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THE LAKE BEAUTIFUL. Kianetcnka, the Bright Particular Star Among the Constellation of North western Eesorts. \ I Charming Eetreat Where D nil Care is Dissipated and Joy Eeigns Unco-fined. teliglitfui Steamboat Rides— Boating Facilities aud Fishing Un surpassed. . *alatlal Hotels and Elegant Summer Homes-- Various Points of Interest. The Big Water. ."There is a lake embosomeil In the West — Slot like a jewel In the billowy fold Of Nature's preen, luxuriant drapery. Hero, in midsummer, when the stately woods phut skirt the siuuous borders of the lake Are greenest: when the lightest breezes tan The leafy banks that top the lofty trees. A.nd fret the buoyant surface of the waves to foamy ripples— here the wearied eye, - {The labored footstep, and the troubled mind ' Love,'>ost to Seek among secluded haunts the iyet denied them by the vexing world., tlcre Nature's fingers press most tenderly On grateful forehead?, and her wannest kiss Consoles the chafed, Impatient heart of care. Here she pursues her own harmonious y\". thoughts. And links her fancies in a thousand charms; Mt overwrought, and gaudy of device, Jike man's inventions surfeiting the eye, •Hit like the unconscious beauty of a child, 'A* full of innocence as loveliness ■ - y ■ !Tlat wins a smile, although we know not why j This is Minnetonka, i "the gem of Minne sota's coronet of lake diamonds," the most chant summer resort of the entire Northwest, and without exception the queen of inland resorts for the enjoyment of lite in a practical manner during the _ eatttl term. 7 \7^7 .7". ■} -M : M Lake Minnetonka has become the synonym for pleasure and comfort among thousands of Minuesotians, as well as a magic wand, as it were, to draw devotees [from all parts of the American continent to flier shores. "Mitwetonka, like the bright, bewitching belle ef the Northwest that she is. bewilders her admirers with hey lavish beauty, yet keeps ever in reserve a wealth of attractions, which she reveals ; only to those who yield to her alluring spells, and leads them day by day into fresh infatua tion." 7 '7 : ;'7* So much has been written and said of Minnetonka during the past five years in » various parts of the country, that an at- B tempt to dwell at length upon its manifold attractions and charms may be considered superfluous. Yet, although volumes have I been written and portfolios filled in the at tempt to do justice to the subject, it is ad .; mitted by all who are competent to speak ' intelligently upon the question, that no" charm of artist's brush or cunningly wreathed words from author's, pen, has . : given or can give, a just and true idea of Minnetonka's beauties. The lake and its surroundings must be seen and seen often, |to be truly and thoroughly appreciated and, enjoyed. For the -information of those I' who have never enjoyed a season at this who have never enjoyed a season at this charming resort, rather than for.those upon whom the '<Big Water" has especial claims, I whom the "Big Water" has at her shrine, by reason of long devotion at her shrine, . this article is written; and it is sent forth on ! I its mission with the hope that . some word may be said that will * j induce seekers for pleasure,' comfort j \ and profit in their best form. te leave \', the heat, cares and busy turmoils of city {life and spend a vacation season in a de i ■ lightful region where rest, recreation and a recuperation may be enjoyed in an em »inently satisfactory degree, ."