St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-13


this county means its failure everywhere
throughout the northwest, and it occurs
only once in great number of years and
never means total failure.
There is in fact no bar to the production
of any crop that can be grown anywhere in
this latitude, and the superior crops of flax
barley, oats, wheat, and all small grains has
become famous. For many years the far
| merS of Mower county produced scarcely
any crop but wheat, Coming to a 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 a number of years devoted them
selves almost exclusively to wheat raising
with the most disastrous results
/ Their soil became to certain extent impoy-
erished. 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 pay the cost of
production or keep the farmer out of debt.
Happily this pernicious system of robbing
the soil has been generally abandoned and
system of mixed farming, dairying and stock
raising has gradually taken its place. until
this grand county is now fulfilling its des-
tiny. The old debts and mortgages are be-
ing paid up and farmers are generally be-
horse, sheep and hog raising are in a most
flourishing state and are beginning to bring
their reward to the farmers in a much better
condition Of their cropped lands and an in
hnitely better condition of their purses.
ITS RAILROADS.
Mower county has three lines of the Mil
waukee system $50 called) which have alto
gether about eighty miles of road within its
limits. The Southern Minnesota division
which passes east and west through the tier
OF townships next the north one, the Iowa d
Minnesota division when it leaves the city Of
Austin passes southeasterly through the
county, and the Mason city line which eX-
tends in a due southerly direction through
the county from Austin. These lines have
about eighty miles of road while the new line
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 manage
ment were of the opinion that Austin could
better afford to come to them than they 90 to
Austin. Since its ABSORPTION by the Chicago,
Milwaukee q st. Paul company, more
liberal policy has been adopted, and this di-
vision will undoubtedly be brought
ing three miles to the north as
at present. The Minnesota & Northern
which is practically a continuation of the
Illinois Central, which now owns a road as
far as the state line at LYLE, are busy con-
structing their road, and will, by another
season, give Austin not only third through
line to Chicago, but also another line to st.
Paul. Their survey takes them through the
pf ain nf fbn
Cedar river being made above the Engle
mill.
THE CITY.
The city is divided by the river into two
parts, the one on the east side containing
the depot, shops and elevators, number of
manufacturing establishments, large
number Of residence and three or four
hotels, while upon the west side Of the river
the business part of the city is built The
principal street of Austin is called Main
street and runs in a north and south direc-
ton, and is wide, well graded
street. The two principal inter
secting 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.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Fronting on Main street, just south of
Bridge street, is court house square. For
many yeGrs an old dilapidated brick building
answered the purpose of court house for this
county, but last year building commensur-
ate with the needs and demands of the
county was constructed and stands to-day
without single exception the finest building
OF the kind in Minnesota. The basement
built above ground is of Maukato stone.
while the superstructure is of st. Louis
pressed brick, with the famous Ohio Borea
lime stone trimmings. 1t contains beside a
large court room and some half 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.
The building complete cost the sounty SD
900, and is a cheap building at that As the
county had bceu preparing for it for a num-
Der of years no particular inconvenience was
experienced In its construction. as the larger
part OF the cash necessary was already in the
treasury. The next public building OF i'm
portance is the city school building. This is
also magnificent structure Of brick, stone
trimmed, which cost $4,000 The present
ward school exists on the east side. The
wants Of the city will no doubt soon lead to
the construction Of other ward school build
ings, when the central building viii make a
splendid one for high school, which Austin
must have very soon. OF churches there are
at present eight. Baptist, Methodist, two
Congregationalist, Episcopal, Catholic, Uui-
versalist and Lutheran.
In the line of public Buildings NAV also be
mentioned the Austin opera house. This
was formerly known as Jones Hail. but
has been entirely remodelcd and rebuilt the
past season, is TO be seated in amphitheater
style and will accommodate 500 opera chairs.
it has stage 30Nti, the hall itself being
4iX90 feet. The house will be furnished
with very full line OF scenery and will be
ready for use about Nov. l. It's owners have
expended large sum Of money on its per-
lection aud they mean TO have it a first class
opera house when it is completed. The
banking houses of n city may be considered
public institutions in one sense Of the word.
and OF these Austin has two. The First Ma
tiopal bank, with cash capital Of $50. 600
and a surplus OF $40, 900, and also the private
banking house OF Williu Il Smith, known as
the Mower County bank. OF hotels Austin
has ten, the ''Fleck," Mansfield and Railway
being all first class houses.
MANUFACTURES.
OF this department the city Of Austin
has only just begun to take notice True
there has always been mill and 4 few minor
establishments but as rule farming and
merchandising has been the rage. The pro-
gress of q city toward wealth and larger pom
Ulation is always marked by the introduction
Of manufacturing institutions. for although
like Austin, city may be the radius for a