The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-01-23
Correspondence Of the Chicago Watchnan.
Sketches of Minnesota.
NU NfBEE I,
ST.. PAUL MISNEsoTA, I

Oct 1880
Nh. EDIroR Having become somewhat
acquainted with this fair portion of the
Northwest, and the general state Of things
here. | propose TO give your readers few
sketches of the country and the different
towns, their future prospects, character of
the soil, productions sc. On first entering
the Territory, determined not to write or
express an opinion about Minnesota, until
| had been here Il while and became some
what familiar with the country. After ming
ling with the people in different parts of the
Territory, feel better qualified 10 give an
account Of the new and attractive Eldorado
of the Northwest. | shall also endeayor to
be accurate as possible in my statements
so al to avold,being accused Of exagseration
and misrepresentation, rs many are who
write about new countries, especially if
they are quite remote and but little known
\ great number of our citizens are from
the Prairie State and Wisconsin,, and as
some Of your readers may become residents
Of this fair land, shall he quite particular
in my descriptions of the places of which |
undertake to write, in order that they may
gain correct impression of the county,
Before ] came to Minnesota met several!
persons who had been here a short time, or
had learned something of the country by
way of report, but almost every individual !
had different story to tell. aud most of
them were uuiayorblc.
As general thing, we heard everything
that is Objectionable to the country portray
ed in giaring colors, while nothing was said
Of its rare advantages. | shall not attempt
to make out Minnesota to be a ''periect par
adise' for it is not, by any means. Like
every other region it has something ohjec-
tIOnable, and many disadvantages: yet an
quite as well pleased with what | have seen
OF Minnesota, as any part of the west
| Those who have removed from the best
parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, appear
quite satisfied with the exchange. This Is
certainly a powerful argument IN favor Of
Minnesota.
We hear very few who have become ac-
quainted with the country, complain Of the
climate or soil. The soil in many places is
not as good as IN the states, yet II IS adapt
ed to this latitude; being more sandy and
containing but little clay. In this vicinity
the soil consists of a rich sandy loan, very
black and deep, producing oats, corn and
potatoes, in great abundance. il is doubt
less very good for wheat, though but little
has sheen sown as yet, as we have no mills.
Several however, are soon to he erected,
aud next season the farmers will give the
soil a test for wheat
The climate seems we'll adapted to the
large kind Of corn. saw fields Of large
dent ripe, and cut the last week of August.
The only frost we have had was seen on the
morning Of the 29th September, about four
weeks after corn had ripened, and long
time after things were frozen far below us
in Wisconsin. Last spring the planting
season correspondent 10 the usual time Of
planting in central New York, though the
spring was unusually late. We see there
fore, but little reason 10 fear for the ripen-
ing of the crops in this part of Minnesota at
least. But as des gned to give you des-
cription of the present capital Of Minnesota,
in this numLer, | shall leave the climate,
soil and productions of the country for fu-
ture communication.
Saint Paul, the largest and most import
ant town in the Territory, is situated on the
north side Of the Mississippi about fifteeu
miles below the falls of Saint Anthony, by
way of the river and eight by land. About
midway between the two places, the Saint
Peters or Minnesota river niingles It's turbid
waters with those of the Mississippi, when
the two streams united bend away TO the
northeast, and at Saint Paul il turns again
towards the southeast, thus by lts crcutous
route, forming two extensive detours within
few miles. IL requires sometime for a
stranger to become recOucIled TO the situa-
ton of this place, on account of its lying
quite different from, what one usually ex-
poets To find il,
The town site is high and conspicuous,
being elevated from seventy to eighty above
the water at common stages. The central
l.. 4
terminating along the Mississippi, in pre-
cipitous bluff. This bluff after running for
some distance rcce,Ses !rorn the siver or IN.