Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-11-22

torical romance, yet 50 commonplace
to the actors therein that few see it.
It is a tremendous travail Of empire
building worthy Of the best and tru-
est craftsmanship, yet its public IN
lterests are too often left to the CHI
canery of opportunists and corrup-
ton Of grafters.
The editor made a brief trip into
the very outposts, where this trans
formation drama is being enacted. A
few notes regarding the trip may be
of interest to Tribune readers.
There were four in our party. G.
A. Erickson and w. 0. Johnson, the
landmen, and r. W. Stanford, the
lawyer, were the three. The general
purpose Of our trip was to inspect
and learn more about the land pur-.
chased by the Willmar-Nebish Col
onization Co., in Beltrami county.
This was particularly the mission Of
the landmen and Mr.. Stanford, who
lis the secretary Of the company. The
latter was incidentally nursing an
ambition to get shot at deer and
was therefore carrying q gun with
him. We never saw this gun outside
Of its covering, but the eel-jacket
bullets in shells the length Of your
index finger which he exhibited con-
vinced us that it was formidable
engine Of destruction which our law.
yer friend was toting around. These
exhibits also helped to establish an
unalterable resolution to get back
out Of the woods before the opening
day of the shooting Of deer-and
slaughter of innocent by-standers.
II We left Willmar on the afternoon
Of Nov. 7, three days before the deer
season opened, yet hunters bound for
the north woods boarded the train at
nearly every station. Many were clad
in the uniform of the modern deer
slayer-a red mackinaw blouse and
cap in order to be less easily taken
for a deer at a distance. The Great
Northern permits the hunters to take
their weapons into the day coaches,
but the Northern Pacific requires
them to be carried in the baggage
coach.
We were obliged to lay over five
: hours at St.Cloud. Little change
since former years is noticeable in
this city. The growth Of the granite
industry is apparent however. St.
Cloud marks the beginning Of the old
time forests of evergreen trees, and
great quantities of logs are yet float
r ed down the Mississippi thru this
place.
At 9:55 we board the N. P. train
S and proceed northward. Our next
destination is Bemidji, a ride of 100
miles. Too bad to travel in the night,
when one is curious to see the eoun-
try. We continue along not far
from the Mississippi in Benton coun-
ty, then pass into Morrison county.
It We pass Royalton, illuminated with
!. electric lights, and soon arrive at
Little Falls, where we get a glimpse
of the water power electric plants
= and paper mills. Ever northward We
- pass Fort Ripley in Grow Wing coun-
ty, and soon are at .Brainerd, the
> county seat and an important cente,
= for the N. P. railroad. Again. on,
train speeds out into the dark. W.
- pass Merrifeld, Hubert, Smile, Pc.
. quot and Jenkins. Next we course
- northwesterly into Cass county, the
first station being Pine River. Pass.
- ing Mildred, Backus, Hackensack ani
Hunters, We arrive at Walker, locat.
II ed on the western arm of that INLAND
sea known as Leech Lake. This arm
Of the lake is in sight in the starlight
for five or six miles. Leaving Walk.
i er our train steams thru the north.
= east corner Of Hubbard county ant
into Beltrami, the empire county, il
\ which you might locate two states
u the size of Delaware and still have
500 square miles to spare. Soon the
horizon was lighted by great mum.
Der Of electric lights and as we drew
u near these were reflected in the wat.
e ers of the lake. We passed the inn
Il mense smoke stacks and stock piles
y Of two big sawmills, and the brake
: man called out "Bemidji." Leaving
the train we hurried to hotel, ''The
u Rex" three story brick structure
e with modern appointments to SLEEP
u until morning.
* Imagine the city of Willmar with
t 5000 inhabitants built on the old
: Irving townsite on Green Lake, with
II the business section on the lower
ground near the outlet and the resi-
dence portion extending along the
n lake up over higher ground. Instead
S of prairies beyond see forests OF
e noble pine trees all around. A boul-
: evard laid out along the lake shore
o The Carnegie library in public park
: facing the lake. Just about so lies
= Romi1ii IN tho 1oko with tho como