Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-08-22
For the Kenosha Telegraph
SK ETCHES OF MINNESOTA.

Mr.. EDITOR The wave ofemigration which
has been rolling into Minnesota has not stopped
at the falls of St. Anthony, but continuing its
course up stream has reached almost to the
sources of the Mississippi Lying north west Of
St. Anthony, and extending some 200 miles
along the River is Benton county, with It's bridge
less rivers, its houseless townplats, its embryo
villages, and its mixture of white and red nhab-
itants
The most pleasant and expiditious method of
! reaching Sank Rapids, the county seat of this
| county, is to step on boar the miniature steam
boat Gov Ramsey, which makes its regular
trips between St. Anthony and the Rapids, some
80 miles above. As the traveller passes up, he
will see on his left hand, the beautiful prairie
still the property of the Indians, stretching itself
far TO the westward, and displaying itself most
temptlngly. On the right 4 strip of prairie, or
openings, few miles wide lines the river, be-
word which the dark forrest frowns forbddinglv
and shuts out from view the prospect beyond
The boat stops at Sank Rapids, long enough to
give the Tourist an opportunity of viewing this
capital of Benton Co. Nor will it take him long
TO do it. The Court House, Jail, Churches of
different denominations, Lawyers offices, Ply
sicians offices, Stores, mechanic shops, public
house, school house, and dwellings of the cit-
zens, are all under one roof, and the Inhabitants
all members of one family. Below this place
some 80 miles, is Itasco, Z village twice as large
containing uro houses.
Above Sank Rapids some Is or 20 miles, is
Watab, where there are four trading establish
ments. Opposite this place on the west side OF
the Mississippi, is large village of Winneba-
goes. Twenty five miles above Watab is Atm
ems Ferry, where about 50 Inhabitants; and
still % or 80 miles beyond is Fort Ripley, the
last military station as we ascend the Mississippi.
The name of this station has recently been chan
gcd from Fort Gains; whether in consequence
of the unwarrantabic conduct of Gen. Gains du-
ring the Mexican war, or for other reasons, we
know not. The Fort is now garrsoned with
one company of nfantry-the Government not
choosing 10 pursue the course adopted by the
Quaker Colonist, with reference to the lndi-
ans.
One hundred miles above Fort Ripley, and a
few miles east of the Mississippi, the traveller
finds himself on Il spot oil ground, where a rivu-
let issues and running eastward helps to form
the St Louis River, which after passing through
the great lakes and the ST. Lawrence mingles
with the ocean. In the same vicinity, another
rivulet issues, which flowing in a different drec-
y. Il. 6 4
the ocean at the gulf of Mexico some 5000
miles from where the ST. Lawrence empties-
What an emblem of the vcssitudes of human
life How often some circumstance as trifng
as the Slight elevation between the springs from
whence issue these two rivuets, has given an
entirely different direction TO the whole course
of mans life. How often some circumstance
as trivial has produced the vast difference in the
characters, conditions, and destinies of children
of the same family.
Twenty miles above the mouth of the st. Lou
is is Fond du Lac, the Lake port of Minnesota.
As its name imports, it was originally French
village, and is one Of the oldest places on the CON
tinent Boats navigating Lake Superior have
no difficulty in ascending the river to this point;
and as it is al the head of navigation from the
Lakes, it must eventually be an important place.
There would be probability of It's being more
important place however, if this part of Mnneso-
ia was not quite SO near the Aurora Boreal,S,
and if the country around Fond du Lac, NJ T.
was like the country around Fond du Lac Wis
consin.
The spring which the slight elevation referred
to prevents from forming part of the s.. Law
renee, is BY 40 means the source of the Miss
issippi. If the traveller would follow the river
until he reaches that, he must pursue his course
in zigzag direction some 200 miles farther, IN
I'll he arrives at small Lake called Itasca, from
whence issues the longest river in the world.
A few miles from this Lake is the head of Red
River of the north, which after running souther-
ly 100 miles turns abruptly to the north and
emptes into Hudsons Bay Thus the sources
ofthree of the largest rivers in the world all run
ming IN different directions, and emptvinr at
points far distant from each other, are in Mime
sofa.
Far up the Red River, nearthe northern bonn-
Diary of the United States, and 900 miles from
ST Paul, but still within the Territory of Mime
sofa is Pembina or Lord Selkirk's settlement
This place owes its settlement IN Lord Selkirk,
prominent member of the Hudson's Bay Com
Pany, who obtained grant of large tract OF
land on Red River, and determined TO colonizeit
The first emigrants arrived in 1912. The feuds
the Hudson's Bay Company and the north west
Company, soon broke mp this settlement, but