Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-10-22

sons, and to furnish mill powers, by far
the greatest benefit they bring is a water
supply for stock.
The peculiar adaptation of Mower
county to stock raising, both on account
of its adaptability to the production OF
the finer kinds of grasses, which stock
are so fond of, but also on account of it
being so fine corn country, is also fur
Their increased by the abundance of pure
living water which these streams and
brooks furnish
son. AND PRODUCTIONS.
This is a deep black loan with light
colorcu porono clay subsoil, and is the
best section of country in the world for
mixed system of agriculture. As already
shown it is adapted to stock growing, for
it is both fine grass and corn producing
SOIL Glover. Herds grass, Kentucky
blue joint, and in fact all kinds of grasses.
seem to be indigenous to the soil, and
flourish with remarkable degree OF lux
uriance. A country that will produce
good grass and corn will always prove, a
fine stock country. The failure of the
everywhere throughout the northwest,
and it occurs only once in great num-
Der Of years and never means total fail
ure.
There is in fact no bar to the produc-
ton of any crop that can be grown any
where in this latitude, and the superior
crops of flax, barley, oats, wheat, and all
small grains has become famous. For
many years the farmers of Mower coun-
ty produced scarcely any crop but wheat.
Coming to new country with but little
means. and being obliged to turn their
labor into cash at the earliest possible
moment, the farmers of this section for
q number of years devoted themselves al
most exclusively to wheat raising with
the most disastrous results. Their soil
became to certain extent impoverished.
Their crops of wheat from over taxation
of the land year after year without any
rest became less and less until the amount
produced did not paythe cost Of production
or keep the farmer out OF debt. Happily
this pernicious system of robbing the soil
has been generally abandoned, and a
system Of mixed farming, dairying and
stock raising has gradually taken its
filling it's destiny. The old debts and
mortgages are being paid up and farmers
are generally beginning to prosper.
Dairying and cattle, horse. sheep and
hog raising are in most flourishing state
and are beginning to bring their reward
to the farmers in a much better condition
of their cropped lands and an infinitely
better condition of their purses.
IT'S RAILROADS.
Mower county has three lines of the
Milwaukee system $50 called) which have
altogether about eighty miles of road
within It's limits The Southern Mime
sofa division which passes east and west
through the tier of townships; next the
north one, the Iowa & Minnesota division,
when it leaves the city of Austin, passes
southeastcrly through the county; and
the Mason City line, which extends in a
due southerly direction through the
county from Austin. These lines have
about eighty miles of road, while the
new line (Alinnesota & Northwestern, }
from Lyle northwards via Austin to
Dodge Center and beyond, will make
about twenty -four miles more. All of
the roads, except the Southern Minnesota,
enter Austin City. When that road was
constructed the management were of the
opinion that Austin could better afford
to come to them than they go to Austin.
Since its absorption by the Chicago, Mil
waukee & St. Paul company, a more
division will undoubtedly be brought in
to the city instead of remaining three
miles to the north as at present The
Minnesota & Northwestern. which is
practically a continuation of the Illinois
Central. which now owns road as far
as the state line at Lyle, are busy con-
structing their road, and will, by another
season, give Austin not only a third
through line to Chicago, but also another
! line to st. Paul. Their survey takes
them through the edgc of the city proper,
u crossing Of the Cedar river being made
above the Engle mill.
TIE CITY,
The city is divided by the river into
two parts, the one on the east side con-
tanning the c. NJ. & St. P. depot, shops
and elevators, a number of manufactur
ing establishments, a large number OF
| residences and three Or four hotels, while
| upon the west side of the river the busl-
ness part of the city is built. The prn-
cipal street of Austin is called Main
street, and runs in a north and south
direction, and is a wide, we'll graded
street. The two principal intersecting
streets are Water and Bridge streets, just
| two squares apart, and which lead from
Austin proper to the railroad depot. both
streets having fine iron bridges over the
river.
Fronting on Main street, just south OF
Bridge street, Is court house square. Fol-
| many years an old dilapidated brick
building answered the purpose of court
house for this county, but last year a
| building commensurate with the needs
| and demands of the county was con-
structed, and stands to-day without a
single exception, the finest building of
the kind in Minnesota. The basement
built above ground is Of Mankato stone,
while the superstructure is of St. Louis
! pressed brick, with the famous Ohio
Borea lime stone trimmings. 1t contains
beside large court room and some hall
dozen jury rooms, complete set Of
offices for the use of the county officials
each of which has splendid fire proof
vault for county books and records. Tht
building, complete, cost the county $75,
600, and is cheap building at that. A
| the county had been preparing for it fol
a number of years no particular incon
venience was experienced in its con
struction, as the larger part of the casl
necessary was already in the treasury.
The next public building of Importance
is the city school building. This is alst
a magnificent structure of brick, ston.
trimmed, which cost $4,000. The pre-
| sent capdClty is. however, 100 small, al
though ward school exists on the cas-
side. The wants of the city will NJ
doubt soon lead to the construction O
other ward school buildings, when tn
central Building will make splendid ON
for high school, which Austin mus
have very soon.
Of churches there are at present seven
Baptist, Methodist. Congregational, Epis
copal, Catholic, Universalist and Luth
eran.
In the line of public buildings ma,
also be mentioned the Austin Oper;
House. This was formerly known a
Zones Hall" but has been entirely re
modelled and rebuilt tie past season, is t
be seated in amphitheater style, and will
accommodate 500 opera chairs. 1t has
stage 30x44, the hall. itself being 44x9
feet. The house will be furnished will
a very full line of scenery, and will b.
ready for use about Dec. 1. Its owner
have expended large sum of money OF
Its perfection, and they mean to have i
a first class opera house when it is com
pleted.
The banking houses of city may b,
| considered public institutions in on,