill
warehouse, stock yards, . depot building and ,
post Office, and material on the ground for sersn.
teen other buildins', TO be put up by actual CON
tract this fall. A grist mill is soon to 20 up
and arrangements are being made for hotel, a,
workmea are now boarding With farmers in the
neigbeorhocd. Willard Blake is also building ,
number OF houses, and has stone warehovs.
adjoining Cornell aud will call his rival towr
Amity. the two depots to be about $50 feet apart
Between the rivalry Of the two places lots can b.
had at bargain Property in these live town,
doubles in value every week.
Az We have said, it was expected that the G.
B. & Q. road vosld take possession Of the new
road. or, rather, extension Of the Fox River Val
ley road. on Tuesday last; bat for sone reason
the c., B. i @. absolutely refused to take it or
any terms Not that the road is not we'll CON
Quoted, but, as we understand II, because there
is something behind unknown to outside barba
risns. 1t is surnised that it is scheme to gel
the road at sacrifice.