The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-08-02


ing company, on the east shore of Hill
City lake. This company owns mil
at Foley also.
AS Viewed From a Mountain.
Messrs. Harper and Rabey drove me
into the country east of Hill City and
we climbed Mount Pquadna, which rises
several hundred feet above the lake
level. For man of my breadth of beam
it was something of climb but | made
good, putting like porcupine all the
while. One is rewarded for his efforts
for on reaching the top of the mountain
"a magnificent and reaching view of
the country easily can be OBJ
tanned With the assistance of a field
glass we could see the distant forests,
the meadows, the lakes and rivers 1t
was a pretty scene and one it has not
often been my privilege to behold. Those
who visit Hill City should not fail to
ascend Mount Pquadna for the purpose
of gazing at the country far and near.
There are but very few log cabins in
the Hill Lake section. All the farm
houses are well made and pretty struc-
lures and look equally as well as those
in the older settled countries, and WHY
shouldn't they? Here can be had
the lumber, lath, shingles and all that
goes into the construction of a dwelling
and at prices more reasonable than in
southern or central Minnesota.
Developing the Country.
Mr.. Harper is interested in the devel-
opment of the country. His company
owns considerable land which consists
of timber and cut over >land, all of)which
can be transformed into the finest of
farms. 1t is the hope of the company
of which he is president to induce ac-
tual> settlers into that region where
lands can be had at reasonable prices.
Mr.. Harper is making it a special object
to actual settlers to locate on land near
Hill City.
The logging industry is one that keeps
men employed. During last season the
George A. Mckinley company took over
$4,000 worth of cedar out of the coun-
try Sixty foot poles were driven out
of Hill river into the Willow and thence
into the Mississippi to Brainerd where
the company's plant is located. No
finer quality of cedar can be found any
where than right in the Hill lake dis
trict. l was taken into the midst of
one tract of cedar by Mr.. Rabey and
the timber l saw there was revela-
ton to me- Millions are to be made
from cedar logs.
Another gentleman who is interested
in the Hill lake district is Professor
Frank Spront, superintendent of
schools of Lakefield.. He exhibited the
faith that is in him by purchasing sew
eraI hundred acres of land on the lake
shore opposite Hill City and is glad that
he invested his money there. Professor
Sprout is one of those jolly gentlemen
whom it is a pleasure to meet. If L am
any Judge, he must surely make the
right kind of man for school super
intendent. He is now assisting in con-
Quoting the summer school at Marshall.
I had the pleasure of his company from
Hill City to Duluth.
F.@B. Smith, formerly of Owatonna, is
conducting general store at Hill City
and is doing well.
While browsing around Hill city
looking around for information | bump
ed into a story which connects my high
w esteemed friend HI. p. Jensen with
the peach trees that are supposed to
grow in that vicinity. | would like to
relate the story but its publication
might cause the good elder to blush
deep carmine. 1t proved a good joke /
on Mr.. Jensen. He appreciated it as
much as anyone. Maybe he will tell
Won all about the peaches if you ask i
him.
Split Log Drag.
Road improvement is rife IN tne
north country and the split-log drag Is
all the rage. Mr.. Harper and the boys
at Hill CITY have drag and they are
putting it to good use on the roads
round about the town. They promise to
have highways up there that Will make
mothers clean kitchen floor look
ashamed of itself. The boys at Hiii
CITY all take hold and push things.
Drones are an unknown quantity there.
Resources of the Country.
The extent of the resources of north
ern, Minnesota cannot be grasped In
day. The SOIL called mari, is more
like light colored clay, but 1t does
not bake or get hard, even by long ex
oosure to the sun. 1t tills easily and
while no sand is perceptible in the SOIL
in the Hill City district and along POKE
CANA lake, yet pillow scours quickly. IL
is a great tame grass country. Glover
and timothy grow wild in the open OF
emf over lands wherever seed has been
scattered from tame hay brought III
wears ago by the loggers. 1t is destmeo
10 he the greatest stock and dairy coun |
try in the west, as the tame grasses 90
not winter kill. |
The early varieties of corn mature put
# is not claimed to be good country as
vet. though it is claimed the corn belt
;s moving farther and farther north. 4
The present predominating resourcesi
If the new lake district is the timber
wing around Hill lake, and some OF
this fine timber is owned by Blue Earth
county parties The amount of timber
70 he seen in a days travel around Hill
CITY is simply stupendous. Here IS
found large quantities of white CEDAR
used for railroad ties, fence posts, teie-
phone and telegraph poles and shingles;
then there is large quantities OF Dass'
wood suitable for saw logs, some OF ltl
very large after measuring two and one
half to three feet in diameter at the
stump. Mixed among the Eastwood is
The red and black birch, sugar and rock