The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-05-21
LETTER FROM DAKOTA.
ALEXANDRIA, D. T., May 9th, 1880.

ALEXANDRIA, u. L., May 9Th, 1880.
MR.. EDITOR
Arrived at Alexandria April 22nd
at 7 A. M. This place now boasts Of
three. general stores, one hardware
store, one blacksmith shop, one hotel
" the Alexandria house, post office
drug store, harness shop, BARRIERS shop
shoemaker's shop, also two lumber and
coal yards. 4 fine railroad depot is
NEARLY finished.
After walking about town awhile,
was hailed by all individual who acted
as if he knew me. Going up to him
and gazing withsom difficulty through
Dakota soil and chin whiskers, Ca "Da-
kota zephyr" was blowing that day.
finally concluded that it was Charles
Marsh, of Paris, Wis. After greeting
me IN true western style, we started
for the claims of Messrs. Marsh, Petrie
and Tymeson. Marsh had come to
town 10 get broom to ornament his
mansion, having q dim recollection
that they used such things back east. J
| he'd formed a horrible idea Of q
bachelors hall. In imagination [ pic
tured TO myself bread and butter, old
clothes, pots and kettles, pipes and to-
bacco, apple sauce and gingerbread,
furniture, ETC., all in one heap for con-
venlence. Judge of my misgivings,
as we Journeyed towards the cabin of
Messrs. Marsh Il Co. Visions of horri-
BILE cooking floated before my minds
eye, and my stomach shrank within
me.
On arriving at the mansion, great
was my disappointment on finding
that these "bipeds Of the masculine
persuasion" had taken to the noble art
of cooking and housekeeping as natur-
ally almost as ducks take to water
and presently sat down to bounti.
full repast.
Bachelors are more plentiful in this
country than in any other [ ever saw
Some, whose knowledge of cooking is
limited, live on slap jacks, while others
more fortunate have plenty and va
riety.
This country is fast settling up. The
prairie around Alexandria within g
radius of or 8 miles, is dotted with
cabins, shanties Of pine or sod, and
occasionally, substantial frame
house,
TO sgs1erson from Kenosha Co. the
sod house is an object of great interest
These, in most cases, are walls of sod
with door and window frame of pine
and board or single roof. I noticed
one roof of sods laid on boards anC
the whole covered with moist clay
This is said to make first class roof
A well built sod house or stable will
beat board one for keeping out thu
wind.
The weather here has been very dry
OF late, and good rain is very mucl
needed. Breaking and corn planting
is the order of the day. A great dea
Of sod corn will be put in this season
Groceries, dry goods, hardware, fuel
etc., are nearly if not quite as cheap a
Alexandria as at Kenosha.
Lumber costs more. One man from
Waterloo, Wis, who bought his lumbe,
and had his house framed before com
ing to Dakota saved 40 per cent. on tn,
cost by so doing. BY going to Siou1
Falls, about 60 miles from here, lum
Der can be obtained very much cheap
er, as there is great competition be
tween rival Railroad companies a
that point, and for some time the,
have been carrying lumber to tina
point for nothing.
A most excellent class of people il
settling up the country in the vicinity
of Alexandria. Twenty-fOur families
comprising over 100 persons, came il
from Waterloo, Jefferson Co., Wis.
and located here. Other Americans
Intelligent and anxious to succeed, ar
here from the states of Minnesota
Iowa, Illinois and New York. If am
Iperson comes to Alexandria with thu
depreciation of getting outside of civ
liliZatiOn, he will find himself in thu
wrong pew.
There are still few homestead.
within or 7 miles of this place no
yet taken, and a number of relinquish
ments are for sale at widely differing
prices, according to location, clrcum
stances of owners, etc.
Game is plenty here, especially prai
RE chickens and snipe. Antelope
roam over the prairies. Once in {
while a solitary buffalo is seen. Buffa
10 bones are found on nearly every
quarter section of land, and some fine
specimens of head and skull are to bt
seen at the houses of settlers.
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