Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-30
Bicycle Trip Through Minnesota and
Dakota.
MILTON, n. D.. Sept. 26. i

interested i'll an account OF Iny "Trip from
Wisconsin to North Dakota.
left Grand Rapids August Y on my
bicycle and was joined at New Rome by
Alfred w. Sweet. We rode as far as
Necedah that day and continued our
journey next day toward what we sup
posed was Camp Douglas, but later on
found that we were headed for Necedah
Junction, about 20 miles west of Niece
dab. We had gone but 5 miles when
we found ourselves in large marsh,
which was so rough that we were OBJ
liged to walk for the next six or seven
miles. There was a heavy dew and the
grass was fully 2! feet high and we were
just soaked through, but we were gong
west so that didn't matter When we
arrived at Cranberry Center we spent
about three-quarters of an hour picking
tickle grass out of our bicycles We
started on and soon met another OBJ
stacle-sand-bu we could walk when
we could not ride. We were now near
ing Necedah Junction, but where was it?
Wyeville was mile away, but we did
not want to 90 there. We inquired the
way and were told to go to WyevIlle,
which we did, and there asked where
we would find Necedah Junction, and
to our chagrin they told us that Wye
vile and Necedah junction were one
and the same place. That afternoon we
passed through Tomah and Sparta and
finally rest our weary heads for the
night at little place called Rockland =,
just east of La Crosse.
Next day, Aug. IA, we were joined by
0. B. Merritt Of Armenia, Wis, but
who was working at West Salem. We
passed through La Crosse about noon
and saw big fleet of lumber pushed by
steamer going down the river. We
sat on the dock with our feet dangling
Wisconsin,
We were obliged to walk much of the
afternoon on account of the hills, which
are on either side of the Missic sippi
river, one in particular was two miles
long.
Next day, the 10Th, was Sunday and
raining too. We rode only III the after
noon. On Monday we passed through
the pretty city of Rochester and arrived
at our destination, Dodge Center, where
Sweat and [ hired out to work on a
farm. Here | worked until Sunday,
and on Monday morning started alone
for Grafton, North Dakota, leaving both
of my friends behind me. On Monday
[ rode 81 miles and passed through
Faribault where large military instl-
tute is located. Tuesday I rode 90 miles
and on Wednesday morning, the 25th,
| was joined by a fellow wheelman
Harry B. Ley of Iowa, who was going
to Melrose, Mimi, to buy cattle. We
had a pleasant journey of S5 miles
together that day and reached Melrose
at night.
Next morning [ proceeded toward
Sauk Center against Il heavy wind and
rode only a few miles when [ hired
out to a German farmer to work until
Saturday night. On Saturday night |
took the train from Osakis, Mimi, to
Grand Forks, N. D., 1876 miles, and had
my wheel checked through. | arrived
at Grand Forks at 4 o'clock Sunday
morning and proceeded on wheel to
Grafton, 40 miles distant. And oh, such
wind! [ never did harder days
work i'll my life, but l was bound to get
there. [ walked into my uncle's about
3 p. m. and surprised them in good
shape. By this time I was on genuine
prairie. Several towns were visible in
the distance and threshing machines
could be seen everywhere. Nearly all
the farmers have planted trees SO the
little groves here and there on the great
prairie break the monotonous scene
l worked here at odd jobs until Sept. II
when | went to Milton, ~ miles distant,
to visit another uncle, Mr.. 0. C. Water
man. On my way | encountered my
old enemy, the wind, but managed to
pull through all right. | returned next
day and stopped at Hoople to call on
Mr.. VIM. Davis, former Wisconsin
resident. Here | found the three sons
of Nh. Lewis Young of Grand Rapids
On Monday, Sept. 20, I returned by
rail to Milton and began work on a farm
for my uncle. | expect to stay here a
month or more, aud if | get school
will stay all winter. Schools are not
very plenty in the winter. Wages are
$50 to $40 for country schools. A farm
hand here can get 81 80 to 50 day dur
ing harvest. | am getting $26 month,
which is about the best wages for month
laborers.
Wheat disappointed the farmers here
1t averages about 10 to y bushels to the
acre. Many expected 20 bushels and
got only S or 8.
Threshing is nearly all done. The
farmers have begun turning the prairie
over again for next years crop. Some
of the land is so hillv that it cannot be
ploughed. Park Ilver runs through the
! farm where | am working and makes
lots of 'scoulies'' or low places like
swamps. There are no groves here to
speak Of Just one vast piece of rolling
prairie. A person can see for miles in