The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-03-20
RICHARD ROE.
TFor the Minnesota Pioneer.

Mr.. EDITOR:
In your paper of Feb. 18th, appeared
a sketch of travellers visit to st.
Croix, and to part of the region lying
along the river of that name. This
sketch has called forth two communica-
tions in the Pioneer, one by st. CroiX, ,
in your number Of March 6, the other
by H., in that Of March l3.
If we look at the points in my notes
which are really controrerted by these two
writers. we shall not find them numerous
or important. For example, | stated
that legal injunction was resting upon
the mill at St. Croix. III calls this
''the unpleasant litigation the mill prop
erty is in,'' and ST. Croix calls it ''the
unfortunate dispute;" here then is diff
ference about ,cords only. And again,
had said, "Marine Mills is beautiful
location, surrounded by fine houses, -
&c., this Mr.. H. quotes and adds
"whereas, the fact is, there is fine house
the residence Of Mr.. Walker, and a
large well-finished house occupied for
a public house and boarding house, and
l believe one or two plain cottage hous-
es," SC. Well does that deny my state
ment lit evidently proves it to be en-
tirely correct
Had Mr.. II. been disposed to make
observations upon the st. Croix region,
he had the same right that | had, and he
might have enjoyed it, unmolested by
me; but that would not have been "cor-
recting the gentleman author in his state
ments''-it would not have been critical,
and therefore not satisfactory at all. AT
the same time it is necessary to remind
Mr.. H. that in extending his remarks to
points not visited by me, he is not exact
ly correcting" my Statements how
ever valuable may be his observations
for any other purpose.
AS to the general fact Of untenanted
houses at St. Croix, and the barren APP
pearance of its position, neither of your
correspondents denies the latter state
ment, and though they both attempt to
be witty upon the former, neither contra
diets it. The fact of rery small num-
Der Of houses untenanted in a new place
and new country will indicate that the
place is not advancing. This general
conclusion is all care to maintain, and
leave the wit to sparkle-if it can.
The ground of complaint against the
notes of my excursion is that speak
disparagingly and unjustly Of the region
visited; yet it is stated in my article that
"Arcola has a good water-powcr, and
the quantity of lumber sawed there the
last year is given; the Marine Mills is
commended to st. Paul as an example,
and its natural and adventitious advanta-
ges are set forth; nothing is said against
Osceola; the country from ST. Croix to
Sunrise, ii is said, would be called ''No.
timber-land, anywhere in the State of
New York; the region between Sunrise
and Greely's station is styled ''the Eden
of the Territory" &C., for / do not cite
all the remarks Of this kind. Whoever
will take the trouble to read my article
will find that the praise and dispraise
therein are mixed, just as good and bad
in the journey actually strike the eye
of the traveller.
So much for my observations. Now
in reading, even casually the commune
cations of st. Croix" and Mr.. III, one
is struck with the phrases of partial COM
mendation and prediction they contain.
A mill "probably will make next season,
six million" &C., "the water-power is
almost unlimited, yea good road can be
made through to La Pointe, uhich ,could
bring an immense amount of eastern
travel" twenty teams went up last au-
tumn, and there piN probably be double
SC. next winter, "Mr Cummings and Mr..
Arnold have fine farms commenced, this
prairie will erentualty be paradise for
farmers" ''Mr. Ross and two others