The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-03-20
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
On MICHIGAN CENTRAL, March 70, 10
ED. ADVOCATES: The promise made up
on Our interview in your little town SO CO.
silly nestled upon the banks Of that bcauti.
full Sioux River, Will cndeavor to fulfil
while whirling over this splendid road at
the speed of forty miles an hour. Tho
road to Pattersonyille from Canton is more
familiar to your readers than to myself
and though now only traversed by team
will soon be accessible by rail, as learn.
ed yesterday that the Milwaukee railroad
company intend to extend the road this
summer, crossing the Sioux River some.
where south of Beloit in Iowa, to some
point on the James or Dakota River in
your Territory.
Psttersonville has seriously felt the
heavy draft that the Dakota Southern road
has made upon your Lincoln and Turner
counties traffic, all, or the most of which
was expected 10 5e drawn to the former
point. Its propl ;ctor Mr.. Romburg, who
settled there some seven years ago seems
confident that even after the road is
extended beyond that the county immedi
ately tributary viii not Only maintain, but
build larger town than now stands on
villa, was his last years cornfeld. The
present amount of business done there
hardly warrants this conclusion to man
up a tree"
Only mixed trains are run to Patterson
yille, arriving at l p. m, and leaving at
3:15. Upon the east bound train the wri
ter embarked in comfortable caboosc
car, with some fifteen other passengers
AT Sheldon we left the mixed for the ex
press train which leaves at 2 40 q. III. A,
the Sheldon House we had the pleasure OF
forming the acquaintaIc of its proprie-
tor Mr.. Brown who pleasantly entertained
us during the evening with recital o.
Sheldon's history, and the early settlement
of the country.
The morning was clear and frosty, AS
the train rolled from the Junction Depo
under the conduct Of L. 8. Caldwell, whom
we found to be genial gentleman at al
times ready to converse when not other
wise engaged. Here also we met Mr..
Dunbar formerly connected with the En-
ginccr corps of this company, but now tho
Road Master for the $50 miles division be
we en- Mason City and Pattersonville, as
he sat upon the rear seat facing the track
his keen eye would detect imperfcctions
which were noted in his hand book, and
to Mason City the ride seemed far less
than the realty, under his review Of pas
engineering exploits.
| One popularity of this road we noticed
that its course seemed to be as direct q
westerly one as the lay of the land would
atitnit Of, its heavy rails stretching out
receding from our view like two iron
arms clutching for resting place in tho
great beyond. West, west, the poet has
chan,ed, until one is lost in his Imagining
where the west is, at least its limit, this
land we are now rolling so smoothly over
reckless Of the mud and sloughs that
spring makes impossible for highway pur
poses was a few years ago Tho west, buifa-
10 and antelope and Indians roamcd O
will, and alone broke the solemn stiffness
will, sounds Of life, to-day ommcrcia
lite is throbblng through this modern ar
terry of mans design, and the husbandmau
is dotting the rich fields of nature with
improvements and homes tor generations
to enjoy yet to follow.
As we near the borders Of eastern lows
beautiful villages, farms with fences, ant
surrounded with thrifty groves, yards o
cattle, and hillsides dotted with sheep
feeding upon the brown grass that has re
tanned some Of its sweetness since willing
under the chill blasts Of winter, greet tn
eye, photographing US it were picture Il
be produced for the traveller who visit the
boundless prairies Of Dakota few year
hence.
Just as the sun is dropping behind tn
| bluffs that walls the crooked canyon dowi
which winds our road. the long whist
blows, and our train slowly crecps rol
the pontoon bridge that spans the Missis
sippi, cleaning with the cold sparkle Of
March sunset deep, but clear the water