The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-11-19
. Tho Mighty West.

The Mighty West.
Doubt was expressed by some ol the
earliest colonial fathers whether this
country would ever be settled west OF
what ia now suburb Of Boston.
On the Chicago x Northeastern Rail. |
way train that bore me To South Da-
kota a few days ago mother and
children looked eagerly from the car
window ON nearing Candy To- ace II they
could discover the new hdme the hus-
hand nnd father had selected Tor them.
Two evenings before, seventy-fivr people
GOT of at Candy to populate the
prairies about that one town The
country from Candy east To Marshall
shows "A remarkable advance in the lew
years that have known these parts.
A recent Bostonese accession TO cul-
tured st. Paul society asked several II
he had pretty nearly reached the
frontier Whether this question il IA
projection OF the foreiathers above
mentioned or prompted by st. Paul
society, do not know, but ! am con
fident the time il not far distant when
there will lie no frontier in the United
States
To an inhabiunt of Norway and Ger
many, with IA map OF this country be-
fore, distance OF few hundred miles
enst or west counts for naught. He sees
home where land IL cheap and asserts
dominion over the wild region.
| In the lifetime Of the original settlers
that community il classified with the
estn blished order and the "pioneers"
are become cold settlers" Aud what
about the and? The pioneer" planted
his shanty on the virgin soil and staked
out his claim" In the process Of get
ting his living, with small additional
money expenditure TO the government,
the "claim" becomes his farm" Az
for advance in value, price some OF the
farms in southeastern Minnesota TINT
are still in possession OF the men who
first settled upon them.
The history OF eastern Minnesota is
being repeated in Western Minnesota
and beyond. Candy is almost ms lar
from Winona as Winona is from Chica-
go. The train that put off the mother
and children at Candy carried me on
ward for Al journey OF more thnn a
hundred miles beyond into South Da-
kota. Along the journey communities
gave evidence OF thrift and contentment
that assure the future OF this wide
region which surpasses me beyond
measure with it's already accumulated
wealth and the unbounded confidence OF
the people. write this mindful OF the
doubtful tales which others than | may
have been led TO consider as the only
Incidents To an otherwise 'reary
monotony What / have just seen
makes me convert to the faith OF the
people, who are already supplanting the
pioneer shed and shanty with substan-
tial barns and comfortable homes.
DR.. ChaUncey Hobart, yet living in
Red Wing, was pastor OF the little frame
Methodist church, located in what tx
now the heart Of the great business dis-
trlct OF Chicago lie was with the pio-
ueers ia southeastern Minnesota. ]
have heen in Chicago upon the site oi
that early church and ielt the throb-
bings OF life within that mighty city
whose vast piles that could gracefully
wear the age OF centuries were natured
! within the mature years OF one man. !
4. have Travelled over Minnesota where
/ that same man saw civilizations begin.
, ming.
Wearied with the march he turns
, aside and succeeding generations leave
ancestral homes aud push on 10 repeat
, the history OF what has been. in the
new Methodist church in Condo, costing
|, 81 1000 and dedicated with all bile
. paid. was privileged To preach. The
people met, the prosperity they enjoy
their intelligence and earnestness max,
il plain that this was no longer frontier
Said Gladstone, - nerica is another
mime for opportunity" ia this ! con
cur, but realize anew that the door o
4 opportunity opens westward.
+. l.. ROBERTSON.
~