- : E Lake Minnetonka is "located in Hennepin county, about fifteen miles southwest from Minneapolis and twenty-five miles from St. Paul. It is reached from St. Paul and Min neapolis by the St. Paid, Minneapolis & Manitoba railway to Wayzata, Minnetonka Beach aud Spring Park: by the Minneapolis & St. Louis railway from Minneapolis to Hotel St. Louis. Excelsior and Lake Park, and by the Minneapolis, Lyudale & Minne -tonka railway to Excelsior. \ Minnetonka has 15,000 acres of water sur face, and is surrounded by a well-wooded : shore that presents at least 100 miles of j building sites. Its extreme length from '.Wayzata in Lower lake to - Chapman's in ; upper lake is about fifteen miles, but the ! formation of the lake, with its twenty-five [ bays and numerous inlets is such that it is j estimated that there are at least 200 miles 1 of shore in the circumference of- Minne ! tonka. y77 y . I The irregularity of the coast is such that if it were . straightened and bent into the circumference of a circle its area would be 790 square miles. The bays which com prise the "Big Water" vary in size from 1 one mile to five miles in length, and from : a quarter mile to three miles in width. A •' majority are navigable for the largest ■ steamers, and they afford a variety of seen ; cry that is unsurpassed by any summer re-' • sort on this continent. Along the shores ; nearly two hundred cottages, hotels, board ing houses and club houses . have 'been erected during the past five. years, r and their owners or _ occupants represent \ nearly every state in the Union. Many of • these are elegant in design and finish, and i all are homes of comfort .■ and : ease, where [ the weary business man, the ' seeker" for j health, the tourist . and the sportsman can i spend many hours and days amid the charms' and attractions of delightful sur roundings. 7 To make the .'trip ( from Way [ zata to r Chapman's, with . the reader, and describe the many enchanting scenes ' that greet the eye along the route, would oc- ' cupy more space than • can be devoted to this article, and the reader must be content with * glimpse at some of the especial feat ures of lake life. . """" HOW TO REACH MIXXETOXKA. Tourists and lake visitors have a choice of three excellent routes to the lake from Minneapolis. From St. Paul there is only one direct fine by which. the lake may reached without change of can. Pleasure seekers can take the trains of the Manitoba road from the Union depot at St. Paul, at 5:30, 9:30 a. m., 1:30, 4:30 5:80 and 10 p. m., leaving Minneapolis twenty-five minutes later, making the trip to Hotel Lafayette in one hour. These , trams pass Hamline university, the state j university, the famous Minneapolis mills, j and cross the celebrated stone arch I bridge, from which a magnifi ! cent view of St. . Anthony' falls '■ can be had. Fast time is made from .Min | neapolis to Wayzata, where a dozen- boats 1 are in waiting to add to the pleasure of ; tourists by a trip around the lake. If the passenger desires he may pursue his j jour- | ney by rail to the Hotel Lafayette or go to ! Spring Park, the terminus of the branch. The 10 o'clock train from St. Paul connects with the through train from St. Louis which leaves the Southern city daily at 11 p. in. and comes to St. Paul over the Wabash. St Louis & Pacific, lowa Central and Chicago,' Milwaukee & St. Paul. A through sleeper from St. Louis to Spring Park will be placed on this line. Beside this line to the lake there are two routes from Minneapolis to the • Excelsior side.- 7"',' ■:'..: . ;'■" The principal line is the Minneapolis &St. Louis, which reaches Hotel St. Louis, Salberg's point, Excelsior and Lake Park, and is the popular line for business men and tourists desiring to reach these points.- The management is liberal, the service is excel-: lent, and the trains make fast time. V, AYZATA. I This is the , only through line r from St Louis .'and Chicago to Lake i Park and Hotel • St. Louis. Passengers i can leave St. Louis at 10 a. in., I and reach i Lake Park at 1 o'clock the next day, over the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney, Bur- I lington, Cedar k apids & Northern, ;. and ; Minneapolis & St. Louis roads; or leave at : 8:15 p. m. and reach Lake Park at; 7:25' j the next day .yon; the same line. From i Minneapolis the trains leave the new sta j tion, corner Third street : and 7 Fourth i avenue north at 4:30, 8:30, ' and 9:25 a. m., j 12 m., 3:20, 5:15 and 6:30 p. m. '■''. From j Northome to Lake Park passengers have [ a splendid view of the lower lake and the- I surroundings, which enhances the value of j atrip over ; this line. '7' 7. ? .;;' . The Minneapolis, Lyndale '& Minnetonka, { railway, 1 or as it is better known "The Me 'fJ-GB ST. PAUL DAILY GLOBE, StT_TDAY M<sft^&, JUNE 21, 1885— SIXTEEN? PAGES: HOTEL LAFAYETTE, tor Line," offers a delightful trip from Min neapolis to Excelsior.