The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-12


of Sharon, was bred by Emory Cobb, OF kan-
kakee, and sold by HIM TO Col. King, OF Min
neapols, who in turn disposed OF her TO MI
Barden.
Leaving Mr. I}ardens farm in vehicles pro
vidcd bv him and ms neighbors, the excursion
lists were given Il threehour ride among the
wheat farms, and their eyes and ideas were
treated to further surprises regarding the en-
tent and quality of the crops OF that section.
| We passed along the shores of seven lakes our
ing our ride, and were informed that there
were rs many more in the county. The lake
system of Minnesota is one of ITS CHEF charms.
| There are 300 of these bodies OF water IN the
State. At Window, we found our train wait
ing US, and after splendid dinner generously
provided by John Clark, Of the Clark House,
we were en- route for Sioux Falls.
SIOUX FALLS.
OF all the attractive places visited Sioux rails,
Dakota, on the Big Sioux river takes the palm.
Aside from the attraction afforded by the TO-
mantle scenery at the falls, the town has ma
tural beauty of location unsurpassed by any
town in the Northwest 1t is teeming with
enterprise and prosperity and has grand III
ture before it, The farming land along the
line of the road east Of the place is as fine to
say the least as any we had seen, and the
crops were in magnificent condition. The St
Paul IL Sioux City road have an immense
land grant, which Is on the market at low
prices and on liberal terms. Seekers are look
inc in this direction for farms, and MI Drake,
the land commissioner, says the demand Is IN
creasing RAPIDLY Better land cannot be found.
The people of Sioux Falls received us with
brass band and aCClamations OF welcome, hlled
us up at their best hotel, the Cataract House,
and sent us on our way rejoicing lhree
frst.cass weeklies are publised there, the
nah
Office of the former, which n number of our
marty were able to find entrance tot that Sunday
evening, was supplied with new Potter cy-
Under press, a Gordon jobber, and gulllotlne
paper cutter. The junior publisher OF the
Ttn,es is one of the youngsters in the pro-
tession, but is thoroughly wideawake and is a
good local writer and job printer. We regret
ted that our stay was so short in this beautiful
town. but we were compelled to bid a hurried
adicu to its pure air, romantic river handsome
residences and above all, open-hearted citizens,
and climb aboard our impatient cars.
We spent the night at
wORTHINGTON, MINI,
located on the margin of two lovely lakes. At
five O'Clock most of our party had lett their
berths and were out on lake Oakab6na rowing
or sailing. Bro. Buck, Of the Charleston
rnr..'.g uvdoripnk ~ rr""r 'rt' he knew al!
about managing sail boat 'Ur l." only sue.
cccdcd i'm soaring Hl~ to,u% companion nearly
to death. and causing him 10 leap INTO the
shallow water to avoid an anticipated capzise.
The Young man got wet up to his middle, ana
Bro. Buck rot fresh material for joke.
At SIOUX CITY
we took a regrctful leave of our untirlng hosts
of the ST. Paul & Sioux City railroad. They
had laid themselves OUT to do lis proud, and
so well did they succeed that we shall never
forget their genial faces and agreeable pre-
senCe They convinced us by our own senses
that they have a great patch of Gods own par
ticular country Ill their possession, but which,
at the present rate of sales, they will soon
transfer to the cnterprising farmers who are
yearly making tracks" for the West. a large
portion of our comfort and enjoyment while
travelling over tins road was due to the unlim-
tied goodnature and courtesy of F. ID. Abby,
the conductor IN charge of the train. May he
never grow old or homely.
DOWN THE MISSOURI VALLEY.
The ride from Sioux City to Council Bluffs
was made during Monday afternoon. Tues
dav we were extended the courtesy of free
transportion across the Union Pacific railroad
company's big bridge. Omaha was done"
in q couple of hours, and then began the home
ward journey Leaving Council Bluffs at
S:o25, two hours and twenty minutes behind
tIp regular uulu, Jul spSSiul oNNitooh ehu
passed the regular 1877 miles out. Some fast
running was shown us. Mile after mile was
reeled off in :05 to :07, but while the speed
was great the perfect condition of the
NorthWestern's road bed and track rendered
the motion of the cars no more susceptible than
a 15-mile speed on many other roads. Mr.
Philips knew the desire of the party for some
fast riding, and gratified it. We kept record
of some of the distances and found that II miles
were made IN 20 minutes 8 miles IN 1012, 10
miles in II, j miles in Z, and g. miles in ~
Tuesday evening the excursionists assembled
In the directors car and INDUCED in formal
leavetaking of Col. Simmons, who was com
PEELED to abandon us at this point. This was
also made the occasion of complimentary re-
marks regarding the manner in which the par
ty had been treated by all officials of the
Northwestern. A telegram from w. ii.
Stennet (who was in California; extending
congratulations and IA safe journey home, was
read and received with applause Autograph al
buns containing the name OF each member OF
the party was presented to Messrs. Fitch, Sim
mons, Phillips and Parke, who will, they as
sured us treasure them as souvenirs of one OF
the pleasantest trips thep ever made. The
Northwestern is to be congratulated upon ITS
possession of such companionable anu gentle
manly officials as those with whom the editorial
excursionsts were entrusted. We heartily re-
commend the Chicago ~ Northwestern to
those of our readers who have occasion to ira
vel to any section OF the country into which
its lines extend, or who are looking up new
home in the great wheat region of the North.
west In either case no other corporation OF.
fers better inducements, or will fill all promises
with greater fidelity, ~ Is, II.
An Honest Medicine.