The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-05-24
From the Minnesota Regisser.1
MlNNESOTA-THE COUNTRY.

VI Nuo ~. NSoixs runs Snrough rich valley
OF prairie and oak openings; the bank,
above the Falls Of St. Anthony are from
ten to thirty feet high; the river runs over
gravelly bed, and 10 fed by iunumerable
small rivers Of clear and rapid water; nc
marshes or low ground Of stagnant wates
are found 10 the vicinisy-consequsntly the
country i free from fever and aRue and
bilious diseases that are % common farther
South. The soil 10 rich and admirably
tor raising wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes
Vegetables yield beautifully, and there is
not better country in the world for rails
ing stock. The farmer finds ready mar
ket tor oil Of his surplus crops, nearly halt
million dollars will be paid out annually
to the Indian tribes and for the support Of
the military establishment above the Falls
OF 81. Anthony;-this amount 10 paid in
specie BY the agents Of the Government,
aud large portion finds il way into the
pockets Of the farmers and mechanics, in
exchange for their produce and labor.
On the 81. Croix and its tributaries the
Pineries are very extensive, and hundreds
Of laborers find steady employment, good
prices and ready pay. Above the mouth
Of the Grow Wing river, on the Mississippi,
the Pinery extends north for three or four
hundred miles; il 10 one of the most extern
sve in the world, aud the day is no. far
distant when il will supply tho valley Of
the Mississippi, with building MATERIAL
The country bordering upon the head wa.
tiers Of this river is strewed with large and
beautiful Lakes, which nre filled with ex-
cellent fish. The white fish 10 found in
them in great abundance and Of q very
large size, even larger than those in Lake
Superior. Red Lake is over one hundred
miles in circumference; Leech Lake more
than fifty, and probably one-fourth part of
the country 10 covered with Lakes Of the
purest water. The sugar maple 10 found
in great abundance upon the streams and
some Of the Lakes, and the land il Of the
finest quality. So soon ~ the Indian title
10 extnguished thousands of Iumbermsn
will Ind employment in the north. AT the
mouth II Grow Wing river there il now a
Fort in process Of erection; The site was &c.
lcc,ed BY Gen. Brooke last summer; il has
been named by the War Department ..For,
Gaines" Two companies, one Of ORA
goons, and one Of Infantry, have been as
signed to garrison il. Another Fort 10 now
in contemplation by the government; il
will probably be located near the head wa
tiers Of Sank river. about seventy miles
west from Fort Gaines. The attention of
the government has also been directed to
the Importance Of est abishing a large For,
on the Red river Of the north; the British
Government has already est ablishsd one on
her side Of the line, Fort Gary, and garri-
soned il with four hundred men.
Tho valley Of Red river is ono Of the
richest valleys in the world; mostly rich
prairie skir,ed with fine groves Of timber.
The population Of the valley Of this river
10 nearly twenty Thousand half
hreeds-nllhough there are a grea, MANY
English, Scotch and French farmers Of the
first class. The principal settlements are
north Of the line, and the inhabitants Bri-
tish subjects; they raise large herds Of cat
tie, horses and sheep. Beef pork, wheat,
-four. flax, wool and potatoes are cheap and
abundant; heretofore the trade Of this set.
Element has gone to the Hudson BAY, Blu.
the settlers are turning their attention
south; the Forte now building remove the
only obstacle that has been in their way
fear Of the Sioux Indians Of the plains
Last summer about 6vc hundred carts came
down from Lord Selkirk's settlement load
ed with the produce Of their country, and
With money and furs TO purchase supplies
from our merchants. They we're much
pleased, and from one 10 two thousand are
expected down the coming summer.
j - to be hoped, and has been strongly
recommended, that our government will
make . tressy with the northern Indians
for the purchase Of the valley Of the Red
river south Of the 40 deg, and so soon 40 i,
shall be done il will he filled with an indus
trious and moral set ot hardy pioneers, who
will soon enrich themselves and the coun-
try from the bounsiful crops the coil will
produce.
We hazard nothing in saying that Min.
nesota before the close Of this year will
contain twenty thousand people. A more
intelligent, industrious and moral popula-
ton cannot be found. The inhabit ants are
mostly from tho northern States, and we
venture nothing in saying that they can.
not be excelled in enterprise Of true worth.
The climate is remarkably healthy, and
we'll suited 10 eastern people. Four years
sgo one boat month At 81. Paul, Silva.
ter. and 81. Peters was looked upon % IN
event worthy Of notice. List summer the
arrivals amounted 70 ono hundred and lifty.
Tour. q. Paul has sprung up % il BY ma
gic; i now contains nearly one thousand
inhabitants, and 10 the largest town 10 the
Territory except Saltwater, which 10 siiua-
led at tho bead Of St. Croix, and tho mos,