New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-06-06
Upper Mississippi-Progress of Settlement
Murder by an Indian-Wars Of the sioux
The Present and Future of Iowa.

Correspondence OF Inc lTDlhe.
SALTWATER - Croix Co Wis May T..
We have now been steaming up the Mississip-
pithe great Natural Canal ofthe Westfor eight days
from the mouth Of the Ohio. The distance Is about go
miles snd here at a pretty village Of fifty OF
sixty houses. and as many wanted, whore city
lots sell from $50 20 500 and the seller conveys no
title he only agrees not 20 enforce bis pretmpuon
nights If the boundary between the state Of Wscon
Elm and the Territory Of Minnesota shall be fixed along
this River II Croix here called lake, Saltwater City
viii be IN the Territory for il be on the west side But
IL ia not fair 70 call the mere widening Of the for
twenty Eve miles below here lake any more than n
is q call the spread Of the Mississippi twenty miles
farther down Lake Pepn. In both there d rise and
fall Of several feet in floods current aud al the sttr
bu,es of river
Ills the lumber trade amounting last year % 10000.
900 Of feet for the Upper Mississippi that has given
fise TO village here. The - CroiX the Black River
Chippeway Oibway River, and the Wisconsin are
studded with mile, and three or four steam
boats run regularly when the water admits between -
Lou. and - Titus, the head Of steamboat navigation
There are very heavy mills on this River above this
place and this time the boats 90 up 20 the MONIES
Mills but in low water saltwater u the head Of steam
boat navigation the IT CrOIx River
The Land Office for the Chppewoy District il csta1
shed al the Fails Of the - CrOx. about thirty mi'cs
above this place Between here and the mouth OF the
St CrOix are almost continual succession Of
farms the residences of men engaged in numbering
The coil is tine and between the - Crox ana the NJ
sssipp 10 is said there IL most uch and delightful
tract Of country that will into market this
This river Is near the ancient boundary between the
Chippeways and the Sioux nations that Sr ccnturies
have INDUCED in fierce hatred Of each other and IN
perpetual war Over there the next point above
where III, only five years ago these tribes had battle
in the true style that % ay. With much noise
skulking and strategy. and little DioOdshcd IheY are
st engaged IN occasional ncursons across the ncutra
ground II they surprise lodge OF women and
get few scaps II amply compensate Tor tramp oil
100 or $50 miles and immOrtalizea tho warchci who
conducts hazardous and 20 glorious an enterprise
Last Fall they had for them very san urinary battle
on Rum River, whore the let ot killed amounted % a
total of three ON a side The runOr lately circulated
in the papers of fight farther north is not true bu'
there il mutual determination 20 make reprisais and
take scsps provided II can be done without too much
risk
A man was shot last Friday few miles above here
by an Indian and ON Sunday house was burned be
longing to two men who missing.
Iii supposed that the man who was shot had been
guilty OF cheating the Indians alter getting them drunk
The first matter Of surprise % person ascending the
Mississippi for the first time is the surprising beauty OF
the scenery. To ike who had like myself seen the
region fifteen years ago, when the Indians were ncgo
tiang Tor The sale of the western bank the rt suprzc
arises from the vast strides OF settlement and cviza
ton.
you do not see many signs Of occupation except tho
shante- of wood-choppers til you reach the mouth Of
the Dcs Moincs near the line between Missouri and
Iowa The line Is now disputed but will be hxcd
near the mouth of the Dcs MOincs The state Of Iowa
is engaged in rendering this navigabc - Rae
Fork opening 20 trade and population good coa
region and soil equal to that Of the waters Of the Great
Miami Ia Ohio.
Fifteen years ago all Of iowa was not wilderness
but a rolling prairie covered with oak orchards and
green grass. Now you scarcely out of sght of vii
lagos along the shores OF the Mississippi from the De-
Moines 10 the Wisconsin.
There is Keokuk and Fort Madison. burlington
bloomington and Davenport; Dubuque and other less
important but equally beautiful towns soon 70 be large
cities the dep0ts of hundreds of interior towns already
noticed on the maps
But to give a reader adequate idea OF the extent
fertility, mining wealth and future power of the Upper
Mississippi would demand closely written volume.
Yours respectfully, PGooToN.