The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-12-04
From the Far West.

FORT BUFORD ID. T., OCT. 3Utn 1910.
Dear Free Trader-Lcaving Fort Smelling
on the evening of the Goth ult., | took the
train on the Lake Superior and Mississippi
r. r., en- route for Thompson, the junction OF
that road with the Northern Pacific. The
Journey, beng performed in the night, afford
Cd no opportunity of viewing the country
through which we were travelling; but day
break at Thompson showed, by the forests
of pines, that our nocturnal ride had brought
us into more northcrly regions.
Thompson, which is a miserable little
hamlet, built in the woods, expects, like cv.
cry American village, TO become great city
| in the future; but stay of four hours at its
hotcl-noed chic fly for the toughness Of its
beefseak and the cool temperature of its
cofIee-was not calculated to inspire per
son with an intense admiration for the place.
In tact, If possessed untold millions, could
hardly be induced to invest anything in real
estate in the future metropolis of Thompson.
, AT last the train came in from Duluth,
and we were soon flying westward over as
fiat country as can be imagined. The
scenery was tiresome in its level monotony
the land was marshy, and full of small lakes
and the country appeared TO be worthless for
agriculture or anything else. The lakes
were filled with myriads OF water fowl, and oC.
casionaly sportsman in canoe could be
seen bringing death and dcsola,ion to the
feathercd tribe and proving, by his presence,
that The country contained at least few
white inhabitants, All along the liuc of the
road Indian lodges could be seen, filled with
dirty looking Chlppeways, and frequently
the sight of ,rttte hedded pappoosc would
give striking evidence of the fact that the
aboriginal race Is as likely TO disappear by
absorption as by determination
/ AS we approached the Red river of the
North the land presented more cheerful
and fertile appearance. This section OF
Icountry, being settled by New EnglaIders
will probably bring forth fine crop of NOR
al ideas, whether it produces any grain OF
not; and, in fact, the sight of the schoo
houses Mt the little stations in the Red rive
valley formed very gratifying contrast tC
the surrounding scenes of Indian filth ant
barbarism.
Late in the afternoon we approached More
A head city, and in a few minutes we crosse,
/, the famous Red River of the North. Tn
current of the stream, flowing north, remind
ed me that we were now out of the MssissiI
> pi Valley, and that the waters of this rive
c we're hurfying forward to empty, eventually
into the frozen waters of Hudson's Bay. TIL
/ river is very narrow with high banks, and
q traveller is likely to underrate the size Of tn
stream, until he sees very respectable steam
ers gliding along on its waters.
= We crossed the river al Fargo, where W
remained all night, for there are no sleeping
9 cars on the Northern Pacific. The lleaC
4 quarters Hotel, in Fargo, Is q wonderful
good one for a frontier town. one can get
good square meal there, which is niue
N better than he can do in any other town i
t Dakota. Fargo will. in the course of tim
i become quite respectable city; it has
4, good eat-growins country around it, an
is the trading depot for great part of Nortl
ern Dakota as well rs for the British terfit,
y ries in the lludsOn's Bay region. Moreovc
!, Judging from the appearance of the bull,
' lngs, il has very respectable class OF peOpl
4 for its population There are very few s.
\ looms, while there are several churches,
school house, aud court house which CA
ut least, far surpass the architectural pride {
La Sale County.
If your worthy supervisors should com
n into Dakota Territory and see the tasty li,il
court house erected by this young, and ce
taInly not wealthy village, they would imm,
> diately offer a prize 10 any man who woul
blow Up az burn down the Ottawa temple q
justice. But will not revile the venerabl
: structure which graces the square in OFT
wa. la sale county, 10 be sure, is famed 70
MS wfetched court house; but Of course il
better for county, AS well "a for "A man, {
be notorious for something bad, than not 4
be known a, all.
But am wandering from Fargo. To rC