The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-29
State Convention.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS
MASON CITY, May %

Mabaska, man who wishes 10 SET
avid prairie in its original beauty
must take trip up the Central r. X
of Iowa. A few years ago Mahasks
was as wild as this country, but
live, industrious lot of farmers have
made it blossom as the rose. North
ern Iowa is yet in its infancy, and t.
a great extent undeveloped In 1T
great resources. 1t is composed
almost entirely. of prairie, there being
little or no timber except along tn
streams. Every time we travel thi
route W. feel pity for the man who
does not :. prairie country. Jh'
broad expanse of beautiful land
cleared and ready for the pillow
stretching miles and miles away
beautifully undulatlng, reminding
one of the sea; and its dark greer
carpet of grass waving in the wind
reminds one still more forcibly o.
the undulating waves of the mighty
deep. On the line of the Contra
the country is well settled until aftel
We reach Eldora, passing through
New Sharon, Searsboro, Grinnell
Gilman, Marshalltown, Albion, Lis
comb, Union, and Eldora. Steam
boat Rock, OIL the Iowa River is II
the timber, and we have rough
country about here for time, but
Ackley we find situated in beautiful
prairie, aud from this north to the
State line, timber is scarce as hens
teeth. The people see and feel
their great want, and have planted
many artificial groves, which in time
will repay them many told in con-
venience and more substantial
tokens. Ackley is the crossing Of
the Central Iowa and Iowa,Divisior
of the Illinois Central Railroads, and
is a lively town. 1t is in Hardin
County, on theline and in the corner,
but a few rods from the corner OF
Franklin, Butler and Grundy Coun.
ties. Next above Hardin is Franklin
County. In 1870 this county had
but 1899 inhabitants, but it is rapidly
filling up, and probably has 5000 or
1000 now. There are some beautiful
views here from the high prairie
elevations, that should set the hearts
of our eastern visitors on fire, unless
they are as hard and unimpressible
as the stones they pillow around, about
and among, every year. The scenery
is superbly grand, but such as every
Iowa prairie county presents. The
soil is generally good, and the great.
est draw back lie that the principal
part of the outlying wild land is held
by eastern spectators, and will not
be sold by them until the people
assess them to sense Of their duty.
Hampton is the county seat of Frank
lin, and is favorite resort for our
chicken-hunters in August and Sep
TENDER. Geneva and Faulkner lie
between Steamboat Rock and
Hampton, and above Hampton we
first find Chaplin, then in Cerro Gordo
county we find Rockwell, and next
Mason City.
This is the county seat of Cerro
Gordo, and is situated on beautiful
prairie, on the banks of Shell Rock
River. This is small but beautiful
stream with splendid waterpower,
which the citizens are making use OF
to a good advantage. Here we
found evidence of our old smoking
friend Cricket, in the presence Of a
King Iron bridge spanning the
stream. Mason City is a place
claiming 1000 inhabitants, but we
fear the census would hardly pan
out so much. A great many of the
houses are of stone and while they
may be substantial, we must say they
are not particularly beautiful or en-
gaging to the sight. 1t gives them
a rough and ragged appearance.
Quite number of the business
houses have brick fronts and stone
side walls, looking well enough until
you get to the outside one, which
looks ragged. They are building a
large stone school house here, which
will certainly be strong enough, bat
the walls look like there would not
be any room left for scholars inside.
But enough of criticism. We found
here one of the best kept hotels we
have met with in this part of the
State-the st. Charles, kept by
White & Dyer. We met Mr.. Dyer
in our own town few days since,
where he went to make arrangements
with one of our gardeners to furnish
his house with vegetables during the
season. Our first opinion was that
he was a gentleman, and a more
ijtimate acquaintance in his own
mouse assured us of the fact. The
st. Charles is large, roomy frame
building. everything neat and clean,
the rooms we'll furnished, the beds
good, and the table full of the best.
There is a large three story brick
hotel here, but it is closed at present.
Here we found young Schloshinger,
formerly of our place, who heads the
firm of Schloshinger, Franksl & Co.,
and has good stock of clothing and
furnishing goods. Called at the
Republican Office and found the edi-
tor Mr.. Brewer, a genial, companion.
able gentleman, who was pleased to
show us over his well-furnished, and |
well-kept Office, which contains
fine Potter power press, and q Cor
den jobbsr, besides full line of type
of all kinds. Mason City has sever
al roads. The Central, Iowa and