Morris tribune., 1882-07-06
TO ORTONVILLE AND BACK.

The prairics are at their best now, and
such trip as the above gives good sight
of them. With pleasant friends and beau
tiful weather it was NY privilege 10 take
the trip last week, and an account OF it
may have some interest to your readers.
After the suburbs of Morris are passed the
fiat prairie is struck which continues until
one comes near the valley Graceville
shows some signs of improvement, but no
boom. The crops along the railroad are
doing well, being about as high as the
grass, so that the prairics have a carpet of
green with squares of different shade.
On the bluff overlooking Browns Valley
some breaking was seen which looked like
old times. We did not see much of the
village of the valley as Uucle Risedorf
was in waiting with one Of his fine teams
to take us directly to the steamboat. They
tell about persons having ''horse eye"
but we think Uucle Rieslorf has it all over
and it is comfort to ride after one of his
teams. AS We came upon the bluff and
over looked the valley VIC could see sever.
al new buildings going up, indicating
growth, we were told that one of them
was church, and that there are two min
listers in the valley now. TO any one at
all susceptible to scenery of bluffs, ravines,
slopes and shades of green, houses, cattle
and lakes in TIC distance, and Dakota on
the further side, the view from the top of
the hill is one of surpassing lovliness. All
the party were of the kind that enjoy
such scenery, so there was a very great
amount of lovliness taken in OH that little
trip. We arrived at the steamboat landing
but DO boat was there. After about three
hours waiting her black smoke was seen
and her form approaching In landing at
the bank she had slid upon sunken rock
so easily that the captain did not know
she was stuck until he tried to back off.
90 we'll was she fastened upon the rock
that it took them two hours and half to
get off. Captain said that if he had had
the spars that he used to carry on his river
boats he would not hayc been five minutes
getting off. The boat has been changed
from side wheeler to q stern wheeler,
and now named IF. B. Underwood. The
trip down the lake is the perfection of
travelling for pleasure. The boat goes
slowly to be sure, but not too slow to take
tnual change Of the contour Of the bluffs
ravines filled with timber, which give va
riety and GOODNESS to the scene; there ar G
houses nesting in the covcs and among
the trees that give it a touch of human life
and human tic to bind US to it; bend in
the lake about he middle of it gives q fine
stretch of water and perspective of shore
landing now and then to take on some
body or something relieves any monotony,
and stopping at the little hamlet of Foster
Nesting among the trees, which come to
the waters edge and shade the dock, keeps
up the interest. AS we approach Orton-
vile three islands are passed, two of
which arc inhabited, and they each make
a comfortable farm. The geological for.
nation of the bluffs is interesting to watch.
In some places there are steps or plateaus
before the top is reached: sometimes only
two, but most often none until the top.
Ortonville has come TO have slower, but q
healthy growth. We understand that
many persons of worth have moved in,
that the saloons arc lcsscning and the town
is improving in every way. The top of
the bluff is quite covered with good resi-.
dences, and tile view from them cannot be
equaled i'm this part of the state s.
Our purpose being 10 attend the first an.
nual meeting of the Minnesota Valley Con.
ference of congregational churches, we
went Mt once to the little chapel of Pastor
IIaden, which is rs city on hill, which
cannot he hid, and does not wish to Be,
nor needs to be. If any one wishes 10
know what a thoroughly earnest, christian
young minister can do in a frontier town,
boarding the lion of all kinds of wicked.
ness in his own den, let linn study the
work of Archibald Hadcn, of Ortonville,
and his Courageous young wife: Fishing
and preaching were closely allied from the
Kept up the tradition Ut Big Stone. We