The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-04-05
A LETTER FROM c. x. scHAFER.

A LETTER FROM G. x. scHAFER.
This is "All Fools Day., which is
sufficient excuse for my presuming to
write.
For the past six weeks we have had
remarkably fine weather for winter, in
fact it has been very spring-like most of
the time. In some parts of the state
there was some blowing and seeding
done in February, more as an expert
ment than anything else l thing. A
good rain and snow in some parts, fell
the first of the week which has put the
ground in good shape. The eastern
part OF the state is so very fiat that
many fields were not fit for cultivation
over the whole area. Artificial drainage
has not yet been p-actised to any great
extent though it is being considered.
People are beginning to move into this
state from Iowa and from this state
numbers are going to Canada. New
and undeveloped countries are still
drawing pioneers.
Although many consider this state as
new and not possessing advantages of
older settled states, yet person would
be surprised to see the telephone lines
stretching across the county and see
vehicles marked R. F. D. moving along
the highways, which at this time are
not at all ideal especially to bicyclist
The mua in this particular locality, at
least, clings with an affection that is
most touching.
Fargo is making strenuous eff orts to
raise $4,000 with which to erect Y
M. G. A. building this year, and al.
though large new church and Saliva
ton Army building was built last year
and another church will be this season
yet the finance committee are very
hopeful of success. Grand Forks built
asplendid Y. NJ. G. A. structure last
fall and our city is very envious OF this
city's prosperity so cannot bear to see
her get something which we haven't.
Grand Forks has the University and
Fargo the Agricultural College. In a
fight for the state Fair, the Legislature
this winter compromised by giving it
to Grand Forks and Fargo on alternate
years.
On March 18th. as Teddy was holding
the attention Of all good citizens to the
imposing exercises and ceremonies in
Washington. thought it most excel
lent time to go to Canada and possibly
annex part of it. I crossed the line at
Neche on the G. N. in the guise of q
pedestrian and entered the Kings vii
lage of Gretna unmolested, expecting to.
meet people whose phonetic efforts do
not include the letter CHI 1 was sur
prised to fined so many persons whose
speech gave evidence of them having
come from the 'Fatherland". A few
greeted one with Good Day" instead
of Good Morning which 1 was told
betrayed the true Canadian. Being in
Kings country naturally wanted a
scrap with some one but saw no one
worthy of my efforts, not to be disap.
pointed, however, bought some pic
lures of King Edward and after licking
them good on the back turned them
round and pounded them on the face
until they stayed put. After that I
felt better In looking around town /
saw some political hand bills still past.
ed up which had quotation from ha
whose picture graced the poster, some
thing like this;
The people must choose between a
governments controlled by the railroads
and railroads controlled by the govern
ment you see they have troubles similar
to our own, at the bottom of the bill
was the prayer God save the King"
Curiosity led me to examine some Of
the stock OF one of the implement
dealers. was surprised to find fully
nlne-tenths OF the various machines and
implements on hand. to be made in the
United States some in fact from our
own Iowa. Prices l believe are not
materially different from those found
in a similar town of our country. Not
being molested by either customs
official or immigration inspectors, | re-
turned to the land of my birth in good
state of preservation. I
Yours truly
G.. X Schofa.