Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-06-27
A Trip to Watertown S. ID.

far famed land of South Dakota. Two
of the party were the celebrated feather
weights, P. +. Haugen and Albert
Christen. The railroad officials ordered
that one should ride on one side and
one on the otker side of the car; they
did so and the car was so perfectly
balanced that it could not by any pos
sibility tip over. We arrived in Wa
tertown on schedule time without any
accidents occurring worthy of mention
We found beautiful and thriving city
of between four and five thousand pop
ulation, with several fine hotels and
magnificent public library, showing
that the mental as well as the physical
man is we'll provided for. The people
are kept posted on the weekly and
daily news of the world through the
medium of three able papers. Your
correspondent in stroll around the
city happened to pass the office of the
WdtertoWn Times and boldly walked
in, which is another instance of the
wonderful power of instinct as he was
overjoyed to find it was a Democratic
institution. He also experienced
very agreeable surprise in meeting Miss
Ella Carr, of Decorah, who is a men,
ber of the editorial staff of that paper.
Watertown is connected with the
outside world with four of the largest
railroads in the countryside b. G. r, &
N, VI. & st. L., North Western and
Great Northern. We made the trip
over the b. c. r.. & N. and our thanks
are due to the officials for their gentle.
manly treatment, especially to the
boys running our home branch from
Decerah to Cedar Rapids. The city of
Watertown is located near lake that
covers 5000 acres and the deepest part is
said to be 75 feet deep. The fishing is
enough to make the Decorah sports
perfectly wild. The soil within two or
three miles of the city and lake while
very good IS not equal to the rich black
loam which extends miles upon miles
further out. The surface of the land
is as near perfect as possible. 1t is not
low and level enough to he submerged
in very wet season but just undu-
lating enough to stand either long con-
tinued dry or wet weather. The quail
ity of the soil is shown by the color,
but more particularly by the enormous
fields of wheat, oats, barley and flax.
Corn is raised there quite extensively,
but it seemed to be an after consider
alton, with most of the farmers, and
and that after putting in their small
grain if there was any time left they
would plant their corn. The result
was plain to be seen. Some field:
looked as we'll as any on the route
while others looked as if they werejus
planted. / think our Iowa farmers
) would change their program somewhat
On the journey from start to finisl
complaints were neard of dry weathe
2 and no doubt from present indications
crops will not be above the average bu
through Western Iowa, Southern Min
nesota and on the great prairies aroun'
I Watertown saw no more effects
drouth than in the Mississippi Valley
a / was very much surprised to see s
!. many farms under such high state {
. cultivation, with fine buildings, spler
], did stock and every thing to sho'
q peace, plenty and contentment. wa
o also surprised to see so few windmilli
: but learned upon inquiry that wei
= with an abundance of water could /
n obtained at an average depth of 3S fee
Is The price of land ranges from $40 to$4
;s per acre according to location, in
.r provements etc., and is rapidly increa
), ing i'm value. The Lund Land agenC
is represented in Watertown by thr'
n gentlemen who have the reputation
:, being reliable, accommodating and
a doing business on the square" l ca
, cheerfully recommend all who wish
N see that country either with or witho
the idea of buying to call upon the
gentlemen.
Imet several old friends who We
n, well acquainted with the Hon. Ign
" titus Donnelly, the gentleman wi
to scars the American eagle i'm Decors
D, on the 4th.. and they all said that as
e. orator he was excelled by few If any
ar the United states
-s H. A. BIaELO