The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-10-05

The old towns OF western Iowa dis.
play no marked improvement in busi-
ness or building, and are apparently in
the same rut that they were years ago.
Although situated in the midst Of a
rich agricultural country where corn is
king and cattle and hogs are in close
proximity to the throne, they lack the
push and enterprise Of our western
towns.
Tho older settled counties Of south.
eastern Dakota appear to be prosper
ing and evidences of thrift and pros
perity are noticeable on every hand.
The numerous groves Of this section
add materially to the beauty of the land
scape and are in striking contrast to
the level and treeless prairie districts
of the greater portion of the territory.
A brief visit was paid to Huron-cn-
the jim. 1t is a we'll bnilt and enter-
prising little city of some 5000 people
and seems to be fairly prospecting al-
though little building is going on.
Crops in the vicinity Of Huron are not
up to the average owing to protracted
drought. A marked improvement in
the yield and quality of grain is noti-
cable as one journies eastward until
Brookings is reached where crops of all
kinds are excellent and the substantial
farm buildings and numerous herds of
high grade stock give evidence of a sue
cession of bounteous crops and conse-
quent prosperity. Brookings is the
seat of the Agricultural College and
one of the most entcrprising and pros
porous county capitals in the territory.
This is the home of the genial Geo. w.
Hopp. of the Brookings Press. the new
ly elected president of the Dakota Press
Association aud one of the ablest and
most versatile Of Dakota quill-shovers.
The trip north to Watertown was
made on the Brookings and Watertown
branch of TIE C. & N. W., which passes
through Hamlin, the county of extern
sive farms and immense crops. Crops
through this section are up to the aver
age and threshing is well under way.
Watertown the queen city of the up
per Sioux and the convention city of
the territory continues to grow and i'm
prove and now boasts of a population of
5000, with business blocks and public
improvements which would do credit
to a city of $4,000. A motor line has
recently been built to Lake kampeska
which will go far toward bringing that
beautiful sheet of water into promi-
nence as resort for tourists and pleas.
ure seekers. We are under obligations
to Col. .. E. Dewey. Gen. Ticket Agent
for a complimentary season ticket over
this line. A system of waterworks is
being put in at a cost of 100000 and
the city sports an electric light, tele.
phone exchange and many other metro.
politan conveniences. As railroad
center Watertown is second to no 9TH
er town in the territory and possesses
unequalled commercial advantages.
Gary, the county seat of deuel. coun-
ty, although situated in the midst of a
rich agricultural county and possessing
many natural advantages, has not in
creased materially in size during the
past year, or made any great strides in
the way of public improvement. Crops
are fair. and farmers in that vicinity,
and indeed. throughout the entire ter
ritory are jubilsnt in anticipation of
greatly increased prices. lt is conf
DENLY asserted by many that wheat i'll
Dakota will be worth one dollar per
bushel before the advent of 1889.
Leaving Watertown on the morning
of the 3D. incompany with large num-
ber of the excursion party including the
Brookings Cornet Band, we were JONI
ed by other members of the Association
with ladies and friends at various points
along the route until jamestown was
reached.
Arriving OF Jamestown the party re-
pairedto the Gladstone House, the
leading hostelry of this charming little
city, where we remained until Tuesday
morning. In the interim the .'un-
washed" portion of the party issued
neat and intensely interesting but
rankerously democratic sheet called
''The Excurslonist" for the edification
and amusement Of the other me cmbers
Of the party.
Next week we will weary your read.
ers with brief description Of the
Yellowstone National Park ard other
points of interest along the ro lte.