^ Trains leave Minne apolis, corner First avenue and Washington, at 9 a. m., 12, 10 and 5:15 p. in., for the lakes, passing through the heart of Minne apolis out into the suburbs, past Lake Cal houn and Lake Harriet, then across a charm ing bit of country to Excelsior, landing pas sengers at the Excelsior ■ wharfs, where a steamer owned and operated by the motor is in readiness to convey all who desire around the lake. Returning, the motor leaves Excelsior at 7:25, 10:40 a. in. and 4:85 p. "in., making the trip in good time. Open ears have been put on this line, and with new motors, new oars built expressly for lake business and efficient service, the '•Motor Line", will be better prepared than ever before to cater to the lovers of a de lightful excursion. The railroad fare is the same by all lines: $1 from St. Paul to the lake and return, and 75 cents from Minne apolis, y "•; My AT THE LAKE. Having selected a route by which to reach the lake, the next question to be answered is, "How. shall we spent' the time?" If the pleasure is to be confin. dto . one or two days, two features should be in ; eluded in the program. A trip to Upper I lake and several hours fishing and boating, ' For the latter there 1 are ample facilities at ! ail points, , and: at .all hours boats of all I Clashes can be. secured, and experienced ; fishermen can be engaged to make the time pass pleasantly and profitably. At j Excelsior, the Blue Line aud O. S. j Gates are well prepared for this kind of work; at Lake Park, C. W. Cyphers will attend to the wants of guests; at .Wayzata and Hotel Lafayette Capt. G. V. Johnson has a fleet of fine boats, and at Chapman's, John Chapman will show vis itors some of the finest fishing j grounds on the lake. . Small steamers are in abundance at various points, and may be chartered by the hour, day or week. Among the number I the Rosander, Hebe, Minnie Cook, Forest Queen. Phoenix, O. S. Gate's new boat, Why Not, and the Cascade. The Lake Minnetonka Naviga tion company owns the majority of the . large boats. The fleet com prises the Belle of Minnetonka, Capt. Ed West, capacity 2,500; HatiieMay, capacity 300; Lotus, 250; Minneapolis, 200, and the Saucy Kate . 100. , These boats make daily trips and form the pop ular water route. Hon. W. D. Washburn owns the City of St. Louis, capacity 1,000; Miner Ball, the Star, capacity 250 and the motor line the steel-hull steam er, with a capacity of 2,50. All the ; large boats make Upper and Lower lake trips, which form a very important part of the season's program. Indeed a trip to the lake is not complete unless the Upper lake has been visited. THE HOTELS. While a large number of the sum mer residents of the lake prefer the quiet of cottage life to the vanity and gayety of hotel life, a major ity of those who spend a portion i>f the season here prefer the atter. As has been stated elsewhere [he hotels and boarding .houses that ' cater to the travel are thirty-three in number, and in their charac ter are adapted to the various - classes -of trade. ;'•-. The devotee of fashion,' the seeker for elegant comfort, the mechanic with a limited bank account, and the millionaire who wants the best that ••• money can pro cure, can each and all have their tastes and desires 77 gratified ; among ; the hotels about the ; lake. Rates - are from 91 ;to7 83 r per day ; according to location - . and . • accommodations ; ':* offered. The Hotel Lafayette stands at the head of the lake hotels, and with three or four ex ceptions is the largest summer resort hotel ou the American continent. i It is situated^ at Minrietonka beach and is /owned by the Manitoba Railroad-company. 