cent flow excites the surprise of every newcomer. The analysis of the water shows the component parts to be very similar to those of the famous springs at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Willow Spring Farm at the west side of Miller's Bay has long been a favorite stopping place for a limited number of summer tourists. Like many other favorite stopping places this is not a hotel but a farm house, which has long been famous for the hospitality and good cheer which is generously extended to all newcomers. It has many interesting associations and surroundings. Here is located the celebrated mound and observatory so often pointed out as the highest point in Iowa, and also as the burial place of the mythical chieftain "Okoboji." Pocahontas Point, situated on Brown's Bay, on the southwest shore of West Okoboji, is another of the choice locations for which that lake is famed. Back in the early eighties, when the lifferent railroad companies were prospecting this region with a view to building in here, the attorney for the Rock Island road, in company with Mr. Bruce, of Pocahontas County, bought the old John Brown place for that company, and after the authorities of the road abandoned the project of building up here ai that time, the land went into the hands of others from Pocahontas County and soon after came to be known as Pocahontas Point. Within the last few years quite a respectable village of summer cottages has grown up at and about Pillsbury's Point. A company of Des Moines capitalists organized what is known as the South Beach Company and purchased several desirable locations, a portion of which they have laid off and platted as cottage lots. On many of these lots some of the finest summer cottages about the lakes have been erected. Judge Given also purchased quite a tract which he laid out and platted, but instead of offering the lots for sale he has erected cottages on many of them which he leases to the families of summer tour View of Park and Lake from Arnold's Park Hotel. View of Arnold's Park and Bay from Pillsbury's Point. 553 ists. He already has some eight or ten which he leases that way, and proposes building more in the near future. The place was known as Pillsbury's Point long before any cottages were built, and is better known by that name now than any other. Attempts have at different times been made to adopt a more high sounding name, as "Cass Bay," "Crescent Beach," and possibly some others, but so far without success. This is a part of the old Gardner place of the pioneer days. Here is located the old log cabin which was the residence of the family of Rowland Gardner at the time of the massacre of 1857. Of the half dozen cabins built previous to that time, this is the only one preserved. Here is located the monument erected by the state and dedicated to the memory of the victims of the only Indian massacre ever perpetrated in Iowa. Here was enacted. the bloodiest tragedy recorded in Iowa history. Hundreds of visitors every summer make pilgrimages to this historic spot to listen to the unique and tragic story of the sole survivor of this terrible tragedy, and after listening to the heart rending recital they feel that the greatest wonder is that she is there to tell it. THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE FARMERS' INSTI- IRST and last several organizations have been perfected with the avowed object of promoting the agricultural interests of the county. At least that was given as the ostensible reason for their existence. The first of these was the Dickinson County Agricultural Society, which was organized in the summer of 1871, with R. A. Smith, president, R. L. Wilcox, secretary, and a board of directors of one from each township in the county. An agricultural fair was held at Spirit Lake on the nineteenth day of October, 1871, which was a decided success in its way, especially if measured by the zeal and interest manifested by its promoters. The society was kept up some three or four years, but the coming of the grasshoppers in 1873, and the four years destruction of the crops which followed, so demoralized the agricultural interests of the county that the annual fairs were abandoned and the Dickinson County Agricultural Society went out of existence. One or two attempts have since been made, and meetings called with the object in view of reviving the old organization or forming a new one, but nothing ever came of them. The Granges represent the next move on the part of the agriculturists to build up a farmers' organization. Their story has been told in connection with that of the civic societies of the several towns where located and need not be repeated. After the passing of the Grange, came the Farmers' Alliance. Their story is soon told. So long as they confined their efforts to the legitimate objects for which they were organized they enjoyed a good degree of prosperity, but when the management fell into selfish and incompetent hands, agricultural interests were neg lected and the leaders endeavored to use the organization for personal and partisan ends, it became unpopular, and soon was numbered with the things that were but are not. The Farmers' Alliance was succeeded by the Farmers' Institute. This institution sprang up suddenly and became immensely popular at once, and bids fair to remain one of the permanent institutions of the county. The first one was held at Superior, February 21 and 22, 1895. The first move for a Farmers' Institute in this county seems to have originated with the citizens of Superior and others in the eastern portion of the county, and to them belongs the credit of making the first start in that direction. An association was formed, of which W. F. Taylor was president, and H. D. Cole, secretary. Henry Wallace was the principal speaker and conductor of the Institute, and succeeded in inspiring a good degree of interest and enthusiasm. The first meetings seem to have been somewhat informal, but a regular organization was effected at the meeting at Spirit Lake March 10 and 11, 1897. Since the first sessions have been held at Spirit Lake, Milford and Lake Park, and at each place with marked success. There are several reasons why, in the nature of things, the Farmers' Institute is of far more value to the agricultural interests than anything that preceded it. In the first place, the organization is simplicity itself, and can be readily adapted to |