The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-08-16
An Iowa Summer Resort.

The great northwest has OF late years
begun to divide claims AS a summer resort
region with the hill country of the east, and
the great lakes, Following in the wake of
Wisconsin, Iowo railroads have sung the
liquid charms of her lakes and told in tune
full numbers of the "summer breezes that
sweep across our wide prairies and through
our great forests, bearing the perfume Of
wild flowers and aromatic pines, ladening
them with a magical tonic, quickening the
pulse and imparing new yigor to the en-
feebled frame
Northern Iowa is certainly most attrac-
tive country to a man who wants to leave
business behind him and get away from all
its cares and anxieties The wide prai.
ries' are there and the summer breezes"
are constantly sweeping across them the
wild flowers are there, but the aromatic
pines are conspicuous by their absence.
The charm of this part of the state is not
them The sun is hot enough; frequently
the mecury runs up into the COS; and the
sun and the wind give a beautiful tan. The
city belle would object; but after all there
life is worth living" A beautiful coun,
try over which the eye ranges for miles
upon miles; "a country dotted with fields of
corn and wheat that make the Illinois and
Minnesota man green with envy with
great herds of cattle feeding on nutritious
native grass that everywhere covers the
land in rich abundance, stretching away
over the thousands of acres of as yet I'm
broken praries,-it is land fair to look
upon giving promise of untold wealth to
come in agricultural products and stock
raising and withal summer climate that
to city man is like new life with at
mosphere pure and invigorating, with a
delicious breeze always,-no wonder the
Iowaians are prohibitionists, with the best
of stimulants firing their blood into rush
inc torrent forever. In such season as
this crops grow like weeds corn is gigan-
tic, and small grain and grass yield enor-
mOusly, and man and beast revel in the
stimulating atmosphere Of her wonderful
prairies.
These are, however, not what the sum
mer resorter goes to Iowa for; yet to take
in all of Iowa's lakes is a summers vaca.
ton journey. As "A fashionable summer
land, Iowa is little youthful. The sum.
mer resort is the product of an old country |
a country full of surplus wealth and an
abundant leisure class, or else isa spot ready |
made by nature Iowa is neither old nor
oppressed by gentlemen of leisure yet she
lays claims to being summer land. Ma
ture has indeed been kind to her and
placed in her north country "A number of
beautiful lakes, which the railroads have
been industriously advertising to the world.
As camp grounds all have their claims to
attention, to the lounger on the hotel pi- |
azzas some may be attractive but the fas-
tidious will do well to know his ground
before he buys his passage, relying on the
promises of handsomely printed railway
advertising pamphlets.
One of the best known of Iowa's lakes is !
Clear Lake, on the G. NJ. & st. Paul road.
There are more direct routes yet one of the
most enjoyable to a traveller with leisure is |
to go to Des MOines, gta the c., B. IL Q.
which passes through the garden of Iowa.
nna &c al,rn Of oil no In iaSl
of railway life. The passage from Des
Moines is over the d. NJ. 81 Fort Dodge,
and NJ. & st. L., the latter of which for
hours runs through one of the prettiest sec
tons of country of the west outside of La
Sale county, particularly so about Fort
Dodge and Humbolt
We say this is as pleasant a route to
Clear Lake as we know Of if you really
want to 90 to Clear Lake, However, when
you have made up your mind to go and
have packed your grip, lay your plans we'll,
" put money in your purse and buy your
ticket for-some other resort"
Clear Lake is one of the best known re-
SOTtS OF iowa. III Is Il DedutlluI sheet Vi
water--pear shaped, about seven miles long
and three wide at its widest part On three
sides it is well wooded and camping
grounds are numerous. 1t is alleged to be
well stocked with fish, lake bass, pike,
pckeral, etc, which may be taken early in
the morning, or in the evening. The in
habitants of the boat house tell marvellous
stories of shaking them out" twenty to
fifty pounds at sitting, in the morning or
in the evening, off the moss beds; but To-
wa fish are peculiar. They may bite for
native The stranger is a daisy who cap
lures very many after sun up.
The bulk of the guests at Clear Lake
are fishers of men only, however. The
town in summer is alive with that class of
anglers. They jostle you at every turn.
They brother you at the railway station,
and sister" your wife at the hotel; say
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