Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-09-27
The Lakes OF Minnesota.
sr. r.rEn. MLyA.. sept. IILh

t'.IEts II iH-s.r f~' fit. AI|li.
since my last letter wc have had taste
Of hot and cold weather. The mercury
was in the nineties quite frequently and.
with a change of wind, in a little while fell
thirty or forty degrees. We have had no
frost yet through we have been expecting
one for several nights, There has been
very little rain for a month or more so that
the soil is very dry. The grass is Drowned
and the corn Is growing quite yellow.
had heard much of the lakes of Mime
sofa. l supposed they were bodies Of wa
! ter having connection with some stream
and that most. at least, of them were fed
by other streams. l find that a large mum
Der of them are simply depres,ious filled
with water. If there i a succession of
wet seasons their surface rises. If several
| dry seasons follow each other their waters
lower. Many of them receive springs
doubtless beneath their surface and the
surplus water sinks through the soil to low
er levels to feed other lakes and streams.
| visited Lake Emily some days since. l
was surprised to find the waters clear and
pure though it has no outlet. The agita-
Cion of the wind is sufficient to present
Staguation These lakes were originally
very full of fish but those that are neur
towns are tished so much that there is a
chance for fishermau'S luck.
just now the people of our young neigh
Dor, South Dakota, are making the most OF
the question Of where their capital shall
be. Several places are being doomed. Just
now Pierre, one of the termini of the Chi
cago d Northwestern 4. X. seems to be in
the lead. An organization styled the Cap
ital Improvement Co.. has secured options
of lands in each of several towns that are
in hopes OF being chosen and is offering
lots in whichever may be chosen for $50
down and $40 when the choice is made
This reminds me of what was told me
the other day of ST. Peters blasted pros
poets. When Minnesota was admitted St.
Peter had excellent prospects of being
chosen. Property was booming $4,000
was refused for land that has never since
sold for half as many hundred as was re-
fused thousands The bill passed both
houses, but disappeared before reaching
the Governor. St Peter has the fine broad
streets that were to grace the capital, and
that is all.
When I came here as l walked along
the streets l naturally noticed the various
signs and business cards l was struck
with the almost entire absence of lawyers
offices. I have seen but four or five, and am
told there are but few more. I thought |
had had better make it known in Butler
and l might get some old acquaintances 10
be neighbors, but | am told tn ere is so lit
tie litigation there is need for no more. l
was told the fees of the Sherifi's office will
scarcely reach $500 per year. l pass the
Courthouse frequently, but it appears to
be deserted.
The railroad passes close to our door,
and the amount OF coal being shipped
makes one almost think of Penn'a roads
1t comes from Iowa and Illinois chiefly. |
am told. Is has dull fracture and iudg-
ing from pieces that fall off is very full of
sulphur and moIders rapidly,on exposure to
the weather. l get my coal from the Hook
ing valley. 1t is sent by rail to Lake Erie,
thence by vessel to Duluth. reshipped and
brought here by rail. The price almost
staggers a PcnuSylyanian. 1t will cost
me at The station $500 per ton. The high
price of coal causes a large amount of word
to be used. This varies in price according
to quality fIom So. 30 to $3.50 per cord
am almost inclined to think that the people
here do not expend much more for fuel
than many in the East. Houses are built
more warmly and the heat is more care
fully utilized. II. X. SHANoR.