7 It was built in 1882 and, up V: to the , preseht thne more than a million doHars have been expended' to make it the most elegant and palatial summer resort house in the West.. It is SOO feet long, and enjoys' the distinction of being the largest hotel used exclusively for summer business in tlie world. Its width Is 100 feet, from the foundation _ to the ; gable is 90 feet, and around the entire '■ building runs a piazza varying from twenty to forty feet in width, whose over-hanging roofs af ford a sheltered promenade from which the eye ranges unobstructed ; over the manifold beauties of both the Upper and Lower lakes: The hotel occupies the highest point of land on the lake's circumference, and presents a commanding appearance as viewed from the various : lake points. The surrounding grounds have been elegantly arranged, and within the house, which has accommodations for 800 guest.-> evidences "of culture, refine ment and elegance are seen on every hand. The imposing office and lobby, the grand stairways, spacious vestibules and princely drawing rooms, the elegantly-appointed parlors and ~ dining halls, suites of luxuriously-furnished, rooms .with their private balconies, with numberless details that conduce to the comfort and pleasure of guests, combine to make this hotel, un rivaled among the summer hotels of the Northwest.^ Mr. Eugene; Mehl of 'the Bre voort house. New York, is the lessee, and his manager for tlie present . season will be Mr. Jewett Wilcox ,'of the " Tremont house, Chicago, and , one of the best known of America's hotel men. Under his management the hotel will assuredly make a successful season/ . The rates have been reduced from 34 to S3 a day", though .the standard of the hotel: willD'oe kept up to its former excellence, efforts 'even being made to surpass it. With a cuisine unri valed for its excellence, and a service equal to any in the land, there § is , certainly ho reason why the house"' should ' - not be crowded from the present time -till tbe close of. the season. "A telegraph office, an express office and a ticket' office are connected with the hotel, and a postoffice will be added as soon 'as the business of the season warrants it. ~ .'-7 ...One week from to-day -an orchestra of fif teen pieces from Milwaukee will arrive at the hotel for the season, "and will concertize daily, alternating evenings with' hops and concerts." Prof. R. 11. Evans -Of St. Paul will be master of ceremonies . during the season, and the social pleasures will be un- .A.; S. DIMOXD. .7 limited. The concerts by' the orchestra are free to all, and summer .residents,'!' as Well as citizens from St." Paul and Minneapolis, • are invited by the | management to visit i Minnetonka and enjoy the music, v The Lake Park , hotel .opened its spa j cious and hospitable doors" yesterday for the I season, and mine host, C. W. 'Mclntyre, | was on hand to welcome new friends and j greet old patrons of the house. . .The season I at this elegant hotel, which is the second ' largest on the lake, promises to be a repe ; tition of the brilliant season of 1881. This i bote! is owned by the Minneapolis & St. Louis railway and a number of Minneapolis ' capitalists. Who have spared neither pains nor expense in making the Park one of the fines: and most desirable hotels in thecoun i try. Situated on an elevation by the side of the lake, surrounded by charming wood laud and bathed \ .-.continually by lake breezes, there, -is ,"' no more favored spot on the , lake than. this. The Park has accommodations for over two hundred guests, is supplied with all modern conveniences, electric lights, .' etc., and will be conducted upon a scale of liberality and good taste which insures a season of pleasure and comfort to all guests. -The general management will devolve upon Mr. Mclntyre,' and he 'will be | assisted by the following force: Chief clerk, L. D. Caf ferty; cashier, -James McCullough;' house keeper, Mrs. iL. M. Abbott, formerly of the Metropolitan, St. - Paul; stew ard, W. • H. ;McKeevef;A-head.^ waiter, Louis BeLyons t of ,' the .Metropol itan; head . porter! . Andrew ! Mooney. 