davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-07-05

We certainly do not compromit the mod
esty of the Editor of the Pioneer by re-
publishing in his absence the following effu-
sion, which after its long wanderings. has
come home again with ruff around its
neck, bestowed by the hand of the Saturday
Evening Post:
Eloquent Extract.
Since the eulogy upon "Mr. Higgins and
General Washington" by an eloquent mem
Der Of the Florida Legislature, we are not
aware Of having encountered anything su.
perior to the following specimen of elo-
quence, in which the sagony" Of rhetoric is
piled up to the maximum point. 1t is an
extract from patriotic Grafton delivered at
Lancaster, Wisconsin, a few months ago.
Listen Phil Saturday Post.
AMERICANS i-Remembe that your coun-
try was born in blood, baptsed in gore, era
died in the war-whoop, and bred to the rife
and bowie knife. We have it through
blood, and carnage, and thunder!. They tore
their blanket wide oping. Onc-t or twic-t
it looked like mighty slim chance, but they
cut, and sheared, and tore, and slaughtered
away like blazes. (Cheering.) They CRAP
pied John Bull like pack OF bull tarriers.
They took him by the launches; they Crap
pied his wine pipe-and last, they made him
below like bloody thunder! Washington
sheathed the sacorde. The gentle olive
branch Of peace waved her green and luxu-
RANT foliage ia majesty over the shores of
Columbia; and furriners focked in and built
their nests with us among its sheltering
boughs. But a few years rolled away down
the railroad track Of time. when John Bull
came again, beliowin' up the Massaissippi,
paving onto his back the rich and luxuriant
sile Of Louisiana, and horning the bank of
sayed river, and flashing his tail like fury.
But jest before Orleans he found the great
Jackson, and he couldn't shake him more
than an oxen; he couldn't shure! (Great
applause.) Jackson stood there like tou-
riedor, and met John Bull as he advanced,
every time. At last, he hit him under the
horns, that knocked the breath out of him,
and sent him off bla-atting and believing,
like. he felt disagreeadle at the stomach!
Soldiers Of VIM esago war, and invinci-
bles Of Sauxfarse! (Here thirteen men
arose.) Heroes Of Bad Axe! Veterans of
of Stillman's fight! Very nirnble men |!
You have come down to us from reform
ed generation. Heaven has bountifully pro-
longed out your lives, that you might see
the fruits of your valor. You behold no
longer the torch Of the savage, and the
cleaning of the tomahawk and the scalping
knife. Those houses that you see about
you are the abodes of civilized and refined
white folks. This spacious edifice that sur
rounds you is not wigwam, but temple
of law and justice. How changed all things
ar! Under the spur of the school master,
the very tail of civilization advanced beyond
what the front cars then was. Glorious
freedom! Great and glorious country! Let
me die in contemplation of thy sublime des-
tiny, exclaiming with my dying BREATH
'Bear the stars and stripes aloft, and on
ward!-onward!" .(rerrifc Cheering.)
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-07-05

.John Hancock. tSamuel Adams.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
From the n. Y Courier and Enquirer.
The Fast Train-RaiIrOad PrOgre SIS.

