The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-28
Grand Ridge.
When Will she Reach Her Meridian Of
Greatness?

FouS years have rolled away on the swift
river Of time since Grand Ridge was located
on this hallowcd ground; since the pillow.
boy surrendered 10 the advanced tide of civ
lization his furrowcd field, where now tA.
busy scenes of city life IN Grand Ridg'. :. form
subject for the reporters pen.
TWO YEARS AGO
tile little depot of the Chca" p,,rI;rn,or
and Quincy Railroad alone re o,',.on,,n Grand
Ridge to the weary tray .,nr. now . casual
glance will disclose to ,..,.,ov;,,a. oro .
N orrificont orrovot me wandering eye Il
49,: elevators, stores, shops,
p p"r pr .~tc dwellings.
,,,;., LANDscArE SCENERY
dosor;n,. s this young city is grand beyond
= Io, Ion, Being located on an elevation,
=: ,er of the fine works OF nature can find
.ews refreshing to the sight IN whatever d.
,rcction he may look. To the east, the eye
passes over fertile valley dotted with snowy
white residences, schoolhouscs, and temples
of worship, until on the eastern horizon, it
reaches the gentle swells Of the Illinois river
| hills, which, when Illuminated with the bril-
liant rays of the rising sun, form a scenery
which the mind delights III contemplating.
TO TIE WEST,
we view the setting sun, whose rosy jets, as
they twinkle through the green foliage while
declining behind the craggy bluffs of the
Nermilion, form picture beyond the powers
Of human pen or pencil to portray,
TO THE SOUTH.
DER the gentle rise of " Paddy's Ridge are
seen the smoky towers of Strcator
on TUE NORTH
are seen tie beautiful groves of EithelbeE-
ger Reynolds and Ebcrsol; and iar beyond,
until the vision is obScurcd by the smoky
clouds of Ottawa, are sccneries enchanting to
the eye Of the bcholder
The present facilities OF 'Giand Ridge for
transportation with prospects of through
line to the eastern sea board, are not eXccllcd
by any interior town in {he west Being sit
uated on the borders o. the great Vermilion
coal fields she is lcSiing forward to be a
great manufactures: center. Consequently
t0Tn lots are aeIlisg rapidly, and new build
ings arc constantly being erected.
Among those most prominent completed
within ,irr last year, besides the commOdious
elevators of J. T. Porter and +. Coles, are f.
Ii. poundstonc's store and dwelling, David
Crumrinc's store room and hall (he store
room is occupied by Sampson " Hcrnck,
who are engaged in the mercantile business
also the fine residences of lierriCk, Garrison,
Coles and Mrs. Dcarth. Those under process
of erection are dwelling house and pillow fac
| tory, by David Crumrine, and store room and
hall by +. H. PouudstOne. T. J. Burnett, OF
New Salem, Faycte county, Pa, recently
purchased of f. II. Poundstonc 81 city lots,
and will soon commence building.
YET THE CITIZENS ARE NOT HAPPY!
They want 4 graded school, a university,
with towering cupalo and brazen bell, IN
which can be taught the four faculties Of the
ologv, medicine, laws and the science anda"ts,
Meetings nave been held and powerful. clo-
1ouence hos been waited on the midnight air
in behalf of education. A charter has Leen
applied for, and, ere many months have
passed away Grand Ridge vii. be fho recip-
| lent Of university. ~,
OF FRATERNAL ORDErS
we have "Grangers, state DEPUTY Dominy,
of the Patrons of lIusbanGly" having been
here last fall, scattered few 'haads full of hay
seed, which rooted vel IN the hearts Of the
farming gentry and promises an abundant
harvcst-for some aspiring politician.
A Farmers Club was also organized
and W. r. AIillisan elected President; but he
declined to act and the concern is detunct.
Rus IN URBT.