The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-06-14

this point, thus giving Us an east I'LL" west
90 we now have a north and south road, and
I. making Worthington one OF the best distrib
!, u.ing centres in this section of the west
There are three towns or railroad stations
in tie Colony, one of which is Worthington
the county seat of MOBILES county. 1t is stu
ated on the north shore of Okabena Lake, a
beautiful sheet Of water, some six miles in
circumference The shores o. this lake have
many elevated points for residence sites
which in time will be occupied By fine coun
try seats. WOrthington commands trade
from number of the surrounding counties
and must always remain an important trading
centre, since il is nearly 100 miles from any
point which can grow into large city and
take It's trade We have I! live newspaper
called the Western AdtaHce, hourishing
graded school, three church organizations, a
library association, a lodge of over so Masons
and grand army post OF over 10 members
Among the chief business houses are, large
three-story hotel, large public hall building
and two grain warehouses. Among the build
ings projected are, two grain elevators, sever.
al business blocks, a school house, a semina-
ry building and several churches Among
the recent acquisitions to the place are two
gentlemen from Ohio. One of these is erect.
ing a large four-story Touring mill, with a
capacity for over 100 barrels per day. The
other has taken 1000 acres of land and will
begin large wheat. growing operation. We
expect also to secure the location of the State
Inebrate Asylum at this point, as this is the
banner temperance community Of the state.
The design of the founders of the Colony
| is to establish at this point an educational
centre, where parents can educate their chill.
dren without subjecting them to the tempta.
tons of the liquor traffic. Hence the Colony
is based upon temperance principles Not u
drop of intoxicating beverage is allowed to
be sold in the county. The act incorporating
the town Of Worthington contains prohib
tory clause At the last election involving
the liquor question but two votes could be
mustered in favor Of liquor selling.
The educational feature will be pushed TO
a success also. Prof Humiston, the resident
manager, is an educator of many years eX-
perience, and is giving special attention to
the educational interests of the Colony A
Methodist Seminary, a branch Of Hamilton
University, is to be located here, and promi.
nent educators are looking to this point as
the educational centre for all this beautiful
prairie region. Worthington is well located
for an educational centre, because of the beau
ty of the situation the healthiulness of the
climate, and the railroad facilities
These features have attracted to this point
a class of people who are admitted to average
better in character and culture than those of
any new community IN the west. The settlers
are from that class who form the body and
backbone Of the churches in the older states,
and many of them are people of superior ed.
ucatiOn and culture. In view of this, expe-
rienCed Minnesotians predict that the lands
Of the Colony will average $50 an acre in
ten years.
1t is not to be denied that there are some
here as well as elsewhere, but
l believe there is no region of the whole west
which has so few of them. The settler who
comes here expecting to undergo all the hard.
ships of n pioneer experience is always agree
ably disappointed. The common remark is,
hat it is much better than they expected. |
They are brought here in the coaches of one
IF the leading western railroads; they are
AIKEN to comfortable rooms in large hotel
hey receive the Sioux City papers at 10 oclk
IN the morning, and the 81. Paul papers at 4
o'clock in the afternoon; they find no Indians
lor pistol. carrying desperadoes about; there
is no liquor traffic, and consequently few Loaf. |
ers and vicious characters; there is no ague
and no consumption, but Astounding good
health there are good soil, convenient mar
Iets and good society; there are superior
nail, railroad, school and church privileges
md, TO top all, the land lies ready for the
blow and is given away by the government
II sold by the railroad company at low fig
Tres and on long time, and the farmer sees
hat he has only TO buy improved implements
md then he can sit alott on them and drive
lis team to Il competence n V. Med.
PUT AGREEMENTS IN WRITTNG,-llOw
many misunderstanding arise from the loose