The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-08-26
LAKE MADISON.
ny Tourist Number Two.

Minnesota, famous for her arabic
soil, h~ealth-giving climate, forests and
rivers, with the added charm of hel
numerous and beautiful lakes, can
safely command the admiration of the
world. "To do" Minnesota in a single
letter is no part of our purpose. Having
been almost compelled by friends to
spend 4 few days upon the shores of
Lake Madison, We beg leave to
say a few words Ms stenement for
our lack Of faith in its reputed charms.
Now We speak of what our W eyes have
seen Of this beautiful body of water.
Within the last few years it has be-
come y center Of interest for the pleas
urc-seekers of Southern Minnesota, and
is destined to become chief among
summer resorts in all the North west.
Suggestive Of ripples and sunshine are
the names of Minnehaha, Minnetonka
and Elysisn, but restful and grand is
Madison. The lake is happily named.
At the highest point from which we
could command a view of its surface,
we noted that in shape it resembles u
four. lcaved clover. The four bays
which form the lake are in shape like
the leaves, while Point Pleasant helps
to perfect the resemblance by forming
the stem. These bays are named North
Bay South Bay, East Bay and West
Bay. From the deepest indenture of
East Bay to the most remote bounds
Of West Bay the distance is four miles /;
measuring in like manner north to
south we have a distance of three and u
half miles. Lake Madison has thirty
miles Of coast; its shallow waters give a
depth of twenty feet, while Over a large
part Of its surface the lead goes down
one hundred and twenty-five feet, the
average depth is from fifty to sixty feet.
The water is thoroughly soft and always
A very noticeable feature OF this
lake is its slight drainage and almost no
IN this fact it most resembles a
vast spring, and by rowing a little from
the shore and bringing water up from
the deep we have it decidedly cool.
Those who have travelled through south.
ern Minnesota will recall the magnificent
bluffs that lie just back of MankatO, the
liveliest young city in Minnesota. Lake
Madison, ten miles away, has an altitude
Of twenty feet above these bluffs. The
grand old forest known as the "Big
Woods" nearly surrounds the lake and
furnishes indeed happy hunting grounds
for the sportsman, and tho well-laden
Nimrods as they return from their days,
adventures tell of the abundance of
small game. We noticed among the
trophies in this line that the borders of
the lake itself had yielded blue winged
teal, canvas back and mallard ducks.
Fish are Of u fine quality and abundant,
including black bass, pickerel, rock
bass, sunfish, muskallonge and wall
eyed pike. Old residents in the vicin.
ity say the supply of fish is greater than
twenty years ago. From the peculiar
outline Of the lake there is never want
Of refreshing breezos over the grounds
of Point Pleasant. We have neither
time nor space to tell of the marvellous
beauty of the natural aquarium to be
found just beyond. Point Lousetta in
East Bay, or the magnificent sunset views
to be had from this point. In 1875
Major George A. Clarke purchased the
grounds now known ~ Point Pleasant
and gave Lake Madison its first intro
ductiOn to the general public az a sum-
mer resort; since that time the place has
been visited by thousands each season.
The present proprietor, Mr.. Barclay.
we'll known throughout the state in
connection with the firm Of C. Aultman
q Co., came into possession May LIST.
Of this year. Mr.. Barclay has made no
attempt as yet to make this q fashion
able resort, but a delightful camping
ground fer parties of ladies and gentle
men who appreciate fine scenery, fine
fishing, rowing, sailing and other out
door sports. During our brief stay We
made the acquaintance of several fam
lilies who are spending the summer at
Lake Madison, among them Mr.. Geo.
w. Pow, wife and daughter, of Harris
burg, Penn, MI. and Mrs. J. s. stokes
and two children, of Salem, OHIO; Mrs.
L. A. Young and family, Of St. Louis;
Mr.. and Mrs. Shutter and daughter,
Minneapolis. Among the transient
guests, WI met Mr.. G. M. George, of st.
Paul; Prot. VIM. Valentine Of Nebraska
College, Nebraska City; J. H. Chap
man, Mrs. Warner and her accomplished
daughter, Mrs. L. A. Baker and daugh-
ter Jennie; Miss Ella Shirk; Mrs. J. H.
Davis: Rev. Freeman; Mr.. w. w. p.
Mcconnell; Col. Thomas; Mrs. Webster;
Mrs. Ssarle; MI. and Mrs. Thee. Will
Jams; Mrs. Judson Davis; Mr.. A. M.
Smith, wife and daughter; Mrs. Frank
Piper and Mr.. and Mrs. A. b. Smith,
all of MankatO.
To the rushing, restless tide of busy
men and women who make up the
actual basis and lite of our cities, a place
like Lake Madison is indeed one of rest.
Hers~almost alone with nature, where
every prospect pleases, they will find that
time spent is 81 full Of idle occupation
that actual duties are irksome, and one
drifts on only to look back upon the
hours as . delightful and health-giving
waste. V. M. G.