The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-08
ROCK C|)UNTY'S BOON ON
THE PROSPEROUS CORNER OF MIN
NEsOTA CATCHING MANY EMIL
GRANTS THIS YEAR
LUvERNE BUILDING ACTIVITY
More improvements Being Made
Than in Any Small Town In
the State-WiIImOnt's
Sudden Growth.

LUVERNE, MINI, May s. = Especial
Correspondence.)-The state of Minnesota
in general and the Southwestern portion
of the state in particular would appear.
judging from present Indicate to have
bright promise in store for it during the
year 1900. The building and Improvement
activity of the state has already assumed
pace of which few states in the Union
can boast; and the volume of imrnigra-
tion indicates that the influx of new
settlers this season will assume larger
proportions than during any year since
the early pioneer days on the frontier of
Minnesota.
From different sources comes the sug-
| gestion that the North Star state will
this season enjoy the greatest prosperity
IN its history. Estimates conservatively
made from these items and from informa-
ton furnished by the railroad companies
whose lines extend within the borders of
the state place the increase In popula-
ton thus far this season at from 5000
to 5000
While the great influx extends through
out the entire state. the southwestern
section is probably receiving the greater
majority Of the new comers
Rock, known as the banner countv.' -
IS certainly getting it's share of new set
tiers. and is receiving a healthy building
Doom. LuVerne, the county seat, will
probably do more building the coming
summer than any one town outside the
FW1n Cities. Thousands Of dollars worth
OF improvements are already well under
way. Among the principal new enter
pr1ses in store for Luverne this season
ana for which plans and specifications
nave been drawn are the new Jail for
ROCK county, to be located on the court
mouse square, to cost $4,000, and when
completed, will be a superb model of
architectural achievement; a. first-class
sewerage system, for which Civil Engi-
neer George l.. Wilson, who, for the
past ftteen years, has assisted in the
supervision of the city sewerage system
III st. Paul, has been in this city for the
past week for the purpose of establishing
grades and drawing up plans and esti-
mates Tor the local system
In connection with these an indenendent
elevator will be built by a stock COM
pany incorporated under the laws Of
Minnesota, with capital of S1GO 900
Ihe company Is composed of the business
men of this city and farmers residing in
the country contributary to Luverne.
Inc elevator is to have a capacity of
5O,U0O bushels, with the latest and most
modern equipment. The object in view
is to give all who bring their produce 10
Luverne the full benefit of tine Eastern
markets, after deducting the actual ex-
pense Of shipping, etc. Many new and
hapdSome residences, ranging in nrice
from $1,000 to $1,000, areisted with con-
tractors for erection this season.
A large amount OF cement sidewalk will
also be put in, both in the business and
residence portions of the city. Factories.
business blocks and large three-story,
brick hotel, plans for the latter having
already been drawn, thanks to the en-
terprise of c. b. Macfadden Sioux CITY.
are some Of the projected improvements.
Inc erection of this hotel has heretofore
been considered unwise, owing to the alb.
sence of public sewerage system.
Among other towns in Rock county
that anticipate extensive and an unusual
amount of building this season are Hard.
WICK, where several fine new buildings.
including business establishments, are
now in course of construction: Beaver
Creek, Hills, Ashcreek, Kanaranze, Mag
nol1a, Stern and two new towns on the
new Burlington, Cedar Rapids & North
en railroad extension west from Worth
ington, Mobiles county, TO Conova, S. D.
A most substantial evidence of the ex-
tensive growth of Minnesota during the
year 1900 is found at Willmont in the,
B., G. r. Il n. extension Three months
ago Willmont was thing of the future.
Today it is widely known. The town
sprang up In an open field and unfenced
prairie seemingly in single night; five
elevators, varying in capacity from % 900
to $1,000 bushels, three lumber yards.
several farm implement houses, stores
Of all descriptions, restaurants, residenc-
es, banks and livery stables have an
pear as if by magic, and the traveller re-
turning to Willmont after a short alb
sence can scarcely believe his own ewes
Such has been the short but wonderful
history of Willmont, located but twelve
miles northeast of Luverne Not the
least noteworthy feature of this new town
is the fact that its citizens, with very
few exceptions, came direct from Iowa.
Illinois, Nebraska and Wisconsin-and
the larger majority of whom are well
educated young business, men who have
chosen Minnesota as a safe place in which
to cast their lots. EXaggeration is IN
necessary-the bare facts speak only too
plain for the great future of Minnesota.