At length there is placed on the great CEN
tral line of railway-that like band, is
wound around the centre of the State-a
train to which is given the nppellation, re-
pete with so many pleasant associations,
the fast train. IL is a step towards that
arrangement so complete in all its details,
which is practced on the great railroad in
England and to which the attention of the
world Chat reads English,) was directed in
the Quarterly. Instead Of being as so many
movements are, the beginning of an end, it
is the beginning of a commencement. The
Hudson River Road and the Erie Road arc
on the way--they come by mile steps-and
especially in the latter, the giant shadows of
competition are already casting their bene-
fetal influences over the line that has hith-
erto been without rival. Nearer and
nearer the llnes-that at Albany and Pier
mont are over an hundred miles separated
get in every month; at BinghamptOn, Utica
looks on with but eighty miles OF separa-
ton; at Oswego and Elmira, the two great
roads can feel each other. This Is the hest
Iegislatlon-the efforts which enterprise and
capital will make to protect itself, by offer
ing inducements to the people to travel
each rivaling the other in cheap fares, great
speed, luxurious cars and courteous man
ayers. These, all these, are already in a
measure i'm experience; and each year will
bring its advance in all these departments,
till we can ask the Quarterly to send hither
its men of graphic pen 70 delineate the good
order and admirable arrangements of the
Railways in the land of Brother Jonathan
as it has those of John Bull.
1t is but few years since we had any
railroads at all, and the sXpence mile was
willingly given for eight miles AN hour in
the Telegraph coach, limited to six. The
seats were frequently engaged for a fort
night in advance and if it was necessary to
secure the happy privilege of being winged
west at eight miles the hour. price was no
ohject-there were no clamorous advocates
for low fare, and the terrible evils of 60 mo-
nopoly" were as yet undiscovered.
IL is but very few years since it was not
thought practicable to run train at nj ght.
1t was thought replete with danger, and a
practice that would lead to a series of casual
ties-but ii was soon found that if the En-
gineer could not see, the locomotive could,
and that it was in fact, the best time to run
and SO experience has proved. just as in a
steamboat that travels at night, it is practi-
cable to make greater speed than when it
pursues its voyage by day-because the pas
sengers being asleep, keep quiet, and the
balance of the boat is not disturbed-thus il
is, that at night the engineer has but little
fear of crossing the usual thoroughfares-
as the vehicles which are constantly in the
way by day, are peaceably in &c the sta
| bles."
| Then came the night train in the summer
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
PAUL MINNESOTA TERRITORY THURSDAY JUNE a. 1s4e

ed to the number of his saw-mlls and flour
mills-the latter paying nearly as round a
profit as the former. Lumber still main
tains its extravagant price-emigrants are
hocking IN thicker and faster than eyer-ev-
erything in the shape of board or single
commands almost its weight in copper, if
not IN gold-and our Yankee friend at the
last advices, was confident that the profits
of his business will largely increase for
many months to come.
Nothing but some unforeseen contingency
can prevent him from speedily becoming
the richest man in California. He antici-
cipates with pleasure returning home at an
early day, paying off his creditors princi-
pal and interest, and having princey for
tune to spare. Altogether it constitutes a
very rare and remarkable case Of energy
and enterprise combined with good fortune.
The foregoing facts are fully confirmed by
intelligent men who have been on the spot,
as wsh as by letters from various and re-
spectacle sources. This man went out to
work and carry o. . regular business, with
out thinking or knowing any thing about
gold digging; but of all the mines which
have thus far been opened in Cuhfarnia,
It appears he stumbled on, by far, the most
productive.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
Steam and Water Power.

A water-m,lI is necessarily located IN q
the country afar from the cities, the markets
and magazines Of labor, upon which it must
be dependent. Water appears TO run very
cheaply, but it always rents for a pretty high
price, and the first cost of dams, races, wa
ter wheels, &C., is on the average quite as
great as that Of steam engine and equip
age, and the annual repairs are, at least,
equal. No casualty, entaillng unexpected
expense, ever need happen to steam en-
CINE; while water mills are always liable to
injury or destruction, from floods; and the
interruption of work from low water, Is a
continual and very expensive drawback. n
man sets down his steam engine where he
pIeases-that is, where it is most to his in
terest to plant it, in the midst of the industry
and markets, both for supply and consump-
ton of great city--where he is sure of al
ways having hands near him, without loss
of time in seeking for them, and where he
eau buy his raw materials and sell his goods
without adding the expense of double
transportation.
The expense Of steam engine is not
much if it is we'll managed. 1t shoud be OF
sufficient capacity to work all the machinery
with ease without working steam at high
pressure. 1t should be as carefully attended
as a clock-nothng should be suffered 10
go out of repair from carelessness, and moth
ing should he wasted from neglect.
hfc american.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
Rail Road around Lake Erie.

