Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-07-26
HEVERAL years have PASSED and

lGugeu 10 UTaNel over NOIUucIu
Iowa and Southern Minnesota until
last week IN company with ]. F. Luse,
of Ross, and many land seekers, de-
string cheaper farms than those af-
forded by this section and other older
portions of Iowa and eastern states,
especially Illinois, we took a tour and
general survey, passing across North
ern Iowa to Southern Minnesota, and
on to South Dakota. In passing
through Northern Iowa where, ten to
twelve years ago, we could buy the
best prairie land the state afforded for
$1,000 to $500 per acre, we learned
that now, since the country has been
settled and the land improved, it has
advanced in price from that above
stated to $4,000 to $4,000, and in some
localities under certain favorable coh-
d:tions, is worth more; but much of
this land is not for sale at any price,
as the owners desire their places for
homes The prices just mentioned ap-
ply more particularly to Northern
Iowa, but the same conditions exist in
Southern Minnesota, only the coun-
try has not been settled quite so long
and the price of land has only adj
vanced accordingly.
We watched closely the lay of the
country, the crops, the improvements,
the soil and the country and condi-
tions in general, but there was not
thing to mark the place or the differ
ence so we could tell when we had
passed from Iowa across into Southern
Minnesota. The improvements, the
thrift and enterprise Of the people left
no traces or distinguishing character
istics whereby we could note the
change of states.
1t seems, and is but few years
ago, since we passed across the broad
prairies, yet unsubdued by the tillers
of the soil, of Southern Minnesota,
and by the vastness of the great prai-
ries that then rolled on and on before
us, we exclaimed,
''Rich prairies decked with flowers of gold
Like sunlit oceans roll afar.
We stopped few hours at Butter
field and Sanborn, Minnesota, where
we learned that farms with common
and ordinary improvements sold for
from $500 to $500 per acre accord
ing to location and surrounding con-
ditions. Here, at the latter place, we
turned westward, and travelled about
seventy-five miles to Candy, where we
stopped over and remained long
enough to gain some knowledge of the
country, its crops, its people and their
general condition.
We will admit that there was feel
ing of disappointment as we ap
preached the town that was to be our
destination after our days travel, be-
cause we We're looking for and hoped
to see miles of rolling prairie stretch
ing out before us as we had seen in
ut Nnr n fnx hnf
J. Us the train rolled on, farm after farm,
one after another, with good houses,
comfortable barns and other improve
ments surrounded by fine young
groves, met our eyes.
We had hoped to see acres of wild
prairie unsubdued by the hand of toll,
but were surprised to see that the peo-
pie of this mparatively new country
were enjoying the comforts of good
and comfortable homes, such as are
seldom seen and rarely enjoyed by the
first settlers of any new country.
At Marshall Minnesota, we met our
salesman, G. A. Rasmussen, who has
been associated with us for the past
several years, but is now on the road
selling our calendars and advertising
specialties. We had not seen him
since the first of May and we took this
opportunity to meet him and talk over
business matters.
Candy is beautiful and thriving
town situated on the North Western
road and has population of 1000 peo-
pie. 1t is surrounded by rich agri-
cultural territory and if the general
appearance of the buildings and
stocks of goods, and all classes of mer-
chandlse in general, in the various
il lines are any index as to the real worth
and business value and commercial
activity of a town and surrounding
country, this town certainly must be
Sclassed as one of the best of business
lcenters. Since arriving home we learn
from private source that our sales
imam, q. A. Rasmussen, who has
Travelled all over the north half of
Iowa, much of Minnesota and a
considerable of South Dakota, says
that Candy is the best town he has
visited. The business potion is nearly
all built of brick. We visited many of
\ the business houses and have every
reason to believe that they all enjoy a
good trade. We found the financial
affairs of the town were safely cared
for by two State banks and from the
/, reports we learn that the deposits in
each equal the amount usually de-
posted in banks located in older set
tied countries.
1t contains five general stocks,
three hardware stores, two drug stores,
two furniture stores, one clothing
house, two grocery stores, five grain
firms, four implement houses, three
hotels, two meat markets, one racket
store, three lumber yards, livery barns,
blacksmith shops and such other
trades and pursuits as are usually
found in towns having like popula-
ton. We do not want to fail to give
!, special mention of the churches and
the schools as each fill an important
place in the history of ever town and
mark the push and energy and moral
tendency of the place. There are seven
church organizations and each has
their church property and place for
public worship. The school building
is fine large brick building with all
4 modern appliances and conveniences
where the children receive careful in
structien under the care ana supervi-
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