The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-10-17
TRIP TO THE NORTH
Mankato Business Men Tell of
Leach Lake Country.
They Grow Enthusiastic Over Beauties
of the ScenerY---The Lakes and
Productive Soil.

Several of Mankato's business men.
including John FL. Stewart, R. S
Hill, Robert Brown, W. N. Plymat
and Harry Paddock, who went to
Walker and Bimidji recently to look
over the country in that vicinity, as
noted in these columns several days
ago, have returned. In an interview
with The Free Press they gave graph
ic description of a country that abounds
with natural scenic beauty, endowed
with natures most picturesque land
scapes, appealing to the admirer of
natures beauties. The clear sky,
the great chains of beautiful lakes and
rolling wooded lands, covered at this
season of the year with red, yellow,
brown ,green leaves; It is the Park Re-
gion of Minnesota and of the north
west.
The weather was the most enchant
ing of autumn's days For miles
along the line of the Northern Pacific
railway were claims of beautiful
lakes, large and small, one following
another in close succession, and each
clear lake surrounded with gently
sloping banks covered with green pine,
interspersed with the yellow popple,
brown and red oak leaves, all inter
mingled in beautiful contrast in the
bright sunlight.
At Smiley, beautiful spot among
the lakes, could be seen Mrs. Osborn 8
cottage on Upper Fish Trap lake and
E. E. Smiley's cottage on Upper
Cullen lake and in plain view also
Middle Fish Trap, where several of
the party were thinking seriously of
building summer cottages also. A
little further on is the village of
Walker at Leach Lake one of the
largest OF Minnesota's great inland
lakes. Itis here at-this stirring little
village Hon. Daniel Buck and Messrs.
Staede and Kneeland ana several
prominent business men have started
bank and are building neat brick
building. The prospects of its future
business are brisght. And the rich soil
and gently rolling lands of this vicin-
ity, so productive to the southern Min
nesota and Iowa farmer, show that
these gentlemen were possessed of
keen business Judgment and foresight
when they selected this beautiful spot.
where the surrounding country will
soon be covered with fine stock, dairy
and grain farms and newly built farm
buildings. And here where fuel is
plenty the great coal barons have no
terrors for the residents of this local
ity.
And here on this great Leach Lake
is the large Indian reservation soon to
be opened to the settler, and which
will bring many people, who will be
unable to get a homestead, and the
overflow will naturally take farms in
fertile region where they have gone.
paying a moderate price for their
lands
R. E. Brown and Harry Paddock
spent day sailing on the great lake
and visiting the reservation. Captain
Brown steered the little craft to the
! land of the re dman and having safely
| crossed tie deep clear waters of Leach
Lake, under beautiful blue sky, they
were joined by five Kentuckians, and
! visited the Indian school. The reseI va
| ton is under the supervision of Major
Scott, hail, hearty looking soldier
of about fifty or ffty-ive years. The
| reservation consists of about 24O, OOO
acres of valuable pine and hardwood
! lands, covered with great white and
Norway pines, white oak and birch.
! There are about 5000 Indians here
and six schools. The buildings across
the arm of the lake from Walker are
large and spacious and neatly kept
aud painted The Indians cut timber
and saw their lumber for their build
ings The school here is in charge OF
Superintendent George l.. Williams,
an Indian teacher of long experience,
and for the past three years located
at Walker. He has seventy-two pupils
in his charge, and whenever there III
La shortage of scholars he sends the In
dian police to bring them in, and II
the parents refuse to let them go, they
bring the mothers instead, and put
them in jail on bread and water, and
| In few days they are willing to sen
the boys and girls to school; the chill
n dren often run away and go bone
! and the Indian police have to bring
i them back; they are permitted t
/ visit their homes two hours every TIVE
weeks Mr.. Williams says that tn,
scholars are bright, lovable and tract
1 able and easily handled. and in man.
WAYS more so than the white child
: The pupils in the school were brigh
, and intelligent looking. well dressed
meat and clean. They sleep in dorma
tories in the upper part of the build
{ ing, and eat in large dining room
n Details are made every two weeks t.
assist in the dining room. the laundry
81 sewing room, ETC., and are thus laugh
| the various branches Of houtkeepin
as well. On the visit to the laundr