Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-07-17
VISIT TO wAUBAY.

place they were going 10 view the new
bridge across Blue lake, constructed by
L. G. Walker, under contract with the
county.
We left Webster about 10 o'clock, and
passed through a section of country that
looks like a garden. Large, well-im-
proved farms greet the eye on all sides,
with field upon field of growing grain
that swayed to the breeze with the bill
lowy motion Of the waters OF the sea.
Here and there a grove of timber lent
character to the scene and made a pic
ture of rural beauty. rarely excelled any
where in this western country.
Arriving at Waubay. we found q town
situated on a lovely eminence and
possessing every requisite Of location to
make a live rafting little town. We took
dinner at the Frits House, which, by the
way comprised a series Of delicious VI
ands that soon fatigued our appetite and
rendered us perfectly satisfied with all
the world-a good dinner always has
that effect ON a newspaper man, II is 50
seldom he gets to the front on a square
meal. AT 2 o'clock we repaired TO the
bridge, about a mile north OF town,
which the commissioners came to view.
just before we came 10 the bridge, we
passed through a 100-acre wheat field.
belonging to Mr.. Fitzpatrick that, to look
upon, would have cured a most obstinate
case 81 sore eyes. Looking over il not a
break was visible, it stood about thirty
inches high aud had good long, healthy
looking heads that promised q richly
abundant yield. II was the finest
field Of wheat we have yet seen in Dako-
ia. Arriving at the lake we found the
bridge a marvel of perfection In construc-
ton. 1t was completed all but about
twenty feet Of the railing on each side.
The bridge is 500 feet long, with mp
proach ON the east side about twenty
five feet, and ON the west side about fifty
feet-being farther on the west side on
account Of a low point Of ground where
the road had been laid. II was set on
bents of large, heavy timber, strong,
thick boards comprised the foor-in fact
the entire structure was built of such
massive materials that it would easily
support any railroad train, the heaviest
that runs oyer the NJ. 4 st. p. road. II
is the best constructed and strol gest
county bridge, made OF wood, we ever
saw in any county anywhere. As We
looked at it in its thorough completeness
we wondered how the contractors man.
aged to furnish it for tine contract price,
less than 81 800. and we felt that the
people of that section owed Mr.. May
nard, to whose energy and efficient aid
both in money and influence pushed i
20 compietion, q debt of gratitude the,
can never repay; because the successful
construction of the bridge is as muc:' du,
to his indefatigable labors as that Of th,
contractor himself. Messrs. Lowell
Huntington and Bingham on behalf o
the County Board accepted it, beini
/ highly gratiied with the superb work
| which will stand rs a monument Of thei
god sense and sagacity long after the,
| have left this mundane sphere.
Some matters requiring 10 be settlee
| with reference 10 the road on the oppo
site side of the lake, Messrs. Lowell ant
|. Huntington crossed over, leaving thu
balance OF our party, Messrs. Bingham
: Rexford, Blake, Moulton. Bush, Bower
and the writer hsrenf, together will
, several gentlemen from Waubay. TO lux
urate in the shade of the tall cottonwood
/ situated on either side of the eastern ap
proach to the bridge. Sitting Their
, under the grateful shade. with u gentle
breeze blowing across the ripping bosom
of the beautiful lake, we listened TO re
: marks from Bro. Rexford and otle
' members of the party Of that eloquent.
descriptive character that lead us back I
y the scenes of long ago, and we Grated 70
the benefit Of the crowd. Finally tr
board returning, Brigham capped th
climax. and after rubbing Frank Bowel
behind the ear with q chip, we agai
: crtNled into our carriages and started fo
home. Just here we desire 10 remar
that Bro. Rex Eord added several inche
: Of fat to his RIBS while the srduous labo'
of the committee continued under thoe
trees and until Tom Brigham spiked III
:, guns and tho committee Of the who
house arose and resumed the order
the day. Rex win have occasion
remember that visit.
y Returning TO waubay, Mr.. Comic
i c~onrteously supplied the party wit
"A lemonade which they quaffed with !
small degree Of satisfaction, In fac
during our whole visit the citizens di
is everything in their power to render
in pleasant-every possible courtesy beiI
ne extended 10 the party and all felt iii
IS. Messrs. Maynard, Frits, Comfort, Re
" ford and others had done the par
be proud, and expressed themselves as hs
ty ing had a most delightful day.
OF Returning home in the coo. and ples
It's ant evemtide, and seeing the many 10
n. ing herds winding slowly Ger the Il
the evidences Of thrift and comfort Oh
M g~rected Us on all sides. we could no, he
NJ fseling that the future held glowing pr
~ pect or "a rich heritage Of prosperity al
y happy content, for the whole OF that .,
"a ton situated among the beautiful LAX
". Of the "waubay country"
ia -
I'D We took q little trip up as far Rosl