The Press., 1884-07-17
LETTER FROM IOWA.
Em1netshrre. Iowa. July

Emmetsburg, Iowa, July 1O 1884.
 I am reminded by the date of this letter that fourteen years ago to-day was sun day, and that I was ordained to the mll- istry in Fairmont, Martin CO, Minn. For fourteen years I have been in labors abun- dant in that state; but now ] am no long CT citizen of that fair, enterprising coun> try. Iowa has called me, and here l am, subject to her fortune. Emmetsburg, however, is but about thirty-live miles sou, ( my first Minnesota field, on the roll 15 prairie iii northwestern Iowa. Palo Alto ce., of which Emmetsburg is the seat, lies directly south of Martin O., Mimi. The town was first startt q on the Des Moines river but when the railroad was built through the country it was removed to 1t {; hence, we are about one mile, or one and half from the river but as you stand at the depot of the Chicago, Milwau- kee and St. Paul railroad and look west ward, you can see the railroad bridge that spans it. In leaving the river the town was removed to lake, Medium lake, and it is quite pretty one too. I have noticed but one thing that mars its beau ty, and that is the trt stle work of the Bur- lington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern rail way, w hich crosses the east part of the will age. Tbis road runs on up to Worthing- ton, Minn., and passes through Spirit Lake, which is g. ting to be quite sum- mer resort. Spirit Lake is about forty miles from here. The Chicago, Milwau- kee and St. Paul company has branch from here to Baskerville; but trains are not run only on two days in the week. Whether this branch will be taken up or extended is an open question; I am told that it will be extended, but do not know to what point.
 The village has been in its present locl- tion about twelve years, and ill that time has made commendable progress The settlers here, as in most other places in this new coimtly, are from various parts of the world but aside from the Amer ican and English peoples, the Irish and Scotch predominate Of the former there is q large number in proportion to the pop ulatiOn but the Scotch, we understand, are gaining on them. Much of the bus mess of the place is in the hands of these two classes Some of the best residences belong to them and, so far as I know, they are respected for their thrift and en- terprise. The Irish were among the first settlers, and as a general thing, have done well. One very pleasant feature of the village IS the lawns which surround so many of the houses. These are spacious, adorned with fruit and ornamental trees and shrubbery, and, as general thing, are well kept s-' |. -. .:... Among the more. imposing buildings, mention should be made of the court house, which cost $19,OOO, and is con- mandipgly located; the Waverly House, built by the Scottish American Land Co.,, and used for their offices, printing office, and other purposes, as well as a hotel the fine block of Ormsby Bros. & Co.,, which is used for bank and land office, stores and music hail. The bank and office rooms in this blockss ssare first class ev- cry way. These buildings are all of brick. The principal school building also attracts attention. The Catholics aud Methulists are each building fine churches; and another bank is soon to have a new brick building which will be an ornament to the place.
 All branches of business are represented by more than thirty stores Their hotels give the public good accommodations at reasonable rates. Catholic, Methodist Episcopal, Congregational and Protes ant Episcopal churches are open to the moral needs of the people, and are very well pat ronizet.: t:se 4tsicse A from a graded school of l five departments, there are several private | schools. There arc three printing offices, | but one is about closed the two olher one republican, the other democratic, issue good county papers.
 The liquor interest, which was repre- sented by four saloons and several drug stores, was closed by the law which went into operation July 4th. This leads me to say that we had very orderly, quiet celebration the 4th, of the usual character. There was a general feeling that there would be ''time" in view of the closing out of liquor interest, but we were all hap oily disappointed, and there has been no disturbance since, and the universal feel ing is that the people will submit quietly to the new order of things but I hope hereafter to write more fully of this prohi- bitiOn movement.
 should have liked to give some ac- count in this letter of the thirty thousand acre farm which is in this vicinity, but that will have to be deferred. As per sonal item it may interest some to know that my predecessor, Geo. M. Spencer, was, for thirteen years, lawyer in Hartford. He goes to the only Congregational church in Nevada, the one at Reno.
 O. P. CHAMPLIN.