The Harrisburg (Pa.) Union says that
bill passed the Legislature of that State,
by which a road can be built in spite of the
ungenerous action of the Philadelphia in
terest. 1t shows as pretty a specimen of
legislative genius as we have seen lately al
ways excepting some performances Of our
Madison Legislature:
" The three sections appear on their face
merely TO authorize the making of rail-
road from Franklin, in Nenango county, TO
the town of Erie, and also TO Pittsburgh,
but the very general phrase is inserted, that
this road is TO he made sby such route rs
the said company shall deem most expedient
and advantageous and the friends of the
Company say that the most advantageous
route is from the town of Erie up The Lake
shore, TO within sir inches of the Ohio State
line, in the township of Springfield or Con-
neaut, and thence Ia Franklin; but We doubt
whether the Franklin end of the road will
ever be made. Thus, after all the trouble
and expense of passing and repeating Erie
and Ohio Railroad bills, it seems the very
shrewd members from Philadelphia were
entirely over-reached during the last hours
Of the session, and an Ere and Ohio Rail-
road bill has again been sprung upon them,
they permitting it to 90 through all its stages
without ever discovering the true object of
the act"
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
A Characteristic Of the Age.

When we look abroad upon the world
and scan its most striking features and COM
pare them with the features of the days gone
by; we cannot fail to perceive that there Is
one trait at least which emnently character
Uses and distinguishes the present from all
lhnt have preceded it; we refer to the spirit
of rapidity ia lOcomotiOn. Ii was the boast
'Oi Cesar that his legiOns in one season had
conquered in Asia and Europe, but in the
tsame space of time which Caesars legons
took TO come from Rome to Abion'> coast
AN army could now he transported from the
Thames to the Indus, or across the wide
Acknowledgment ocean which to the ancients
was VAST unknown. History records with
| pride the feats of swiftness performed by
the SURF fooled "steeds of metal true" but
wlSst is the speed of the swiftest animal in
animated nature, in comparison with the
swift winged messenger that travels along
the copper wire of the telegraph, or the
disc footed courser that pants unwearled on
his iron girdled course from Lake TO Ocean
Last year our country was thrilled by ia
ila,ous horse tro,ting 100 miles in 10 hours,
iand ID years ago Mr.. Osbaidistone in Eng
,land, astonished the world by riding 200
miles in 10 hours by relays of famous racers;
but what are all these feats in comparison
W ith the feats of few iron wheels driven
with expanded water? The crippled SOL
der whose lnckless limbs were left on some
well-fought field, can by the aid of science
travel as quietly as if sitting by his own
firesde from Albany to Buffalo, during the
time the swiftest footed racer could gallop
one fourth of the distance. We may boast
of ''the speed Of the Arab steed," and we
may admire the eagle in his flight through
the air, but neither the race of the one, nor
the flight of the other have so much poetic
Inspiration in them. as the locomotive that
/ fleet. faster than the whirlwind or the steam
ship that marches proudly against wind and
wave over the stormy deep.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
NO. VIII.

