The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-10-08
"A Trip to North Branch,

uess a game Of base ball between tba
modest Princeton youths and the in
visible invincible ''Old Reliables !, If
Pine City, for the championship Of
Northeastern Minnesota and fifty dol
lar purse, to be played that afternoon.
That prince of jehus, Lou Libby, han
died the lines, and we sped along at a
lively rate. The air was cool and
crisp but it was a delightful morning.
The quiet hamlet Of Spencer Brook
was passed before old Sol's beneicent
rays had warmed up mother earth.
The Isanti bridge was crossed before 8
O'Clock and by 1920 we drew up in
front of Lem Quillin's hostelry at the
Branch. We could not help but note
the many improvements that have
taken place in Isanti county since our
last trip across the country a few years
ago. Many splendid new farm houses
and commodious barns have been
erected, and the old weather-beaten,
tumble-down school houses had been
replaced by handsome buildings that
speak volumes for the thrift and energy
of the inhabitants of the districts. The
roads had also undergone wonderful
improvements. Good roads and neat
appearing school houses are what i'm
presses a stranger favorably.
North Branch is a pretty little vii
lage on the St. Paul & Duluth road
of about 800 population. It is the cen
tire of the greatest potato country in
the United States, and has APPLY been
styled the ''Potato City, Last year
succulent tubers to the value of 81, OOO.-
900 were marketed at this point. The
farmers in the vicinity of North Branch
rely almost exclusively on potatoes
is the staple crop. Those who think
potatoes do not pay should visit the
vicinity of North Branch. No section
of Minnesota can show more prosper
GUS and contented class of farmers than
those located around the Branch in
Chisago and Isanti counties. The
starch factory had three years con-
tracts with the farmers at the rate of
50 cents per 100 pounds. Two years
ago and this year the farmers profted
by the contracts, but last year it was
an inning for the starch factory people
However, on the whole for the three
years 81 cents per 100 pounds evens
things up. This year the starch fac
tory pays 81 cents per hundred only to
those who have contracts-the fellows
that did not contract are obliged to sell
for IL or Is cents per bushel. :s Il
North Branch has a live class of !bus-
mess men, and among the most pro
gressive are Lem Quillin and, Frank
Smith. They are whole-souled, hos
pitable gentlemen and thorough-going
business men. It was mainly through
their instrumentality that the North
Branch Review, a live weekly paper
published by Messrs. Huber & Palmer,
was started. Huber & Palmer are
practical printers and they know how
to get out good readable paper. We
hope they will meet with the support
that they richly merit. Men of their
calibre cannot afford to remain in a
town unless the Inducements offered
are large. ...-
The bank of North Branch is new
institution. It is owned and managed
by J. F. Kingsland, son of the former
'well-beloved and highly-esteemed pas
tor of the M. E. Church in Princeton.
There is a good field for bank at
North Branch and there is no reason
why Mr.. Kingsland should not do a
flourishing business.
Last week we told about the base
ball game and how our boys mopped
the earth with the Pine City dudes
On Tuesday evening our party bid
adieu to North Branch, and by mid
night we were comfortably ensconced
in Nate Wethern's homelike hotel in
Cambridge. Cambridge has not grown
much in the last two years. The only
improvements we noticed in passing
through the town were in the homes of
former Princetonians-Hon. H. F. Bar
ker and Charley VanW ormer. These
two gentlemen have residences fit for
princes to dwell in. The only store
visited was Gouldberg & Anderson's,
and it is a store that any city of Mime
sofa might feel proud to have located
in it's midst. Our ride from Cambridge
to Princeton via. the Findell bridge
was devoid of interest. The old school