St. Paul daily globe., 1884-09-26
BLUE EARTH CITY.
A Description of the Capital Town of
Faribault County-Its At
fractions, Thrift and
Prospects.
Especial Correspondence of the GlObc.l


has been to a certain extent neglected by the
newspaper press of st. Paul, or at least q
portion of it. That while the country north
and west of this city has been lauded to the
skies the beautiful lands watered by the Blue
Earth the ZuInbro the Minnesota and Cedar
have been comparatively 'unhohored and
unsung." 1t is not the design of this article
to give description of all that portion of the
state, but to speak particularly of one of the
many fourishing towns to be found in South
ern Minnesota.
Blue Earth City is the county seat of Fari-
bault county, and has population of 1900.
1t is situated at the forks of the east andwest
branches of the Blue Earth river, amidst a
profusion of natural and artificial shade
trees, which give it certainly the appearance
of forest city. Its natural location is ex-
cellent, its water power ample for manufac-
turing purposes, its market facilities good, as
the Chicago, st. Paul. Minneapolis 81 Omaha
runs direct from north to south. The streets
run at right angles, and are clean and well
graded. The private residences are neat and
substantial, and in some instances very ele-
CANT and attractive. The public buildings
are the court house, sheriff's residence and
Jail, built in the same block on a beautiful
natural eminence in the northwestern part
of the town. The court house is two stories
high, built of brick, and is substantial and
complete in all its appointments. The sher-
ifs residence and jail-one buildings
built of Mankato brick, two stories high, and
has more the appearance of gehtieman Is
private residence than of public edifice.
The court house block is nicely laid out, and
adorned with evergreens and natural shade
trees, which add greatly to its attractions
The public school building is of brick, two
stories in height, and contains
seven large rooms. The cost of buildings
s15,0 900. The school is in charge of Prof
George, principal and superintendent, who
has occupied his present position for several
years. the yearly enrolment nearly reaches
800, the daily attendance $50 to 240. The
English branches, natural sciences, higher
mathematics, Greek and Latin are embraced
in the course which prepares the student for
the state university. 1t is a good school, Of
which the people are justly proud. The
churches are the Catholic, Presbyterian,
Methodist, German Evangelist Association,
Episcopal and Lutheran. All of these socie-
ties, except the Lutheran, have large and
commodious edifices, particularly the Catho-
lies, whose building is of brick built at cost
of SIS, ZOO. There are two public halls, that
of Ericsrud g. Hagen and G. S. Converse,
the latter having seating capacity Of 800.
The opera hall in the upper story of the
Ericsrud & Hagen block is the finest that can
be found outside of our largest cities
1t is not too much to say that, excepting
St. Paul, Minneapolis and Saltwater it is un-
equalled by any other hall in the state. 1t
occupies the whole upper floor, 40x60 with a
stage 40x16, and has a seating capacity of
400. The scenery is grand, the appoint
ments complete, and the acoustic, proper
ties of the hall perfection. 1t is the most
beautiful little opera house we have ever
seen.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The city has public library of over 500
volumes, to which additions are made from
time to time. Two newspapers, the Post and
Bee, both Republican in politics, furnish the
local news. The practicing attorneys are j.
H. Sprout, D. F. Goodrich, G. w. Buswell
and S. w. Graham. The resident,
county officials, Hon. j. A. Kiester,
judge of probate, who, by the
way, has a complete history of Faribault
county ready for the press; w. w. White,
auditor; A. Anderson, treasurer; II. j.
Neal, clerk of courts; S. P. Brown, register
of deeds, A. Cummings, sheriff, and Z. w
Richards, county superintendent
MANUFACTURERS.
Smith & Gilbert, w II. Bates and F. A.
Saxton are engaged in the manufacture and
repair of wagons, buggies, sleds, etc. The
''Blue Earth" wagon of W. II. Bates is vel
known all over the state. There are two
Touring mills, one steam the other water
power, each manufacturing by patent roller
, process and doing a good business. One
brewery of limited capacity, and the usua
number of carpenter, blacksmith shops. ETC.
, finishes the list in this department. There
are two lumber yards doing quite an exten
sve business, and three elevators, viz: rail
road elevator, that of c. VI. Sly, and Pfeffei
81 Kingsby. The stock dealers are
Temple g. Kamran and Smith 81
Kobbs. The mercantile interests are
represented by s. Teskey, Anderson Sc Son,
{ G. s. Converse, Ericsrud 81 Hagan, F. W
WilmeIt and Cole Bros, dealers in general
( merchandise. Hardware stores of South &
Bishop and Kaupp and Rabe. Groceries, A
F. Eastman, Wm. Dillabaugh, B. Woolrey
: and Jas. c. Pratt, groceries and fruit. Fur
niture, ". 8. Drake and II. G. Geise. Butter
/ and eggs, s. NJ. Hawes. Druggists, A. Shu-
; Ter, c. w. Constans, II. f. Constans and
Ailing and Hirsch. Each of the firms named
in their several departments, carry a full
line of goods, but we wish to notice as espe-
, cially worthy Of mention the business block
i of Ericsrud IL Hagan, Cole Bros, South &
Bishop, and Anderson 81 Son. These build
n ings are large double stores, built of brick
e those of South and Bishop, and Anderson &
Son, having plate glass fronts. There are
three harness shops, L. \. Nichols, VIM.
Driblo and F. Amdt Two merchant tailors
! Jno. Weir and E. Kenstee. One barber
1 shop, j. II. Voleker, whose skill as q ton
serial artist is unexcelled. Two skating
rinks aud three notes.-the Constans house
the Baker house and the City hotel. The
travelling public can be well accommodated
at either of these. We must not omit 3
notice of the poultry establishment of c. F.
, Franklin. II is one Of the new enterprise:
! in this enterprising place. Though not two
years old it promises great returns. Mr..
Franklin has two incubators, on,
with a capacity of 500, the othel
of $50. In these he matches his eggs By
keeping them at a temperature of 102 Fahr
I These ineubators are his own invention anC
answer the purpose admirably. He keep:
all the best breeds Of chickens and has now
about 1000. His eggs and poultry are
marketed in st. Paul and Minneapolis. His
enterprise in this direction mas added q new
D feature to the industries of Blue Earth City
: Taken as a whole, Blue Earth City is strong
: healthy growing town. 1t is backet
up by farming community tina
e intelligent, moral, industrious anG
l law abiding. 1t has never outgrown it.
, surroundings, and has not therefore exper
fenced the the reaction which comes to towns
of abnormal growth. The surrounding
country is pleasant and fertile, and thos,