Austin. An incorporated city of about 3,300 inhabitants, in the western part of Mower county, of which it is the seat, distant 101 miles from St. Paul. It is located at the junction of the C. M. and the St. P. & M. railroads, and also upon Cedar river, which furnishes water power for 5 flouring mills in the immediate neighborhood, a foundry, plow factory, brewery, and the railroad repair shop are operated by steam. Contains 2 banks, 3 newspapers, a free public library and a church each of the Methodist, Congregational, Baptist, Universalist, Presbyterian and Catholic denominations; also a graded school with 10 teachers, the structure costing $40,000. The outlying country is a well settled and fertile agricultural region, exporting largely of wheat, oats, barley, hogs and cattle. Telegraph, Northwestern. Express, United States and American. Mail, 5 times daily. (Minnesota State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1878-9, Volume 1, R. L. Polk & Co., and A. C. Danser, Detroit, Michigan, Page 62)