The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-12-11

lNQUIRrEs ABOUT MINNEsoTA.-Weh have
received more letters of inquiry about our Terri
tory; and therefore presume, that our very ex-
tended reply TO the gentleman in Virginia, con-
corning Minnesota, has not been seen ye, by man
kind in general, and all the world besides As
the inquiries 10 be answered, are such az other
persons at distance will most probably desire
information about. we publish them. with our an
swer to each query: The writer proceeds:
Dover, N. II. Oct. s, 1871.
Ma. GoopHUE:|I was raised on a farm in
this place I'LL % years Of age, since that ha 10
been in a mandatory. and know what il is to
work; my family consists of myself, wife and 7
sons and 1 daughter, and it 10 with view 10 the
| future wellbeing Of my children, that l wish to
leave this section; does not your State hold on,
inducements to the industrious equal TO any other,
could with from 81, 0OOto $I2Oo, &c, comforta-
bly, started on n farm within convenient distance
oil 81. Paul, st. Anthony, or other large town;
what are your present religious and educational
privileges: My object IL TO buy farm partially
improved or new land, and set my boys to work.
two Of them, IL and Is years Of age, have had
some experience on farm in PeDnsy lvania do
farmers sell their produce for cash or barter
what are prices this year could person get there
in the spring in time to plant his seed for crop
next season-what is the price Of the diiFereu,
kinds Of stock-can good government lands be
obtained near St. Pau! and other large towns,
! l. Do you think Minnesota Possesses advanta-
ges to the agriculnraist equal or superior to any
other State!
2. Does the state generally abound with prairie
or wood land!
| 3. Would you advise an actual settler to take
up prairie or wood land, or portion of BOTH,
4. In what part Of Minnesota would you adv Use
an actual settler to locate HIMSELF
5. What is the general state Of the climate,
| 6. What amount Of potatoes, corn, rye, wheat
and other produce. can you IA ise per acre,
7. What sum would enable person TO make
himself comfortable home!
3. Is there any doHbt on your mind Of family
Of healthy boys, Of Industrious habits, making
out well in agricultural pursuits!
! 9. Can places partially improved or cultivated
! be easily. and reasonably obtained'
10. What part Of the year, Is the most suita-
bic 10 emgrate to the Far West!
, IL. What is the general character Of the peo-
! pie settled in Minnesota?
IL. Are there many advantages Of q literary
or religions cha racter, there?
! Is. What amount Of interest will money on
good security, command:
ANSWERS TO THE FOREGOING QUESTIONS
]. Yes; 1t has greater variety and extern, Of
good land, unoccupied, than any State or Terri
tory ia the world. To say nothing Of our good
lands east cthe river there is 40, 900 900 acres
the west side which will be open next spring, and
is now virgin wilderness of countless agricul,u-
raj and mineral wealth, into the interior Of which
we have penetrated 200 miles; aud from what
we have seen Of it, we do not believe that the
whole world can produce better land.
z This is not State; but Territory; and
this Territory abounds in prairie and woodland
But whether there is more prairie than woodland
we cannot say, nor any body else; but we
rather think there is. Much Of the timber, is
mere openings; and looks like an old mess grown
orchard in New England. Openings are frequent
Iy plowed and cultivated, without cutting down
the growing trees. Oak openings, arc invariably
good wheat lands here.
g. We would advise actual settler to take
up both prairie and woodland, unless he expect.
to live on raw food aad keep warm without FIRE,
where quicksilver dives to the bottom of Faren-
hen's thermometer and freezes hard enough for a
specie currency. Timber, Of course, for fires,
building and fences; and prairie for fields, which
have only to be plowed to be as productive as any
land ia the world. W
4. We would advise farmer to settle any
where in Minnesota. that he eau make purchase
to suit him, il it il not too wet to plow. We can
not think Of single quarter section in Minnesota,
unless il be swamp, that would not be considered
FIRST rate land, any where in New England.
s. Our winters are generally very calm, very