possible public utility by the Wings of New
Fork-no possible task could be assigned TO
me more pleasing 10 myself than of address
ing them on subjects deeply interesting to
hun, and in manner which should secure
their warm appreciation. | have deferred
answering your letter, hesitating to decline
that which you assured me was their wish,
and waiting for events which might indicate
position TO occupy, and which it might be
rational to occupy on the contested field of
public policy.
But where and what is that position? To
superficial observer all our patty conflicts
seem to solve themselves in personal COM
petition for the Presidential Chair. But it
IS not aiways-it is seldom so. Military
renown, the only source in Il republic of
everything popularity, elected Jackson, and
sustained ms administration, the most arbi-
trary aud oppressive with which this conn
try has ever been afflicted. His popularity
too elected bis immediate successor-but
neither Van Buren,, nor Harrison. nor Polk
was elected by or for personal popularity
here is conflict between two theories of
government, but far deeper one between
two divisions of latitude. In 1910 Harrison
was carried against Clay-North over South,
as in 1914, Polk was carried against Van
! IL
concurrence of many untoward and incon-
gruous elements which consummated the
defeat of Wings at the late eection--but
the preponderating weight was South over
North. Its inevitable consequence was the
consent of Congress TO the annexation of
Texas. But by whom was that measure
proposed at last! BY consent of South
ern Tennessee Wings in both Houses. By
whom was it at last carried? by Southern
Wing. In its inception, and it's conclusion
1t was Wing measure-it was the slave
representation, and slavery was the polar
star to which the needle magneticalIy turn
ed.
Gould say this to the Wings of New
York? Could | address them and conceal
the fact from them, or disguise it to them?
Do they yet rely upon Wings south of Ma
son and Dixon's line And if they do,
would it become me to shake the pillars of
their faith
s'What if the field be lost All is not lost -
So be it! But the leader is lost-and the
army must be rallied by the voice Of the
leader. That IS not my place. Under
whose banner are we TO march, i believe
there must be a pause-iirst TO fix upon
leader--next to choose a fortified position
then give the word and couDtersign. will
then join the camp as vounteer--and if
able, will address the Wings of New York.
Faithfully yours,
}. q. ADAMS.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14

said TO the former, "if you will build me
such house, on certain tract of land, as
| shall describe, you shall have the merinos."
"Draw your plans," said Long, sand let
me see Them"
The thing was done, and Long eagerly
engaged in the enterprise. He built for
Trotter four story house 80 feet by 20, on
the middle of an acre of land, finished it in
he most approved modern style, and en-
closed it with a costly fence, and handed it
over to Trotter for the two merino sheep!
The establishment must have cost fifteen
thousand dollars! Months before the -
Establishment was completed, the price of me-
rinos declned gradually, and six months
had not passed betove they weuld pos COM
mand twenty doliess! go
Mr.. Long held them, ell tisAs bad rsac ned
the par value of other sheep, whenhe killed
them! made barbecue, called all his friends
to the feast. and while the "goblet went it's
giddy rounds" like The ruined VenitaD, he
thanked God that he was not worth a ducat
He was ruined, and soon after died of a
broken heart.-N. Y. Sunday Alias.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
Americans in Brazil.

Most of the Californa-bound vessels stop
at Rio de Janeiro, the capital and great
seaport of Brazil. AS immense fleets have
left our Atlantic ports during the past win
ter, it might be expected that when the emf
grants met at Rio they would number quite
an army, and to the timid BraZiIans it must
seem like an invasion of the bold Northmen
1t appears that about the first of march L.
S. vessels began TO pour into the harbor of
Rio, with adventures, who by the / 9Th in
creased by daily accessons to full 1000!
A correspondent of the Norfolk Herald
writing under that date, states that the En-
peror was uncommonIy civil to Americans,
but it was the civility OF fear. He writes
/ "There are upwards Of forty vessels now
here loaded with merchandise and passen-
gers for California;; so the necessity Of des-
patch is very apparent. There are some
which have been waiting here for SIX or
eight days for water. We are fortunate
enough to have ours already on board, as
an old acquaintance of the captains had a
large supply, and not as many California
customers as some. We hope TO get off in
two or three days at the fartherest.
There must be upwards of two thousand
americans (Yankees) now in Rio, and the
Emperor has issued an edict to the guard to
modest none, or interfere with them, unless
in circumstances of great provocaton One
was arrested, but he was released the nexI
morning; and those who took him up were
themselves imprisoned. If any are arrest
ed, the cry is 'CaIfornians to the rescue.
None, are, however. permitted to bring
arms ashore with them. 1t is said the Bra
ziians were very much alarmed, asserting
that the Americans Cor Eankees) were
pouring in under false pretences, that they
were soldiers i'll disguise. The reportIis that
the Emperor is not altogether free from
alarm. He has recently been more in the
city than is usual, and, what would tend
still stronger to awaken their fears, there i:
rebellion in the northern part of tina en-
pire. But they need not fear We; tue only
object now is California, and our visit n,usl
lcertainly make good impression on the
minds Of the citizens, for although there ha:
been good deal Of fiolickng, the inhabi
tants are treated with the greatest respect
and as much order and decorum observed a:
an American citizen could desire--mort
than could be expected from what might be
termed adventures. The majority Of those
we have seen are young men of intelligence
and responsibility.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
California Gold Mines.

