The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-11-29
For the Mlnnesotian.
From the Clerk Of the Weather to the Public.


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For the Mlnnesotian.
From the Clerk Of the Weather to the Pnblic.
1t gives US pleasure to say that as clerk
of the weather we will be at our post du-
ring the coming winter, and for an indef-
mite period thereafter, and record most
faithfully all the whims and sudden freaks
and ebullitions of that eccentric old fellow,
"Boreas," when he occasionally breaks
loose and visits us, and with his icy
breath, breathed forth as though in hate
OF warmth and comfort, he nips our ears
and noses and almost congeals our blood
within our veins, and petrifes us into icy
statues, as stiff and rigid as the chilly
stone. Not to alarm the tender portion of
our readers, however, we promise in ad-
vance, as many fine, clear, bracing days,
between this and spring, as is in the pow
er Of the "Storm King" to give in SO high
northern latitude.
Speaking Of the weather reminds us Of
the following good one
On the 4th day of Apr. last, while
passing up Bench ST., we observed lite
rary gentleman just ahead, who, as he
turned to enter Col. Goodhue's printing
office, cast his eye around and spied us
just behind ;-"ah!'' he exclaimed, :'you
are just the man l want to see; | was
going in to see the editor about it, am
just going east to get the Harpers to
print my new work, ''all about Minneso-
ta,"-(he had spent the winter here,
keeping close housed at the 'sAmerican,"
and visited the Falls once, the Fort twice,
and went home by the way of Saltwater
and want to know all about when the
river broke up and closed, when the first
boats arrived and last ones left, the num-
Der OF arrivals yearly, the first appear
ance of wild geese, the amount of snow,
the lowest notch the mercury has reached
etc., etc., all within the memory of that
respectable gentleman, .''the oldest inhab-
itant." AS we were but new conner
then, we gave him our slender stock of
information on the subject, and were pas
sing on, when he again remarked, s.but
how about this clerk Of the weather Of
flee; l want to know something about
that? Is it Territorial office, or does it
belong to some of the Bureaus at Wash
ington? | have heard so much about the
matter lately, and from the interest YOU
manifested in it, supposed you to have
been sent out here by Government, and
if so l should like to know by whom and
what the pay amounts to-
Our first impulse was to laugh out
right, and TO say honestly that the office
was self-constituted one, and tie paw
just nothing at all, and the perquisites
amounting to about half that sum T.; but for
the sake Of the joke we did tell him that
it was the most important and valuable
office in the Territory; Government Of
flee belonging to the Department Of the
lnterior-the salary being $1,000 per an
mum, with perquisites amounting to twice
that sum, and paid in the following man.
ner, viz: for every good sized thunder
and rain storm during the sultry days of
June, July and August, when the crops
are suffering from drought, (Which to tell
the truth never is the case in Minnesota. J
and the Upper Mississippi from St. An
thony 10 Sank Rapids is too low for nav
igation, we received $40 from every
farmer in the Territory, and $lOO from
Capt. Rollins of the steamboat Gov. Ram
sey for keeping open the navigation
one week later in the fall and opening it
two weeks earlier in the spring, 500
from every steamboat captain in our trade,
and purse of $500 from the merchants
of St. Louis and Galena, each, the small
towns along the river paying in proper
ton; and lastly, for insuring a good sup
ply of snow all winter, sufficient to pro-
tect the winter wheat from freezing, 1925
from each farmer, the whole amounting
to little more than something pref.
ty considerable. AS we ceased speaking
he raised his eyes in wonder and aston.
ishment; and exclaiming, ''Du tel! ane
~ want TO know!" he vamosed.
The Nominee having arrived that da,
with the first crowd of adventures from
below, all intent on seeking place and for.
tunes, we were soon run down by appli.
cants for office, several almanac maker.
among the rest, who would make them.
selves very useful in ordering weather OF
the first quality; and we do assure thu
public that we paid dearly for our limo.
cent exaggerations; and are now dali,
looking for the appearance of the afore.
said volume, containing them; and also
for our own removal from office, by the
President, which we have been expecting
ever since, and more especially Of late
since three of the Territorial officers have
already been removed. and the rest are
all to'.follow suit" if we believe the
Democrat; and we may therefore we'll at:
ford to quake within our boots. But fel.
low citizens, reflect moment; let the
clerk of the weather be removed, and
where then will be your pleasures and
your comforts. your sleighing parties, and
your frolics? A fatal stab will have been
inflicted upon your Territory; and there
will be an aching void within her borders;
aye, and aching toes and fingers too among
YOU, for in less than no time the Storm