The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-07-03
ORTONVILLE MINI,
ORToNvILLE, Mimi, May - 1879.


DEAR PILOT:
Since my last letter Ortonville has
been visited by a terrible prairie fire,
which destroyed every business house in
town and many private residences. I
will not attempt to describe it, but speak
about western pluck and enterprise, our
village presents nearly as fine an appear
ance now as before the fire. Ali is naw
excitement, the r. r. is definitely located
here, and nearly 500 men at work be-
tween here and Montivideo, a distance
of 80 miles, commenced work here to-day
and expect the road to be completed by
Aug. Is or September 1st, to carry off
the new crop. Every day brings
strangers looking for land and business
locations, our hotels are crowded to
Overlooking, lots are selling fast, prices
have gone up from $50, S75 and 800, to
$3.50, $3.50, and $500; good locations are
scarce at those prices.
A new town has been laid out across
the state line called Inkpa City, after an
old and powerful Sioux chief, whose head
quarters were there until his death, and
he now lies buried in Court House
Square. Inkpa City, like Ortonville, is
at the foot of Big Stone lake, in Grant
county, D. T. is the county seat but
much more beautifully situated than
Ortonville, it is on rise of ground, sort Of
table land, about twenty feet above the
level of the lake, very much like the
north side of Manitowoc, Big Stone lake
on the east.
One of the principal streets was named
after my native town, "Manitowoc
street." which sounds familiar and home
like. Inkpa City has the advantage over
Ortonville in possessing first-class
brick yard and grist mill. Mills are
scarce in this country, farmers having to
60 as far as 60 miles to mill, and many
come that distance now. Grant Co. D.
L. is one of the largest counties in this
part of the country, and probably has
the greatest number and desirable farm
locations of any county adjoining it.
From Big Stone Lake, at this point, to
the Coto mountains it is 20 miles of al
most level prairie, just rolling enough to
carry off surplus water. At about two
to four miles one strikes a creek of pure
spring water which flows from the noun
tains and empties into Big Stone lake.
The Coto mountains in patches are COW
cred with heavy timber, and again are
broken and rocky, the gulches are filled
with heavy timber mostly oak ash. The
land is rich prairie soil with clay sub
soil, little rolling and as above men
toned well watered with live creeks and
for farming purposes as near alike as 6
sack full of marbles, close your eyes and
choose quarter section and you viii
not fail to get good one; the only
choice there is would be the distance
from Inkpa City and good live stream
which on q prairie farm is worth loo
acres of land.
With so many advantages combined
Grant county cannot fail to be ricl
and prosperous in q few years, plen
tv of timber n1entv of GOOD water
good climate, with thousands of acres Of
the best kind of wheat and grazing land,
which are being rapidly taken up, how
can it be otherwise. I wish to add here
in reply to numerous letters in regard t.
farms ETC., there are plenty OF the fines
kind of farming lands to be had yet
under the homestead and presumption
acts, tree claims are verySscarce, but d,
not come unless you have money enough
to pay your way out here and live on.
year or until you harvest your first crop
!, if you come with the expectation of find
: ing employment at once you are sure tx
be disappointed. In opening up farm
breaking is done from May 1st to Jul,
10Th, and the following spring this i
thoroughly narrowed and seeded down
, The ruling price for breaking is $3.50 t.
So per acre, plenty can be hired at $2.7,
per acre. Lumber is worth from $24 t.
: S40m, groceries, -four etc., can b,
bought as cheap as at st. Paul freigh
added from there. Very Truly, B.
The above interesting letter was re
ceived some time ago as indicated by it
date but was mislaid. Ed.