The Irish standard., 1901-11-09
Notes of Interest Concerning
Some Bright Towns
In Minnesota.
Farmlng3Lands Fast Changing
Hands in a Number
of Counties.
improvements Noted in General
by an Irish Standard
Representative.
Special Correspondence Irish Standard.

Special Correspondence Irish Standard
There IRE number Of bright cities
and towns in Minnesota. That branch
Of the Milwaukee system known as the
Hastings & Dakota railroad, has its
full quota, amongst them Glencoe,
Olivia and Ortonville. The first men
toned is in Mcleod county, the second
In Renville and the last in Big Stone
county. Olivia, now the county seat
Of Renville county, has new court
house IN course of erection and a mum
Der OF other new buildings are also be-
ing added. 1t is growing fast and
most prosperous future seems in store
for it.
That branch of the Milwaukee which
runs between Ortonville and Graceville
has other good, substantial towns.
There Is Graceville, for instance with
Its twelve hundred people, one of the
brightest in the galaxy With the
same number of inhabitants there is
perhaps no town in the state that will
surpass it from business stand
point. 1t is well governed, has two
banks, flour mill, an opera house, a
creamery. a number of fine stores,
two newspapers-the Enterprise and
the Phenix-several elevators and
system of water works and an electric
light plant that are thoroughly metro
politan. And it has not been neglected
In the matter of church and school.
Graceville has not the largest
Catholic church in the state, that is
not to be expected, but it has one of
the neatest, THAT is certain. The
grounds around Holy Rosary church.
the parochial residence and st. NIary's
Academy are we'll cared for and good
taste is strongly in evidence. st.
Mary's Academy is conducted by the
Sisters Of st. Joseph. 1t is a boarding
school for girls and is patronized large
ay, as it richly deserves to be, from
the outside. Both Holy Rosary church
and st. Mary's Academy are splendid
Brick structures, the latter having been
built within the past few years.
big Stone is a good farming county.
There is not any doubt whatever about
this. 1t was new and practically
unsettled county twenty-five years
ago. Many of those who settled near
Graceville back in the los came from
the cities, principally from Minneapolis
There were hardships, bitter to endure
then, and perhaps for years later, the
dlscouragenerts were many, but those
who accepted the situation as they
found it and had faith in u better day
have certainly nothing to complain of
now. Lack of thrift or enterprise may
have kept a few in the back ground,
but 1t is safe to say that no commun-
lty within tho commonwealth from a
general standpoint, has Jared better
than that around Gracevilc during
the period mentioned.
The land hunters are here in num-
bers this fall. They hail from Iowa
and Wisconsin principally. Some of
the 0ld-tmers are selling and prices
for land range from twenty to thirty
dollars per acre, the latter figure being
nearer the mark. Some of those who
are now selling will settle in the towns,
some will try it again "on the frontier"
though 1t would seem they might bet
ter ''let we'll enough alone" Judging
from present indications, however, the
next few years will see many new
faces in this part of the state. Be that
as it may the people WHO live here
today are a progressive. thrifty people
and deserve great credit for the success
they have achieved. Graceville, 1t
may also he added, is on the Browns
Valley branch of the Great Northern
road
Barry, about six miles from Grace
vile, in the same county is n busy lit
tie town. 1t has improved wonder
fully within the past few years. A
neat Catholic church, in course of
erection, will soon be finished.
There Is Beardsley, too, village of
no mean proportions. What has been
said about the country around Grace
vile will apply to Beardsley as we'll.
newspaper is published here.
Amongst the business men are the
Jordan Bros, who conduct fine hard
ware store, besides being engaged in
other business.
Wheaton, In this particular section,
and that is what we are now covering
in this letter, does not give away to
Graceville in any respect so it is said.
Wheaton is in Traverse county, is the
county seat and Is certainly live
town.
Along the line Of the Great Northern
from Morris to Waverly there are
number of good towns, but space for
bids that notice we would like to give
them at this time. Benson ranks
amongst the best.
Some of the people your correspond
ent met, representatives Of their var
io,ls localities. may here he mentioned.
Olivia-James Kirwan, T. H. Nc
Ginty. NJ. r. Sherin, Mrs. P. J. Shaefer.
VIM. Moran.
Graceville-J. T. Heating, VIM. Car.