0ver. 32,500 have been expended in improve ments about > the : house and grounds since last season. A telegraph and express of fice is connected with the house, and music for concerts and hops will be furnished dur- CAPT. F. W.i HAL3TED. ing ; the entire ■ season by y a competent ! or chestra. Mr. Mclntyre has received many applications from former patrons for rooms this year, and *; Indications point :to a very successful | season \ for. i this \ charming ; hos telry, i : • • My- ■■-.'.< ''-.''"*■ * •-■ iy: The 610,000 amusement hall will be run as usual, and will prove an important factor in ■ swelling . the ■'; umber V% of Lake y Park guests. 7 ; It •■ is the most" elegant : amusement hall on the lake.' -7 M. :■■ ■.'•-: -j'm yi\yy- ' ~M / ■'• ' The Hotel St. Louis will -not be open regularly until about f July 1:V. Mr. Preston Gibson, the popular - superintendent of \ the I louse','' ls on hand, however, and is pre '■■■ xriug ., the i established » favorite hotel , :ir business In a manner that will cave nothing to be desired > when ~. the •iason -opens. , The ; St. Louis was milt : in 1879, - and each; season ;' has' >een crowned with abundant success/i [\i\ the i past '. it '•■ has ■ been ''■ they popu i _ resort with ; Southern tourists. It mould : not 7be understood 7 that -1110 'otel is v conducted exclusively for Hithern patrons, because It is owned uid operated by the Lindell Hotel lompany of St.' Louis.;: Many St. Paul md Minneapolis people will make this heir summer home this .season, and here is much ■* wisdom .; in • the choice. The ■ hotel is a first-class one ti every, respect; it is away rom the I stir and bustle '-''^^^^m he villages of the lake, a:. I lore rest and quiet enjoymei I id an abiding . place." :Th I brce of the season is not I inriounccd, but the big ! I tandard of the past will )>l maintained during the preset l l eason. The guests alrca ' I looked for the season v . I !orm a brilliant compan; I Jul the society at Hotel H amis will be second to nomH >n the lake. The Excelsior house is ail •stablished hostelry that haH voii many friends in the is! H (is. 11. T. Wait is proprietor .iid Mr. W. '; W, Waite is is ■ uanager. .'■ Situated on a H nninence overlooking the In I unexcelled in locution, in the excelß lence. of cuisine, and in the attenH tion paid to guests, it occupies i!i<H leading position among the hotels i.H Excelsior. Bookings have bee numerous, aud the house is In-iiuH rapidly, filled. , ________! The Chapman house at UppeM -lake, conducted by Geo. A. S'.aterM who also runs the popular SlateH house at Excelsior, Is doing - sple I did business tins year. The locatioiH is one of the best on the lake, y.r^^^^^ grounds are spacious, boating, bath ing and fishing are handy and the house is ' in excellent condition. Thisis a popular place for dinner parties. The other hotels and places of promi nence about the , lake are Bartlett Place, Upper lake; Gleason house, Harrington's and the Minnetonka house, Wayzata; the Blue Line hotel, Clark house, the White house, Kalorama' cottage, Long View house, Sum mit house, Mrs. Graham's Mrs. Darnell's and Vineland villa, Excelsior; Cottagewood i:lub house, Maplewood house, Maplewood; Shady Isle house, Shady Isle; Island Park club house, Big island; Pleasant View house,' Howard point; Mound City . house, Sampson's. Upper lake; Spring Park club house, Spring Park. M'MM-MM POIHTS OF INTEREST ABOUT THE LAKE. Wayzatta— Oh the north shore thirteen miles from Minneapolis. Population 200; has one church, Congregational; three gen eral stores, two hotels and a number of business houses. Steamers connect with the Manitoba trains and convey passengers to all parts of the lake. Excelsior— The most important point on the lake. The Tourist : says: "It is the key to lake business, and from it radiates the greater part of the travel to all parts of this notable watering-place. The steamers nearly all' make it the starting point for their trips, and two railways— the Minneapolis & St. Louis and the Minneapolis, Lyndalo & Minnetonka railways— run from twelve to fifteen trains daily from . the city. It has telegraph and telephone connections, I and two mails daily. Express, United States. Population,* 585. Among its institutions and business houses are numbered three churches — Congregational, Methodist aud Episcopal— graded schools, an academy, a newspaper, three general stores, hardware store, two hotels, some eight or ten board ing-houses, and other establishments usu ally found in villages. 