The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-07-16
TO THE IRON RANGE
Interesting Account of Trip to the
Minnesota Iron Ranges by
Princeton Parties.
The Pleasures of Roughing it to Get
Located on Minnesota Stone
and Timber Claim.

oAoi1e'1 oAAo VI -AOlllei OOOSeS rhyme.
We were destined, rather, for that
portion of Uncle Sans domain known
as the Mesaba Iron range, our purpose
being to appropriate some of these
lands as a ''claim' under the stone and
timber act. And the trip, anticipated
purely as a business one, was so full Of
novelty as to prove a most entertaining
experience.
A succession of surprises greeted US
in the marvellous growth Of towns along
the way to the lake city during the
few years intervening since our last
trip through this section. NIilaca with
its extensive lumber yards and it's
handsome school-building Mora, grown
to quite metropolitan proportions,
Hinckley, where all traces of the dread
tire-tiend's visit seem obliterated, and
Sandstone with it's fine red stone quarry
being perhaps, the most noteworthy of
these points.
At Mora our party was made quar-
tette, DR.. Buchanan of that place join
ing us, and at Duluth we we're met by
our accommodating cruiser, Mr.. F.
Stadden of Princeton.
Had it not been for this last named
gentleman we might have Jared badly
as the city was filed to Overlooking,
the occasion being convention of
Swedish Lutherens, but provisions we're
q Il
quarters at Hotel St. Louis.
At 1870 the next morning, we we're
speeding along the lake shore toward
Two Harbors over the Duluth and Iron
Range railway. The waters were some
what hazy in the distance but sparkles
danced upon the nearer surface and as
the mists cleared, boats appeared here
and there upon the bay.
The fshermen's cabins along the
shore looked tidy and inviting, and the
pretty homes dotting the hillside with
an outlook far over the bay, seemed
almost ideal for a summer location.
At Two Harbors, we realized that
we had, indeed, entered the iron belt.
Train after train made up of the little,
red ore-cars stood at the docks await
ing, each it's turn to be unloaded, it's
cargo transferred to the waiting barges
and thence by the lakes, direct to the
eastern shelters.
The road leaves the lake at this
point, turning northward and plunging
directly into the land of ''Christmas
trees The country throughout this
region is very interesting, numerous
little brooks purling over rocky beds
that give hint of the toothsome trout.
an occasional island-dotted lakelet, set
Elements opening up along the line,
and limitless groves of spruce trees and
the balsam fir forming natural parks on
every hand.
Near Bassett lake we enjoyed a
glimpse of deer, standing but few
rods away and gazing in startled Won
der at the train speeding so noisily by.
We rejoiced that for this time, at least,
the beautiful creature was exempt from
the dangers Of the sportsman's gun.
Skibo-not Carnegie's castle, but the
tiny settlement consisting Of station,
section-house, hotel" and two or three
wee cabins where our party was to
land-was reached about 1880 and as
we alighted the conductor sent an
amused glance after the "gentler"
members Of the group murmuring at
the same time suggestive query as to
rubber boots which we feigned not
to hear. 1t began to dawn upon US.
however, that it might have been well
mad we needed the advice Of one wiser
than ourselves in the matter of dress
and indeed, this is true. Clad for the
occasion in short skirt, high boots, etc.,
we see no reason why the trip could
not be undertaken by any one reason
ably strong and accustomed to walking.
Miss L. and her companion were as
signed to the section house where we
found Mrs. Eaton a very agreeable hos
tess and the gentlemen betook them
selves to the hotel little distance
down the track.
That afternoon was spent mainly in
a stroll through the nearby woods to
prepare us in part for the morrow
tramp, and down to the railroad bridge
which crosses the St. Louis river at
this place. The stream is exceedingly
picturesque below the bridge, being
literally filed with boulders amidst
which the current finds it's way, eddy
ing and ripping in the delightfully."-
tuneful manner that only falling water
can convey.
A very domestic looking feline and a
porcupine were the only wild (?) ami
mails we encountered but they tell US
it is not uncommon to see deer and
even moose come down to the river at