4000 of the hogs were shipped by Day & Bro. of that city.

Our town promises to grow even more rapidly in the coming year. The Alsip Bros, already have orders for over 300,000 bricks from M. H. Rowley, Aaron Patterson and C. E. Brooks for constructing new store buildings."

In an interview held this year, C. E. Brooks, proprietor of the town site, stated: "If a liberal policy will ensure a thriving town, all workers, capitalists, and men of energy, are welcome; all loafers and drones will be excused;(Ossian is) no good place for them."

The editor of the Republican visited the town in April of 1869. He writes: "We found so many old friends that we will not be able to name them all. Pennington was on duty at the depot; Jack was lying around loose, with all his seeders sold, and he happy in consequence; Faust was up to his eyes in law papers; Gapt. Rowley, at his store, with a stock of goods that said 'business' to anyone with half an eye to the way goods sell in this western country; Tom McMurtrie keeping a thoughly great drug store; Shear, the artist, making himself useful outside of his gallery; Burgess, busy at the lumberyard; Freeman, at his store—but all telling the story of dull trade, at present. The growth of this town shows, however, that this slow trade is the exception, not the rule.

We like the spirit and enterprise of the people of Ossian. They are looking forward to the future. Any mechanic or artisan, who can furnish industry they need, will have a welcome and substancial encouragement. This spring Alsip will build several brick buildings. Just now they want a gristmill. If steam mills pay, some enterprising person has a fine opening, and pecuniary assistance awaiting him. A newspaper is also a felt necessity to every businessman. Mr. Hoxie, of the Gresco Times, has proposed publishing one (doing the mechanical work in Cresco) if sufficient encouragement is offered. Our conviction is that Ossian deserves more than -.his—a press abiding and permanent in its midst. The right young printer will find a good opening here.

The temper of the citizens is changing; among the necessities, now known, are rhurches. To remedy this lack, a subscription paper for a $3000 Methodist Church is in circulation with over one-half already pledged. The Catholics have a neat church building already enclosed, located a few rods east of the depot.

The Hilton House, kept now by Mr. J. C. Jordan, we found to be a very clean, well-kept and orderly home for travelers.

This enterprising railroad town now boasts of a dray. To be sure it is a primitive affair, but its projectors were determined that home industry should produce -.he first vehicle of that description. It is engineered by Charley Vinness, who also runs a fine barbershop. Charley has a partner in the dray business who he induced to take stock for the purpose of keeping the books; but Charley says the looks are keeping the partner; however, to equalize the matter, John Pennington assists him to 'lather' his customers in the evening.

Brooks & Campbell have sold over 500 Wood Reapers and Mowers this season. This speaks for the machine--they certainly must be good, if not the best made.

An I.O.O.F. Lodge is to be organized a week from next Friday. They have received a charter, and the room is now being put in readiness. The new building of Mr. ^r. Gaertner is rapidly approaching completion, and will be, when finished, the finest building in town, and the only one of brick.

The erection of the Methodist Church commenced last Monday. The Alsips have the contract for building. This structure will be fine and imposing, but it will not be very large. The friends of this enterprise held an ice cream festival last Wednesday evening, which netted them between $50 and $60.

Carl Eiler is about to erect a new brick store, 24 X 60'. The contract is also awarded to the Alsips. A new brick school house is to be built; the money having already been raised.

In fact, improvements of a substantial nature are going on in Ossian, and it cannot be doubted that this will be the best town in the county on the St. Paul railroad line.