The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-19
! sss.sss-a Psss.r. Dr. n,.assss..

quest tnd W0uu luinibh you some teAo -
TO the climate, soil, and present condition Of Minnesota
Territory In reply, kproceed to make the following
statement Of facts, which necessarily be brief, bul
trust will be, 10 extent at least satisfactory
That part OF Minnesota which lies east OF the Missis-
sppi river constituted portion OF Wisconsin Territory
before the admission into the Union Of the Stale OF that
line drawn from the main branch OF that stream TO the
mouth OF the St Louis ver Lake Superior, now d.
vide Wisconsin from Minnesota. On the west Of the
Mississippi the parallel OF 43 deg 80 min is The line OF
division between the State OF Iowa and Minnesota west
to the Missouri All the country up the latter stream 10
its junction with the Whitewater and along that river 70
the British possessions, thence easwardy following the
line Of 40 deg TO s intersection Of the extreme north
west boundary OF Wisconsin, in Lake Superior, apper-
tains to Minnesota Territory: The embraced within
these limits contains between 100000 and 100000 square
miles, equal in extent to New York. Virginia. and Penn
| sylvania combined. y
This immense region is bountfully watered BY the
Mississippi st Peters, and Missouri rivers and the HE'D
yero the north, and their numerous tributary streams,
which traverse in every part There also innume
rable bodies OF fresh water which abound in fish OF va
great numbers in the northern and larger lakes The
general character OF Minnesota is that OF high rolling
prairie but the streams and lakes are bordered with
wood known along the Mississippi below, except beech
and sycamore. AT point about eighty miles above the
falls OF st. Anthony west Of the Mississippi, commences
q large and remarkable forests which extends to the
south, nearly al right angle the Minnesota or ~
Peters river, to the branches OF the Makao OF Blue Earth
river. This vast body Of woodland is more than one
forty in breadth Many beautiful lakes Of lipd water
found within its mits which the resort Of nnu
merable wild iowl--incladng swan geese and ducks
The dense thickes along its border afford places OF con-
cealmen for the deer, which are killed In great numbers
by the Indians The numerous groves Of hard maple al
ford to the latter. at the proper season. the means Of ma
king sugar, while the large cotton and butter nuts
are converted into canoes BY them for the transpor.
tation of themselves and their families along the
water courses and d lakes AT the apprcach o. WIN
sively upon the buffalo for subsistence seek the deep
est recesses Of the forest, to hunt the bear the deer
and smaller fur bearing animals among which may &c
this beautiful country to be found all the requisites to
sustain dense population The soil is OF great fertility
AND unknown depn covered a. WIN s mould o.
hitherto from the intrusion OF the pale faces but
the advancing tide Of civilization him that
long he must yield up his title TO this fair domain and
ancholy reflection, that the large and warke tribes OF
Sioux and Chppewas who now own full nine-tenths Of
Grafton OF the same causes which have swept their
ern brethren from the earth, unless enrely different
line Of policy is pursued BY the government towards
strant OF benign laws, and hope extended to
them, that education and course of moral training
would at period hereafter entite them to be placed
whites, much good would Sc the result
The soil Of Minnesota is admirably adapted to the cul-
vaton Of all the cereal grains Wheat OATS and barley
grows to great perfection Wheat and barley afford
crop. at the British Red River colony which
What viii be the result in the cultivation Of fruit trees
in Territory has been tested but there is no
doubt that the experiment will be successful,
with all those species which are produced u TIE same
to be great agricultural region and her prairies are
we'll calculated for the raising OF stock There is
also such an extent of water-Power throughout its
broad surface that be perceived why
uactures should not flourish also The reports OF those
scientific who have explored the country justify US
in the belief thai our Territory i rich il copper ores and
is problem yet to be solved 81 shall be found any
considerable quantities, the discovery will be Of more
real advantage to Minnesota than mines OF silver or
gold.
On the upper portions Of the Mississippi and St. Crox
valleys lies the great region OF pne which will continue
State for century The manufacture Of pine
lumber already occupies very large part Of the indus
trial labor Of the people The quantity produced during
though the amount is but conectura have reliable
data upon which TO base calculation Much OF this Is
needed for home consumption, caused BY the rapid in
crease Of population, but the larger portion s RATED TO
ST Louis where it meets with ready sale This branch
OF business is the hands OF hardy. enteprsng, and
respectable men, who enduring every species OF priva
ton in their wild homes too often aed TO encounter
heavy losses from the uncomfortable floods which set at
defiance equally, the strength and skill Of man.
The climate Of Minnesota is not subject 10 sudden va
the snow falls to considerable depth, yet, general
rule, we have far less than the either in New
England The northern part oil the State oil new YORK
The comparative absence OF moisture in our country rs
attributable doubtless the fact that very large bodies
Of water are to be found, although, as have before
stated small lakes abound, During the coolest weather
in winter the air perfectly still consequently the tenn
peraure is much more toerabe, and pleasant than
could be supposed BY those who reside the same at
tude on the stormy Atlantic coast
The navigation Of the Mississippi is not TO be relied on
after the first week In Ncvember and steamboats, arrive
in the spring about the 10th or 18th OF ApIl so that the
river may be considered as closed about five months in
the year. have known steamers TO reach 81. Paul as
late as the 18th or Goth November and get back safely
Gaena, and TO return by LIST oil Apr but this IS not usu-
ally the
ST. Paul Is the present capital OF the Territory. 1t is
situated on the east bank OF the Mississippi, about
miles below Fert Smelling and eight miles BY land from
thirteen hundred inhabants. and is rapidly augmenting
in population. Saltwater is thriving village on lake
| ST Crox about eighteen miles from st. Panl by land
and twenty five from the Mississippi Ii is second only
to ST. Paul in size, and is increasing steadily wealth
and population. There is also quite village at the falls
OF 81 Anthony which is of the most lovely spots in
the upper country and also at Marine Mills, the ST.
miles above the falls, and at MENDOZA, at the mouth OF
the ST. Peters river Point Douglass is at the junction
| between the Mississippi and ST. Croix rivers II is
charming place, and is destined to be the site OF town
Of commercial Importance .4
Pembna is the of a settlement side OF the
line Of the British possessions and contains upwards OF
thousand souls, principally persons Of mixed Indian and
hardy and intrepid, excellent horsemen, and well skilled
in the use OF firearms They subsis by agriculture and
the chase OF the buffalo They desire TO be recognised
citizens OF the United States, do thousands OF
their kindred, who reside at Sekrks colony in the
British territory but who are anxious to emancipate