it is said that the Mexican government
was at one time on the point of ceding all
the gold country in California down to the
Bay OF San Francisco, TO Aaron Leggett, of
New York. one Of our citizens claiming in
demnity from Mexico. While under a con-
tract with that government in the logwood
business, revolution broke out, and his
logwood was seized to build fort, and bis
vessels for vessels of war His loss was
estimated at abou, $25O,OOO. The territory
offered to him Was not then known to con-
tain any mineral treasures, and was a mere
wilderness. Before, however, the arrange
ments were completed. although the deed
of cession was already IN the hands of Mr..
Lcggett, another revolution broke out, and
ii put an end to the while affair. His claim
is recognised as a valid one, and he will re-
ceive the amount from our government
Had the same money been offered TO him
lat the time Of the proposed cession, he
would not have thought the offer of the now
golden California, worth moments con-
sideration. How often are we treading
bindfolded on the verge of fortune NORTH
american.
The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14
The MeriAo sheep Spe regulation OF 1915.

THE PRoF1r OF HuMBro.--The meri
no sheep speculation. was one of the most
extraordinary bubbles that ever was known
in America. Ii had its origin in the year
1915, soon after the treaty of Client; and,
mt a time when thousands of our people
were actuaily under the influence Of man
,facturing mania.
IN the summer Of that year, q gentleman
frogs Boston imported some half dozen
sheep from one of the southern provinces
of Spain, whose f1eeces were Of the finest
texture, as it was said, and such undoubted-
ly was The fact, though the sheep were so
thoroughly and completely embedded in tar
and every other offensive article, that it
would have been very difiicult.to prove it..
But the very offensive appearance of the
sheep, seemed to Undue them with a mystic
rous value that rendered them doubly at
tractive 1t was said that the introduction
of those sheep into the United States, would
enable our manufactures, then in their in
: fancy, to produce brOad-cloths, and other
woven fabrics of a texture that would com
pesc with England and Europe. Mr.. Clay
was consulted in reference to the sheep, ant!
he at once decided that they were exactly
the animals that were wanted.
The first merino sheep sold, if | recollect,
at $50 the bead! They cost dollar in
Andalusia. The speculation was too prof
liable to stop here, auI before . long period
had elapsed, Small fleet sailed on sheep
speculation to the Mediterranean. BY the
end of the year 1916, there probably were
one thousand meeno sheep in the Union,
'and they had advanced to $1,000 the head.
Before the autumn of that year had passed
away they sold for $500 the head; lusty
and good-lookiDg buck was worth $4,000
In New England, in the year 1917, the
speculation, in consequence of the surplus
importation, began to decline; but it steadi-
ly and rapidly advanced throughout the
western country. Kentucky, in consequence
of the influence of Mr.. Clay's opinions
was especially beneftte In she month OF
August, 1917, saw a merino buck ADJ eve
sold for eight thousand dollars; and even
that was deemed a very small price tOr the
animals. They were purchased by Mr..
Samuel Long, a house7builder and contract
n, who fancied he bad, by the transaction:
secured an immense fortune!
This Mr.. Long was actually rabd with
the merno fever; and in proof of it, 1t is
only necessary to relate a single anecdote
There resided in Lexington-and not more
than mile distant from Mr.. Clay's villa OF
Ashland "a wealthy gentleman, named
Samuel Trotter, who was, in fact, the mo.
ney king of Kentucky, and who, to very
great extent controlled the Branch of the
; Bank of the United States. He had two
sheep, buck and an eve, and Long wa:
very anxious to possess them.
Long often bantered Tnotter for the sheer
without sucsess; but, one day, the latter