The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-06-27

The strange circumstance Of our We
mean THE TINES representatives. having
found the above lines on our writing
desk few mornings ago, after awaken
lnm from a somewhat troubled night >
rest, set US thinking 1t might ne mes
sage from the author SummOnln9
Us to 20 on a voyage OF discovery. Be-
ing Of a rambling and an lnqulslyc dis
position, we determined to obey the
summons at whatever risk, and alter
Iortifving ourselves with oatmeal mush,
bceisteak and sundrV other good things
at MOOre's restaurant, We started on
our Journey penniless and unprotected.
We crossed the bridge to which the
poet alludes that spans the NeinadJ,
upon the bosom of which were float
ing sawlOgS without number and OF all
sizes; turned lakewariS on CasS street
at McIiu@h's hotel, scOrnlng It's temp
tatiOns (moreyer he don't keep a slate +,
and soon emerged upon Itasca street.
We found sidewalk in course of con-
struction along this thoroughtare, and
were told if we followed along the line
laid down for it we would eventually
arrive at ltasca. We did SO, making
sure to keep off the road lest we loose
ourselves in one of its numerous and
bOttOmleSS ruts. IN due course we
came in sight of Itasca. As we APP
preached we noticed man saving
boards. and on asking why were in
formed that he was about to commence
LAYING sidewalk into the village, and
after our hard tramp down the uneven
trail we felt very much like awaiting
the completion of the walk before pro-
ceeding further. Time, however, would
not permit. The press could not be let
lie still, and THE TINES readers need in
teileCtual refreshment once a week at
least, So we moved on by the winding
trail through the green shrubbery and
stumps until we came upon man who
was pumping water out Of a hole IN the
ground into a big tank. Being some
what parched we drank of the fluid and
felt much refreshed. This gentleman,
who was hauling water for an Itasca
street boarding house, gave US some
pointers as to how to behave ourselves
in the village which we implicitly
obeved. We were now fairly within
the precincts of Itasca and could hear
the pounding of the hammers and the
rasping of the saws and see the painters
ard plasterers plying brush and trOwel.
Itasca, we learned, was founded about
two wears ago, by the c. st. p, NJ. x
.. Ry., and may be said to owe its eX-
lstenCe and prosperity to the enter
PRISE of that corporation. The build
ings are chiefly frame and range In size
from the three-rOOmed cottage to the
three-stOry boarding house and hotel.
This year five new houses have been
completed and an addition made TO an
other, while the St. Paul Real Estate
Co. have six house in course of CON
structiOn, to cost about 81, 100 each.
Boomer x Co, of st. Paul, are the con-
tractors. This is the firm that has the
contract for the building of the railway
pleted in short time They expect
also to erect fifteen more houses this
summer of the same size as the other
SIX.
\ reading room for the railway en-
plOyecS will be located on the ground
floor in the south end ofthe new depot.
and will be fitted up as soon as the
depot Is completed.
The citizens Of Itasca who have erected
dwellings this spring are: T.C. Comeron,
Ed. DigIc, l.. ". Cook, T. J. Riley Geo.
w. Howenstinc, and VIM. Estlcy.
The railway company have also made
arrangements for lighting their offices
and yards by electricity, n dynamo
having been placed in the round house
for that purpose. \ sewer is also being
constructed from the depot to Bluff
creek, distance of about 5000 feet
which will cost about =, 800.
Besides the improvements mentioned
sidewalk is being laid from ItasC
street along Collinwood avenue to
Second street, and along the latter tc
llenncpln avenues.
The business directory of Itasca is
not very long as yet, embracing one
store, two hotels, a boarding house, two
meat markets, laundry office and sa,
! loon.
There is also a resident physician
| Or. II Jefferson O Brien, whose office is
on llennepin avenue.
Desky Bros, located on Henuepir
( avenue, do a general mercantile bust
/ ness, carrying most ANYTHING, even tC
patent medicines, and sell at uptown
| prices.
The large number of men employed
| by the contractors and railway com.
1 pany makes the hotel business flourish
all being full of boarders.
OF these Hotel ltasCa is the oldest and
| best known. It Is situated close hv he
| depot, and is kept by the Misses Bowie
/ These ladies have had long experience
at the business, and know how to con.
| duet house as it should be. \ barber
/ is also located on the premises.
Mr.. Malayey is at present painting
ana otherwise improving his hotel. II
is a large three-story building and will
accommodate 4 large number of guests
There is bar in connection. He in.