Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-07-13
For the REPUBLICAN
Northern Iowa.
BY REV. j. 8. EBERHART.

-
have just returned from a trip to the
north line of the State, and, with your per-
mission, will make few observations. for
your readers.
We started on the 22nd Of May. Our
company consis ted of thirteen persons, in
GLIDING three ministers, three children,
one farmer, one professor. and five ladies.
We had four teams. three tents, cooking
utensils, fishing tackle, and each masculine
was armed with gun! Our object was,
10 see the country. improve our health, and
for few weeks enjoy the etguisite pleasure
Of rou9hing ii.
We came together at Cedar Falls and
travelled westward along the line Of the
d. s. S, C. Il. r. to Iowa Falls and, via
Wall Lake, TO Algona. Wall Lake is about
% miles northwest of Iowa Falls, in
Wright county. 1t is some three miles
long and one wide, and quite shallow, with
few fish. A singular wall surrounds it
from 5 to feet high and about the same in
width. In places it looks some as though
in time past nature had been assisted by
workmen but it does not present the APP
| pearance Of solid masonry as many sup>
pose, but is composed Of dirt, grayel and
boulders. The country here is wild and
unsettled. We camped several days here
| in school house. Th:re are only two FAM
lilies in the school district. OEe Of these
had held all the offices in the county. ssHe
was sorry to see the country settling up so
fast" H. sighed for the '.gooa old dogs gone
Jy," and was preparing to $50 rest." He
saii "Fifteen years ago his son sometimes
made as high as S. 90 day trappins!-
| Then, the country was new, and he uished
| to the Lord il iras so no,c!'
We spent the first Sabbath at Algona. the
present terminus of the McGregor railroad
This is a sprightly town, of perhaps one
thousand inhabitants. Here, we met some
old friends, and by request had services in
the grove in the afternoon.
Oar course from here was northwest ria
Lake, Okaboji Lake to Spirit Lake. Okla.
boji Lake is the deepest in Iowa. At one
place it has been fathomcd to the depth Of
1000 feet without finding bottom. II was
named aftec an Indian chief. l, is divid-
cd into East and west Okoboji and, tax en-
in connection with Spirit Lake, is upwards
of 20 miles long, and, at places. or
wide. These Lakes abound with fish =
pickerel, pike, bass cat fish, buffalo, and
suckers. In the out-let of Spirit Lake, two
of US speared, one night, in two hours, 13
pike and catiish-one of the largest
weighing 10 pounds and ounces. We
had some fine sport, also, in the vicinity of
these Lakes. catching young wild geese and
! cranes some Of which VIC brought home
and they are in fair way to become civil.
lied!
The country around here is being settled
quite rapidly. Homestcads, with sod houses,
are found scattered over the prairie in eve
| ry direction, Spirit Lake town contains
several stores, hotel q brick court house
and, perhaps, a dozen small houses for
residences. It also publishes small coun.
ty paper. The editor visited us in camp
and gave us complimentary notice in his
next issue. One day, while there, we went
across the line into Minnesota. We had
hardly csossed the line until we saw sod
house on fire ! and the woman almost fran
tic, the men Of the house being away. We
weEt 10 work-carried water, used up sc
pans of milk which we found under this
rude enclosure, in extinguishing the flames
and finally succeeded in saving the greater
part Of the house. We returned to tht
camp with a woman's blessing upon our
heads and the sprinkling Of milk upon GU,
clothes, and were regarded by her lady
ship as Divincly sent in the Saving of bel
house"
"iiomeward bound was Tia Clear Lake
45 miles east Of Algona, in Ccrro Gords
county. romantic island in this Lake il
being fitted up for d summer resort. W.
met party here from Marshall1own.-
There is hotel or boarding house on III,
island. The proprietor runs b small steam
boat from the village to the island, dis.
lance Of miles. We camped ON the is
land, and remained over Sabbath.
We came home one month from the time
of starting-invigorated and strengthened
by out of door life, pleased with our jour
ney, and more than ever satisfied that Iowa
for agricultural purposes is one of the fin
est and most desirable States in the Union.
A Directors Meeting of the e., G.
+. Il w. r. r. Company was held
at Grinncll, last Tuesday.