Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-08-14
tFrcm the Minnesota Deinoefstl
The Valley of the Minnesota,

The accounts of the steamboat trips made up the Min
nesota (St Peters river during last summer, have at
racted general attention to the valley OF that river, and
large numbers of persons have resolved to emigrate
thlther the Indians shall have been removed
treaty will probably be made and ratified, and the In
dams removed to their home, within two years
from this time Until then, the Sioux country will not
be open for settlement
As regards salubrty soil timber and water, we doubt
whether any portion of the West presents greater in
ducemeBts for immigration than the charming valley OF
the Minnesota river From the mouth OF the river TO
Traverse DIES Sioux, the of trip board the
Excelsior, the eye is delighted with succession OF ru
raj landscapes OF unsurpassed and varied beauty The
scenery bold and craggy like that Of the Mssissp
p and upper st. Croix but picturesque and home like
The wide spreading praries, studded with oak groves
terminating sopng banks and lrlnged with meadows,
(now overfowed,) perhaps half mile wide, which
bound the right bank Of the Minnesota at its entrance
and the rolling prairies which make gentle declvity
down TO the winding stream the left, excite upon first
entering the mouth of the Minnesota expression OF
admiration from every person of natural cultivated
TASTE How much more beastilu the when adorn-
ed by the handiwork of civilization, it soon will be.
All the bottom lands are at present overlooked, the
water being several feet higher than before known
by the oldest Indians traders These bottom lands
are generally from quarter OF "A mile to a halt mile
WIDE and afford natural hay meadows that cannot be
surpassed The topography oil the valley from
the river is picturesque than that OF any other rv
er we have seem The banks, which are rarely more
than fifteen less than feet high above the bottoms
are sometimes concealed from the steamboat traveller by
heavy timber growing down the river bed But gen.
orally, except through the BOis Franc, great woods
the green banks and rolling prares are in full view
Oak groves resembling cultivated orchards and a back
ground OF apparently dense timber, complete the beauty
Of the view; and there is scarcely quarter section of
land presented to the OF the traveller but
the most beautiful sites for farm houses and improve
ments. The natural scenery cannot fail to cultivate
among the future settlers of the valley, refined taste
in rural architecture. Although there is similarity
there nothing monsonouS in the diorama which eastS
but Gees not pail the sight of the voyager Not spot
but await with impatience the adjoining hand of
civilization: not but appears ready for the axe
the plow, the scythe. 1t is common remark, that
the whole country looks if it had been suddenly de-
serted by civilized people-the fences and buildings
removed and the orchards left standing.
Farms can be made in this valley at rifng expense
mature has almost finished the work.
There many beautiful sites for towns along the
river it is the general impression that the impor
tant point will be Traverse DIES Sioux. There much
more pleasant sites for town at other points below
Little Rapids will probably be a place of importance
steamboats, that can 90 high as Mendoza, will find
no obstruction below that point. The river is
from 60 to so yards wide. and very crooked.
There is plenty of hard wood timber the river suf
cent to supply the country below Ii consists of hard
and soft maple, oak, ash, elm, white and black walnut
hickory, cherry, cottonwood &c. For the distance of
SO miles, the river winds through the Bots Franc,
dense forest which the river and is from Is 40
miles wide, and 100 long.
In n few years. many steamboats, will he running with
freight and passengers between the bustng city of ST.
Paul and the thriving towns and settlements of the Min
nesota river but that looking the future For the
present and the next four five years there will be
sites for FARMS cheap-as good iand-as healthy, and
10 aaGrS-convenient TO the great Mississippi
above and below the Falls where sagacious farmers will
locate and improve in preference going farther off for
the qualification of fancy
We have yet visited the upper Mississippi, but
told that the scenery up there, beautiful that Of
the Minnesota valley.
The country Crow Wing is highly extolled by all
who have visited it. Coal has been picked up on its
banks.