Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-28

merely for the purpose of showing no 8
success can and is secured in this most OK.
cellent farming region, are but a few OF
the manyones which came under my person
al observation during an afternoons drive
about the vicinity of Graceville and can be
duplicated without end among the num-
bers of thrifty farmers who have made
| themselves homes here.
THE VILLAGE.
now pass to the consideration of the
merits of Graceville village. There could
not be more beautiful and romantic To-
cation for a village found anywhere. The
east Toqua lake on which it is located is
about one mile in diameter, and as nearly
circular as could well be conceived. The
| village is located upon the northeast of it,
which side has no timber remaining, but
upon the bank fringe of dark green foil
age, now brown and yellow with the frost,
marks belt of timber which extends
from little west Of town three quarters
~ Of the way around the lake, and which
becomes a considerable forest in extent On
the west between the two lakes. The west
Toqua lake approaches to within ten or
twelve rods in the narrowest place to the
east lake and between the two lakes is the
famous Indian garden, cultivated for so
many years by the wild inhabitants who
first held possession of the country. In
the belt of timber which is such delight
full feature of this pleasant landscape,
bands of Indians used to halt for rest and
refreshment and meeting other bands who,
like themselves, we're upon excursions
from one point to another, the mutual sal
utation would be "where are you going?"
which has been perpetuated in 1.-THE word
toqua. The east lake, the more, beauti
full of the two, is, as have before remark
ed, almost perfectly circular in
form, and viewed from any
point presents the most captivating pros
pect imaginable. Near the village the
bank is sIoping to the waters edge, but
upon the west and south more abrupt,
while at no point is it sufficiently steep to
prevent the grading at very triding ex-
pense of drive or boulevard entirely
around it. A strip of land for the purpose
has been decided to the village by Bishop
Ireland, and at no distant day will the idea
be realized, presenting the most romantic
and delightful drive to be found anywhere
in the West. On the waters of this lovely
lake, which, by the way, have abundance
of fish in them, all kinds Of water fowl
known to this latitude are found
Standing on the bank in the very streets Of
the village duck can be shot, while hun
dreds CT white guils are flying above OR
floating upon its surface. Ii fall and
spring duck and wild goose shooting on
these lakes and adjoining sloUghs is most
excellent. Chicken and grouse also in their
season are very abundant in the sur
rounding country.
PRESENT STATUS.
The present status of the village is that
OF place of about 800 people, which shows
it in no way to be ahead Of the country.
From Morris to Browns Valley no other
considerable point exists and with such
rapidly expanding farming district of which
this is the very heart, Graceville becomes
at once most desirable location.
BUSISESs INTERESTS.
There are at present four general stores,
two of them very large ones; one general
store and hardware store; one -four and
feed store and bakery; one very heavy lum-
Der, wood and coal yard; one harness
shop; one shoe shop: three blacksmith
shops; one wagon shop; one restaurant;
one meat market; one hotel; one mi!liner's
shop, posoffice, elevator, depot and splen-
did steam Touring mill.
COSTELLO AND O'NEIL.
The large double-store occupied by the
above named gentlemen and filled to re-
pletion in. each line they carry, is worthy
of special mention. Located at the head
of the main street, it is a good point to
start from in taking in the town. Their
building is forty-two by forty feet deep,
the east twenty-one feet devoted to gen.
eral merchandise, while the western half
is filed with hardware.
Both are fine, high rooms, we'll lighted
and heated by furnace in the basement.
In the rear of the main bailding another
building 18x42 feet is divided into tin
shop, counting room, and wareroom. Still
further in the rear is another building
1882 feet, two stories high, the lower
floor general wareroom, while above is
full line of furniture. The counting room
is located in the center at the rear of the
two salesrooms both of which it commands
complete view of. 1t is finely lighted by
a skylight just above the desk. and is e1-
tremely convenient and coy. The gentle
men may well feel proud of an establish
ment SO complete and extensive as to do
credit to a town of much larger dimen-
sions than the Graceville of
to-day. Mr.. R. A. Costello
the head of the firm, is the pioneer business
man of the town and an old resident of
Minnesota, having done business for a
number of years at both Duluth and at
Willmar, and has business reputation Of
which any man may well feel proud. His
partner, Mr.. w. F. O'Neil, is courteous
gentleman and capable business man,
and, like his -coadjutor, believes in Grace
vile and is always ready to aid any public
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