The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-08-09
IN
SHEVLIN VILLAGE.
Observation-Disclosures
Brief Sketch Of Beltramis Fayore Children Its History
Its People and Surroundings
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

l i Z
t a town By a visit is not always &
safe 1 standard bYwhich tosjudge
its merits Oh demerits. The edi-
tor Of the Power had heard
much good of the village of Shey.
lin, but not until last week did
The have an opportunity to prove
slby personal inspection that these
|good reports were well founded.
/ His first impressions harmonized
with his previously formed opin,
lions Of that town and a few days
Isoiourn there satisfied him that
his first Impressions were not mis-
] placed. The town isl small but
Its public spirit is extra large; It's
people are hospitable TO the stran-
ger, and neighborly toteach other.
/ They are wide awake iii their bus
illness methods and enthusiastic
lover the future Of their village.
With such characteristics as these
any town may prosper, and when
Ito these is added a rich doWery Of
wood and soil as Ia hacker, the flu
tture Of such towns as Sheylin is
one full Of possibilities
Southwark from SheYlin to- the
headwaters of the Mississippi. Lake
Itasca and the State Park is a
mixed hard wood, meadow and
| pine land country, fairly well set
tied, and northWard to the Red
Lake, the lands do not differ much
in character. lnterspersed among
the brush and meadow lands will
be found quite large tracts Of Nor
way and white pine lands, now
owned aud being lum bered BY sew
eral large companies. Southwark
from Sheylin lies a tier Of town
ships coded to the government by
the White Earth Indians, but not
yet opened to settlement. When
they are opened. and it may be
soon, they will furnish some Of.
the best farms in the state.
ShevIln has about $50 inhabi-5
tants and most Of them are ready
to swear that there is not another
town Of the same age IN the north
end of the state that can make 4
Notwithstanding OF offer better in
ducements to settlers industrl-
-ons farmers and energetic business
men with small capital-for max
ing for themselves good homes and
a prosperous business.
The village is located midway
between Itasca and Red Lakes, or
the Great Northern railroad, 100
miles west of Duluth and 70 miles
east Of Crookston. 1t is the third
station, and 10 miles west Of Be-
midi. The soil here is what
some cali .'quick-sand clay,
mixed with sand, d good soil to
hold moisture and to insure har-
dy crop.
The village was plated in APP
iii, 1898, by A. A. White. Of St.
Paul. who still owns the township
except what portions have been
purchased and improved by indi-
viduals. The ct. Northern was
completed into Shevlin early in
September, 1898. The village was
incorporated May 4, 1899, and the
first election was held on the 10th
of the same month. A. i. Cor
don was appointed postmaster s May
IL, 1899, but as there was no mail
route established, the office was
not opened until July list.
The History of Sheylin is the
history Of Beltrani. Settlers be-
gan to flock in afoot and by team ;
some located permanently, others
moved on. The town grew rapid
| ly, then Stacked to a more steady
gate which it still maintains.
HOTELS.
The first hotel was Hotel Shey-
lin, built and for a time operated
lby I'll. A.. Dickerson. It was OPP
Tened to the public about the first
of April, 1898, and is now owned
.iby O. G. Lee.
The Central Hotel was built By
land has since been operated BY
| NJ artin Nelson. 1t opened Dec,
Is, 1898, and has done thriving