The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-03-13
COMMUNICATED.
For the Minnesota Pioneer.1
ST. CROIX AND THE PINERIES.

For the Minnesota Pioneer
ST. CROIX AND THE PINERIES.
Mr.. EDITOR:
A short time since I saw an article in
your paper with the above heading, and
l take this opportunity to correct the
gentleman author ofthat article in some
of his statements. Not having the pa
per now before me, perhaps shall not
be able to quote his language exactly,
but if my memory is correct, he COM
mences by saying, "The only visible in
habitants* to be seen" (there is grammar
for you,) "between Saltwater and the
Marine Mills is the Arcola Mills" ian
Irish bulD. Now if the gentleman had
looked to the left bank or bluff Just
above the Painted Rock as it is called,
he would have discovered the residence
of Mr.. Lyman, and that of his son who
have opened magnificent farms a little
back of their houses on the prairie, on
an acre and three-quarters of which, the
old gentleman informed me, he dug sew
en- hundred and fifty bushels of first rate
potatoes. This land extending nearly
up to Marine Mills, ''cannot be beat"
for growing any kind of vegetables or
grain suitable to the latitude. The wri-
ter says the "Marine Mill is surrounded
by fine houses, and appears to be doing
prosperous business" whereas, the
fact is, there is fine house the resi-
dence of Mr.. Walker, and large we'll
finished house occupied for a public
house and boarding house, and believe
one or two plain cottage houses. Mr..
Walker is undoubtedly doing a good,
safe and profitable business, and event
ually there will be built up smart little
town there. From Marine Mills I'D for
two or three miles is excellent farming
land, on which Mr. Brown, Mr.. Har~
rington, and Mr.. Otis have opened farms,
and the soil is equal to any in the coun-
try. At this point commences a strip of
somewhat rolling and broken land, ex-
tending for about four or five miles up
the river. We there strike into some
of the handsomest and richest timbered
land in the western country, fully equal
to any in Western Reserve, Ohio. The
timber is sugar maple, oak, white and
black, ash, birch, bass, hickory and but
ternut. This land extends back from
the river beyond Big Lake, which is sit
uated about six or seven miles from the
river, and how much farther back do
not know, and from within five or six
miles Of the Marine Mills, to within
about two miles Of Sunrise. Opposite
the Falls of st. Croix, on the west or
Minnesota side of the river, Mr.. Colby
and Mr.. Morton have opened fine clear
ings, the soil Of which yields quite as
good and abundant crops as the best
prairie lands. Mr.. Ross and two others
have also commenced clearings and in
tend to build on them the coming sum-
mer. Thus far up have we traced the
St. Croix on the Minnesota side, and how
does the matter stand on the east or
Wisconsin side? We cross the ferry at
Saltwater, and descend the bluff and
strike into magnificent oak opening,
which skirts the top of the bluff about
half of mile wide. We there strike
on to fine rolling prairie, which extends
to within two or three miles of the o.
ceola Mills, situated nine miles below
the st. Croix Falls. This prairie is in
tersperscd with magnificent groves of fine
white oak timber, and plentifully water
eG with lakes, and will eventually be a
paradise for farmers. Several farms
have already been opened, and several
more claims have been made on this