7'y-y- : 7- The village occupies a commanding po sition, with about two miles of lake shore ! front, and surrounded by an attractive and j productive farming country, with numerous [ groves of hardwood timber. \ The region I around it is celebrated for Its- delicious grapes, strawberries, fine .vegetables, milk and butter, and Excelsior is the market for the products. It isa natural watering place, the village being built on a range overlook ing the water. Lake Park, with 200 acres of land heavily timbered, lies one mile northwest of Ex celsior. Here is located one of the leading hotels of the lake, and here a large number of villas have been erected, prominent among them being those of Gen. T. L. Rosser and J. L. Spink. The Minneapolis &St. Louis road runs daily trains here, and altogether it is one of the most' charming j spots on the lake. It is a favorite spot for picnic parties. Minnetonka Beach occupies the center of the peninsula formed by Crystal bay on the north, \. 'Smith's bay on the east and Holmes' bay on .the south. The. Hotel Lafayette is located here, and the Manitoba road runs frequent trains daily to this point. Spring Park, in Upper lake, was laid out in 1880,. and contains ' 150 acres of land. There are a number of elegant villas,, and a spacious club, house located here. 7 Mound City, at the head of Upper lake, has a population of 100,. and has three LAKE ; PARK A US MEN T H A LLi hotels. It is a popular resort for fishing parties. 's , ..•.: M- ■ CRANE ISLAND. 7 ' '-"> " This is one of the landmarks of the Upper lake, and it has achieved prominence from the fact that it is One ]of the two nesting places of the Blue heron of the Northwest. ' It is common practice for 7 the "■steamboat pilots to go around the 7 island y during the Upper lake trip, and blow the whistle long and loud. ' This ' procedure 'never, fails to arouse the jj cranes and they flit "about the island in a lively 'manner. They are num bered by the j score and prove : a source of constant interest to visitors. '■ ■f ir-fOr^:.^ 7. THE HERMITAGE. '_:'■ 7 One of the most interesting spots about the lake is the Hermitage,' located on ; the mainland, % opposite Crane island, Upper lake. Here for many years was the resi dence, and .is how the last resting :, place of Capt. Frank \W. HalSted; ra ; brilliant I young man;* in the days agone, and one of, j the pioneers of Minnetonka. Capt. Hal- I sted earned his title during the war .whiles | in ?r the ?? Mississippi ■} squadron under 'Ad- 1 miral • M Striugham. 7- If y the ' sstor y :':■:-. of / 1 ; his life could be followed in detail it would j form a romantic tale. Returning fjom 5 the ■< I war he settled 'down at the •' lake ■■ and 7 en- ; ; joyed a life of quiet. '? The 'Hermitage : Is j located on a'- r delightful ] spot, which com-;' 1 mauds a splendid view of Upper ■• lake 7 and v ; | the surrounding forest, j and jj here the ] cap- ; ; tain lived alone, seldom moving in society, I i but always glad to /welcome visitors to his ! '"rough and ready cabin. "> f A few. years ago '. a deep cloud came over his life and "he j sought peace and oblivion in" the : depth of the blue waters . over which he :' had | ' • • ■'■ ' -~ ■ ' ■ - ■ - — — — -^— — — -*^*- ailed '" for many " summers, " and visitors to Upper lake are shown the mound which covers his last resting place. A. s. DIMOXD. .