The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-05-19

. Uliruclug ttucN attention NJ tiiiS liiUT, \
. writer Ia The National lutelugcncGf gtVe- q
long md interesting descriptions Of IinI co,in-
try, from MI which, we nro disposed TO re-.
gard II ms u far more drsirnlr region lu en-.
irulr 10, ilun California with IT, precious
ores,
/ We learn from In rltlcjr, niutcd TO- TINT
Minnesota T. bounded on the north hy the
Brush possessions, on the east hy Lake 81.
prrlur aud the State of Nisconsl't, on the
-onth hy the state of Iowa, aud on the West
hy the Missouri river and the extensive pos.
sessions of the Indians. The surface of the
country il generally level, aud It ns-brcu
estimated thnt At least Two thirds of us nrrp
consists of prairie lnnd, the reminder being
forest. Much Of the roll IL fertile, aud easy
Of cultivation II is wa,crcd 10y no less than
six Of the most superb rivers on the face of
the cnrlll-lhc Mississippi aud the Missouri
River Al jacques, the - Peters, the Red
River, cmptyiug into lludsou's Bny, aud the
~. Louis, cmplying into LIKE Superior
Mere it mot for the Falls of -. Mary, IN Gu
nal having been built around those of Ming
ara q vessel sailing from New York, lay the
ST. Lawrence and ttr great Lakes might
deposit her merchandise almost within lis
very hnnrt; while il j. well knows fact that
a New Orleans steamer may 10y the Missis-
sippi aud Missouri rivers, transport the pro-
ducts ufthe South to it, more remote tStratn
tiles. Minnesota is nycd 10y the waters ofthe
largest hike in the Norld,und in its very cen.
tres are located Mt cas, thousand lesser
likes, which constitute the fountain-hcad OF
the Father of WATERS.
TIE climate j. MI that could be dasiret.-
The winters are indeed somewhat long aud
cold, but they are regular; aud, NJ to tie
summers, they are hrHcng nnG aclightiul.-
The dreaded nruc is n stranger IN this re
gion. Gnme ~ found in the greatest uhun-
dance, from the buffalo to the deer md the
grouse, aud there is no region in the world
where cnu bc found greater variety of fresh
winter fish The Indian population is 10y far
the most extensive now existing within It's
limits, but the nations are only two in Mum
Der. the Chippeways and the Sioux.
The towns aud villages in thistTcrritory nj
this time consist Of litic more than a plu-
rality, aud nre Fond du Lac, on the 81. Lou
-, u mere trnding post; ST. Peters, at the
mouth Of the river OF that name, distinguish
ed MS the site OF Fort Smelling, and as being
within five or six miles of the Falls of -.
Anthony, aud at the head of steamboat nnvi. l
gniloni aud Tue hamlet Of ST. Paul, which il
on the west side of the Mississippi, only a.
bout six miles below the mouth of the 1t. .
Peters which has been selected ns The sent
of government OF the new Territory. IL is |
situated on hluff which rises some fifty feet
above the Mississippi. and, though il is flank |
cd 10y n understandable rnther prairie coun- |
try, the soil il fertile and tho scenery both
up aud down the MississiPpis exceedingly
With regard to the agricultural products
of,hs region, tho information is limited. --
Wild rice grows in great abundance, aud is
the staple article of food with'the Indians
For corn tire climate IL considered rather
old but potatoes and tue more common
lrgcInttCs grow To perfection In many
parys the maple tree predominate-, nrsl
inc sugar is produced in considerable quinn
lies. The principal timbers are pine and
dwnrtish oak. The only Alpine region of
Minnesota is that which lies upon Lake Supe-
Tor, and the beautiful mountains which here
,iss the blue of heaven nrc invariably cover
ii with n miscellaneous forest; and, if half
he stories told ARE true, they must abound