Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-09
JOSE RAMON PACHECo.
NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI CoUNTRY-TERRIToRY
OF Minnesota

FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, sSPTEmBER l6.
We have been much interested in listening Gen. Yer
pancks 1.-THE Commissioner appointed by the President
goae treaty with the Chppewas) description Of the Upper
Mississippi country, which will be comprised in the new Ter
toy of Minnesota. He has been weeks literally in the
wilderness, where the foot Of the white man does not often
tread He Is the fourth white man. in official character,
who has visited Leech Lake His were General
hen Captan) Pike, far back 1906 Gov. Cass and
Mr.. Schoolcrat.
The Pager Indians, a section of the Chippewa tribe so
called from having plaged the goods of white trader who
taken sick while settled among hem reside that vicinity
and necessary for the Of his mission that he
should visit them in their Businesses From the mouth
Of Crow Wing river he travelled for hundred and thirty
miles through series Of small lakes but in making the por
tages they found themselves in swamps two
Deep This not the agreeable travelling particular
ly days they had nothing eat while night they
denched with rain But by wrapping up closely in
the Macknac blankets, they could when steaming
with rain After camping nights the exposure
not felt at ALL for at times they would rise the morning
literally reeking with rain, and yet take cold suffer any
serious effects thererom.
Leech Lake. called by the Indians from the number and
size Of the eeches in it. is beautiful Gen. " does
hesitate to pronounce the finest sheet Of this
try II is about twenty five miles long, and in places from
eight to twelve miles broad, but at points almost
Then again island bold headland strikes the
eye, covered with naples pines shrubbey the in
vng, while the water Of great DEPTH literally clear and
pelucd crystal Gen. " adds that no description can
convey a faint idea Of its beauty.
From Leech Lake he proceeded Cass Lake and Winnie
bgoshish Lake to the 0berin Mission Station where they
obtained wild rice and sugar BY the way, the wild rice Of
this country he deems better than the Southern rice. The
berries larger and its flavor BETTER for when boiled and
allowed TO cool ii forms consistent like good wheat
BREAD and nutritious. Any quantity Of grows all
the lakes this northern country the outlets aud bays
filed with IT, rpens in the month Of August, and is the
main reliance of the Indians during the winter months for
their susenance The sugar Of course the maple, which
made in considerable quantities by the Indians Of this country
The Pilager Indians, though they have gracecss
for bad act represented fine racetrue Of
the forest in form and character Falmouth, Of their
most celebrated Chiefs told Gen " that out Of GEO souls in
their whole tribe scattered they are, there
than dozen bad men among them This was strong
mark, but from what Gen. " Of the tribe he ncln
ed to think that they every respect superior class Of
Indians II gratifying to know they feel very friendly
towards country, and exhibit such British predictions
have imagined influence the Indians the B
fish line.
The country on the Mississippi from ST. Peters to Grow
Wing river mostly Of Openings, with small pra
res and evidently fine agricultural region capable Of sup
porting dense population. Above the Crow Wing the
headwate Of the Mississippi and around Cass Leech and
Winnebgoshsh lakes il may be called pine opening
try. The species Is mostly Of the yellow pine, and is excel
lent for ship timber Extensive mills are now being erected
the Falls Of st. Anthony by Boston company to saw this
pine timber very largely for the Southern Mississippi valley.
There is comparatively little white pine in that section, but
the yellow pine just the article for steamboat timber
Though this country not valuable for agricultural pur
poses yet in its vast quantities of the best Of lumber forms
that perfect whole necessary constitute every element to
establish the commercial agricultural and manufacturing pros
pey OF the great Western valley Weycserday stated that
Gen. Veplanck successful in the object of his mission
Wisconsin particularly interested in ias part Of the
ccssion (of 900 acres to be the future home OF the
Wnnebagoes, who will leave Territory as soon as the
treaty he has formed is ratified by the Senate
RsorrE.-Take pint of puverzed charcoal and put il
into bag then put into barrel OF new cider and the cider
will fement will contain any Intoxicating quality,
and more paIntable the longer Ii is kept