- I While it may seem invidious to particular ize where so many are concerned in the devel opment of Minnetonka as a first-class sum- mer resort, justice demands that especial mention 'be made of y the indefatigable efforts of Mr. A. S. Dlmond, editor of the Northwestern Tourist, in this direction. Mr. ; Dimond was ■ born in ; Pittsburg, Perm., fifty years ago and came to Minne sota in 1855. He spent his first season in this state, on the - shores of Minnetonka, I taking a claim which he a f forward sold. Soon after this he went to Chicago, where he remained until 1873. He was engaged in the printing business and was for the major part of the time in Chi cago, employed by one firm. ■ Twelve years ago he .:. returned to Minnesota" and estab ished a printing busi-* less. : In this he 'was successful, and '.three ears later, 'during the a tinnier - months, he jonceived the idea of establishing a paper jo "boom" Mln ne on k a into promi- L-:ice. This Idea was j .0011 formulated Into action, and in 1876 the ■ M innetonka Tourist, ■monthly paper de lt .oil to the interests lLake Minnetonka,'? THE HERMITAGE. was issued. The publication, after the first ■ number | as a monthly, was changed to a weekly paper, and by, its ' merits won a place in the. esteem and confidence of all interested in the work 7 to Which the Tourist was dedicated, v At that time there was but one summer residence on the lake shore, and a year later the number had in creased to three. Of hotels, the | number was rive and all were small. - Now there are thirteen hotels, twenty boarding houses and about one hundred and seventy summer cottages. In 187(1 but three steamers were running on the lake. J»3 To-day, if the weather is favorable, the lake visitors may see twenty-five, of • all I styles, classes ' and sizes, ranging from the palatial Belle of Minnetonka,; with accommodations for over two }} thousand people, to the less pretentious • ...; private steamer with accommodation only for the family of the owner. In 1876 one railroad was suffi cient to attend all the "demands of- lake travel. In 1885 there are three lines Which run twenty trains between the cities and the lake daily. During these years of pro gress and steady growth, in the summer business of the lake, Mr. Dimond has pub lished a bright, newsy, , illustrated paper which has circulated in nearly" every state in the Union. He has spared neither time, j - . . ... . .-..■■ 1 energy or expense In setting forth the claims of Minnetonka. and the large circu lation of his paper -,; in . the past, to gether, with the onward ' march of ' many ; 'of ; its • : readers, to -the lake is a sufficient guarantee that his labors have not been In vain.7 Fire has i twice de stroyed his business during these years, 'and added to these : drawbacks 7a ; variety has been ' given ' his ' experience . by his being "blown up," at the explosion of the steamer Mary," oh the lake, July 2,' 1880. The illus trations ;'• for 7 this :, edition of 'they; Globe ; have been • furnished by Mr. .' Dimond, and form a part of an elegant descriptive, illus trated guide of Minnetonka,' y M- •' ' yy-] 7:7<7r7.c^'A ; .^'ziMMEKJiAx7''_,, No man during the past five { years y has been more closely identified with the devel opement of the steamboat interest and bus iness upon the lake than Mr. C. A.Zimmer man, manager and one of j. the owners of the Lake Minnetonka Navigation company's fleet of boats. He made his first visit to ; Minnetonka twenty, years ago, while on a photographic tour. . He found-it a slumber :ing wilderness, with '■■ no especial*, premoni ; tions of the coming notoriety and develope ; ment ',? as 77 a\ % summer, resort. 7ln 7 1876 he : '■■.: [ decided My:'., to MM spend his sum mers 7at . the •;;' lake, \-, \ and 7 two years later purchased Enchanted, island in-Upper lake. To : secure , transportation y from his summer -home to 7 the railroad station at Wayzata he decided to purchase a steamer, and in 1879 bought .the Lulu, "a "nobby" craft, engaged In the United States service He renamed her the Nautilus and". she din a paying ' business : aside , from the personal service for Mr. Zimmerman during that EXCELSIOR. season. Mr. Zimmerman soon found 1 hat there was jj| a demand for some boats jto 'run ' regular on the • lake, and in 1880 he built the Lotus. 