Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-06-29
K. kandiyohi.

A rich high rolling prairie, fringed
on the south border by groves of nat
ursl timber skirting upon the banks
Of belt of lakes and lowlands-
is very brief description OF the nat
ursl characteristics of the township
of Kandiyohi. The average elev alton
of the township Is about thirty feet
higher than the mean elevation of the
entire county. The original elev ation
of the railroad track at Ksndiy obi
station was ninety-seven feet above
that At Willmar and eleven feet above
that at Atwater. In wealth, popula-
ton and character of permanent i'm
provements made, this township ranks
among the best in the county. The
town has q very large percentage OF
fine farm residences, rivalling those
OF the city in size, elegance of sp-
pointments and conveniences. But in
all the homes which We visited,
whether lately erected or the more un-
pretentious dwellings erected years
ago, is found the spirit of true and
hearty hospitality. The population
of the town IL Of somewhat mixed
nationality, with the Swedish people
greatly predominsting. In the north
ern portion 10 . continuation of the
Irish Catholic community of Green
Lake township, and in the northwest
portion are some families of Norwe-
gians and an occasional Eastern born
family. Among the Swedes those
originating from Smaland are greatly
in the majority, constituting probably
the largest community of descendants
from that province In this and neigh
boring counties. The road between
the two eastern tiers OF sections is
popularity known in the community as
"Smalandsgatan." The southern tier
of sections have as early history in
the matter of white settlement as any
in the county. 1t was explored by q
party of Minneapolis people headed
by DR.. G. L. Anderson in the fall of
1855, q little In advance of the gov
ernmsnt survey. Later in the fall the
Ksndiyohi Townsite company was Or
Rsnized at Minneapolis, with John
Swanson of Chisago Lake a. presi-
dent. A more beautiful location for
q city than upon the high promontor-
les north of Lake Kasota can hardly
be imagined and in the newspaper re-
ports at the time of the selection of
the townsite, the location was COM
pared with that of Madison, Wis. In
ages past this range of hills with it's
magnificent view of the lakes and sur
rounding country was . fsvorite re-
sort Tor the aborigines, generations of
whom lie buried upon the summit.
The crumbling bones of these former
monarchs of the wilderness have often
been encountered in the working of
the surface of the land.
The main line of the Wlllmar divi-
sion OF the Great Northern railway
passes thru the second tier of sections
from the north line, and the St. Cloud
line cuts of small corner In section
six. Extensive improvements are be.
Ing made upon the main line thru this
town this year. The roar of the steam
shovel 10 heard day and night in the
Thorson cut: The track will here be
lowered thirteen feet in one place.
The town board of supervisors have
had . conference with the railroad of.
fcisls in regard to the crossing at this
place, and the latter have, agreed to
place in IN overhead bridge. When
this long cut 10 completed the trains
will run below the level OF the prairie
for some distance. AT Kandiyohi sta
ton It II said that the changes in the
grade involves raising the track two.