The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-07-31
A SPIN THROUGH svERDRUP.

Sunday morning opening up fine in
Washburn, Mr.. Parry Of the Mill Company
Carpenter johnson, Anton Carlson and
the LEADER scribe jumped in with MIR
Satterlund and his team of roadsters for
a spin through Sverdrup township. We
followed the Coal Harbor trail out to the
hay sloughs near John Samuelson's place,
where grassy meadows were found with
indlffernt hay prospects except in favored
localities. With circle after leaving
Satterlund's slough, We drove over 70 the
residence of j. M. Anderson, from whose
handsome new residence We had a fine
prospect of waving fields of green and
herds of fat cattle on the hills south of
u.s. These we're the property of Oscar
Gustavson, and his trifty neighbors.
With Mrs. Anderson's kindness we we're
all invited to partake of a good dinner.
A painful of red currants was set before
US that had been plucked from the garden
by the two bright, black eyed little daugh-
ters and pert little boy-mother's pride.
After further inspection of Mr.. ALder-
derson's surroundings. we drove over to
Charley Snelden's where big crop out
put is in sight. After leaving NJ. Shell
don's we confined east until we reached
Hans Holtan's place where loomed up Mr..
Holtan's bran new barn-the seconed
largest in Mclean county-was viewed
by all hands in our party with admira
ton. The largest barn in the county is
at the abandoned Indian training school
at Fort Stevenson--built under the ad-
ministratlon of Superintendent Burton at
cost of $lOOOO-or thereabout-to the
Government. MIR. Holtan's barn may not
cost SO much but he will have dug pretty
we'll down in his pockets when the big
structure is finished. 1t is 60 feet wide by
IS in length--with 16 feet studding used
i'll height. A new block and tackle rail-
way with big hay fork adorn the length
of the pitch of the roof. We have lately
been told when the barn is completed
which will be before harvest-a grand
dance and good time will momorize the
finish of the handsome structure.
Mr.. Holtan, also, has fine crop pros
poets as does all his neighbors. Further
along we were shown Rev. Diesen's resi-
dence and surroundlngs-which shows
what some people can do even though
bounded by limited physical compass.
In two years time he has made fine
home-fit for the Gods evep-from
quarter section of naked though rich
prairie land.
As we neared Sverdrup school house No.
2, we noticed a scattered drove of horses
on the grassy plain quietly feeding and a
ba,ricade of vehicles of all kinds around
the little white building where in years to
come many men and women in wider cir
cles grown will look back upon their hap
piest hours. 1t was Children's Day in
Sverdrup, and the mlrthful.faced, rosy
checked lads and lasses seemed to. enjoy
the occasion that brought them together,
despite the broiling sun. An improvised
bowery served as shade.3 As we halted by
the window hymns sang by the children
alternated the disco"rse of the pastor.
On continuing our journey after leav-
ing the religious exercise, We drove over
the brow of the hull overlooking the wor.
shippers when we encountered large,
group of young men with some sleek
looking horses chafng their; bits. Mr..
Parry remarked on coming up to them
that it was the Sabbath day, and drawing
down his .umbarella obIiquely at this
point--scieened their actions from our
view.
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