7 Capt. May, a prominent Minnetonkian,had two steamers, the Minneapolis and Hattie May, which he sold to Mr. Zimmerman as a part of LAKE PARK HOTEL. I the lake fleet. - By this time the railroad companies had entered ' into an arrange ment, which was mutually beneficial to rail and -boat lines. In 1882 the Saucy Kate was added to - the fleet, which gave Mr. Zimmerman the ownership of five first class , steamers. The steamer - City of ■: "• St. Louis was ; • put 7on the lake in 1881 by £ Gen. W. D. Washburn of Minneapolis, and the following year formed apart of the Naviga tion company fleet, the name by which Mr. Zimmerman's property was known. The boats pooled their receipts, and a satisfac tory \ division was made. During - these years Mr. Zimmerman had been improving the condition of his boats and adding to the efficiency of the service. Col. P. S.David son -of ■ St. Paid brought <■ the ... steamer Belle -of Minnetonka 'from 7* La Crosse '.•'■' about this ; time, ; : • ; - and proposed to enter the field as a competitor or lake business. . Mr. Zimmerman had the Navigation company incorporated, took the Belle, into the line and the City. of St. Louis -: retired, Gen. Washburn forming the Lake Minnetonka Transportation company. Last year the boats ran with the Belle, Hattie May, _ ; Lotus, Minneapolis and Saucy , Kate " in the Navigation company fleet, < and the City in the L. M. T. company's fleet. No lake in America has better trans- ] portation facilities than Minnetonka, and for this priceless boon great credit should be given the self-sacrificing labors and devo tion of Mr. C. A. : Zimmerman, who has given most liberally of his time, energy , and money to the work of making this fea ture of lake life one of pleasure and com fort to all patrons. 7 . 7 M'. '•■'.' Why Landladies Laugh. y What is rarer than a day in June?. Well, . edar. a square meal at our boarding-house I about fills the bill.^-Boston Post. There is ay, prospect of a famine ; in hay, and boarding house pillows will be harder than ever.— Philadelphia Call. . \ r , ■"■"'" It is said of a Western poet that he wrote some of his best poems m a boarding-house, and, like ' the j boarders, there's nothing :in Yonkers Statesman. : 'MM; M First Boarder— ought to be called the Terrapin house. - Second Boarder— to be funny? 7 First Boarder No; the name would be very : appropriate. Terrepin get : fat *on nothing.— Philadelphia Progress. Spring Poet No. siree: you can't shove an ode to your boarding-house -chicken in on us as: spring poetry. Truth- is not what ' we desire in poems; we want sentiment;; nice tender sentiment that we can cut into ] without a buzz-saw.— Cincinnati Merchant I Traveller. ,?;;:.;(■ ; * 'And what is this, pray?" :, inquired the . near-sighted ; boarder, peering " ' into the ; covered dish. 7 "That, sir. is hash, " replied ' the landlady with ''.unnecessary.' emphasis. ; "Oh, beg pardon, ma'am," said the near sighted boarder; "I thought perhaps it might j be a war map, you Boston Tran i script, j 7 " Of a Georgia" woman ,: who died recently it is said, "whenever food was mentioned she grew pale and trembled." We are not told whether she had. been in the -habit of dining at a railway restaurant or had lived all her life in boarding, houses, but her ex perience must have been acquired • in one or the other direction.— Boston Traveller. ■ :./" ■ : 'A-^o_>^i»e,ac£7 yy .'ln sending him away in the morning ..- When the sun" Is low in the cast, And he does, not mind our parti * -■•" ■- Does not mind it in the least. • .> : For in.the school room I tell him Is the place for. a boy tobo: -,: ' 7 I So we say good-by with many a smile 7-77 And he throws back a kiss to me. But, oh! at last 'in the evening, 7 When the suu is low in tho west, . v I sec him coming home to me,*"" J. ", , / 7 ' '. My. dearest- aud my host! ;..'..'.■ I forgot what I say; in the morning, 7 And l think -.v.- both a.-riod- -yy.. .7/7- That ip mother's tap t>.. t to fireside '■'■:: o. Is the place i'or a l>oy to lv->. ; . '. v --..f» Ori'iias Chronicle. 13