Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-06-01

or ourages committed by individual Indians,
are assessed and paid for out of the common
fund OF the whole tribe, thus making it their
interest, lointIy and severally, 10 keep the
peace; besides which, the conviction now
pervades the Indian mind, universally, in re-.
gard to the immense, irresistible power Of
the whites, and the hopelessness of any con-
test with us.
The NJ de-ardkdn-t1r 1ran bands of the Sioux
occupy the west bank of the Mississippi,
from the Iowa line. They are in constant
intercourse with the whites, but are noted as
good natured and respectable Indians com
pared with some other tribes. Parties of
them visit st. Paul, the capital, almost daily,
and are on friendly, and even familiar, terms
with the citizens.
FACE OF THE COUNTRY.
The surface of Minnesota presents high
ly varied aspect. There are no mountains,
strictly speaking The Hills Of the Prairics,
commonly known as the Cotedu deS PrairieS,
in the western part of the Territory, dividing
the waters which flow into the Mississippi
from those that flow into the Missouri the
Heights Of Land about the head waters of
the Mississippi, and those of the St. Croix;
with occasional knobs or mounds near the
rivers the bluffs Of the Mississippi and the
rolling hillocks near some of the lakes make
up all its mountain features.
Mnncsota is emphatically country or roll
ling plains, troods and fertile lake meadops.
In the extreme North, beyond the reach Of
ordinary settlements, tamarack swamps, and
pine marshes; cover the face of the land va
luable as they are for many purposes, and
containing the elements of much future
wealth. it is not expected that white mgra-
ton will for many years, if ever tend far in
that direction.
RIVERS AND LAKES.
The Mississippi and Missouri, the princi-
pal rivers of the Territory, are well known.
The Missouri rising in mountain region,
flows with a rapid current, about four miles
an hour, is very turbid and muddy, and sub
ject to great foods. 1t constitutes the wes-
tern boundary line of Minnesota
The Mississippi rises altogether in the
Territory, in a fiat country, amidst numerous
lakes and marshes; and is in length 1896
/ miles, reckoning from :!ts utmost sources at
/ the summit of the ha1,tcur de tcrre, or div-
/ ding ridge between the Mississippi and the
/ Red River of the Norh.n 1t emerges from
the Territory in lis southern progress, at
about the Upper Iowa river, tributary flow
ing from the West, and which partly forms
the boundary between Iowa and Minnesota.
! This point if 9lS miles from it sources The
great river flows over wide bed, and be-
low the Falls of st. Anthony, is confined be-
tween high bluffs is generally clear and
limpid slream and rarely rises more than
about ten feet.
The secondary rivers are the Minnesota or
ST. Peters river, the St. Croix, Red Rum, Crow
Cannon, Crow Wing, Hokah or Root, Upper
Iowa, ST. Francis, St. Louis of Lake Superior,
James, De-Moines, Sioux, and Shan rivers
The 81. Peters rises in a region of lakes at
the head of the Coteau des Prairies, and flow
ing south west, enters the Mississippi in lat.
Al deg. SO min, about eight miles below the
Falls of St. Anthony. The whole length of
its course is 470 miles and it is navigable
for light steamboats,, in full stage OF water,
100 miles TO Patterson Falls, and at all times
for 43 miles 10 the first rapids.
The st. Croir has its extreme sources near
the same lakes which are the heads of the
Burnt Wood and Moskeag rivers flowing into
Lake Superior. 1t is navigabIe from It's juno
ton with the Mississippi for so miles from
its mouth TO the Great Falls. 1t is known as
high up as Saltwater, as Lake ST. Croir; a
| broad deep, still and handsome sheet of wa
, ter. These are the two principal OF the mi
nor rivers
f The Lakes are numerous and important,
The extreme north shore of Lake Superior,
some of lis islands 10 the British line, are in
5 cuded in the Territory, and will be valuable
; for its mines and fisheries Lake Pekin, a
} beautiful widening of the Mississippi, 1lS
miles below St. Anthony's Falls; Big Stone,
1 and Lac qm Pdrle, at the head of St, Peters
Sqndy Lake, Mile LacS, Mimi Wdkon, CaSs
r Lake, Red Lake, and otter Tail Lake; are
: some of the first class lakes. But the whole
= country in fact, is covered with these delight
ful sheets OF water, with pebby beaches
J wooded points, and lawned-like shores. They
y abound in the finest fish of different species
1 bass, muskilonge, salmon-trout, white fish
: perch and pike; besides several species o.
/ terrapir and turtle, some of which latter al
5 tain 10 an enormous size.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The pulic lands of Minnesota in market
and subject to private entry or to pre-emp'ior
y at the land office in Saltwater, are
: First the rich delta in the angle formed
: by the St. Croiy and Mississippi rivers, anC
81 extending up on the east side of the latte
river TO the Indian country, over 100 mile
y above St. Paul. 1t is rolling country, wei
watered, and sufficiently timbered