The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-03-13

a beautiful valley in south and cas-.
tcrly direction. The big Sioux and
other tributaries Of the Missouri flow
southerly and westwardly, thus making
Minnesota a vast photographic basin,
with magnificent rivers radiating in ev-
cry direction from its centre, afording
more navigable water within and around
it, than any state or other territory of the
Union. Few persons have any just idea
Of the extent Of her navigable rivers
The Mississippi is now navigated within
the territory, by steamboats,. upwards oi
three hundred miles," and by the reno
val of obstacles (for the survey Of which
an appropriation was made at the last
session of Congress) can be rendered
uavigable for twice that distance. AL
most the entire eastern boundary by the
St Croix and Mississippi rivers, is nav
igablc water. Lake Superior--that vast
inland sea-bounds the territory on the
north east. At no distant day, by ca
hal connecting it with Lake Huron.
there will be uninterrupted water COM
rnunication down the great chain oflakes
to the Atlantic board. Capt. Pope o:
the corps Of Typographical Engineers,
who accompanied the command of Ma
ior Wood in an exploring expedition
through the territory of the British pos
sessions, states, that Red river is navi-
gable for four hundred miles within Min
nesota. The Missouri, washing the west
snd south, is navigable for, probably,
four hundred miles. The Minnesota
river was ascended, last summer, more
thon two hundred miles. The ST. Louis,
howing into Fond du Lac of Lake Supe-
perior, though obstructcd by rapids, will
admit of steamboat navigation between
such distractions for an unknown but
considerable distance. In addition to
these navigable rivers, there arc num-
Der of large lakes-Lecch, Cass, Mile
Lac and others-whose crystal waters
will be disturbed some day by the pad
dies of busy steamers, freighting from
port to port, the rich products Of their
fertile slopes, as we not warranted in
saying that these waters offer facilities
for domestic commerce, altogether un-
rivaIled. AS to the facilities for foreign
commerce, we need only mention the
broad Mississippi sweeping down to the
Gulf of Mexico, and the great lakes ex-
tending to the Atlantic.
For information in regard to the soil
and climate of Minnesota, we will pre-
sent some extracts from the authority
before referred to, Capt. Pope, whose
scientific knowledge and general ,ntelli-
gence, entities his testimony to great
weight ht,--speaking Of the central region,
he saws:
The belt Of country between the Mis-
sissippi, the ST. Peters, and line from
the head of the ST. Peters to the head of
the Mississippi, gently undulating in its
character, containing about equal pro-
portions of prairie and timber, intersec-
ted in all directions by beautiful, clear
streams, tributary to the Mississippi and
St. Peters, navigable always in the
spring with fiat boats, Astounding in lakes
of purest fresh water. and possessing a
soil unrivallcd in fertility, presents q
region which for peculiar conformation
and vast produc,iyeness, is ncqualled ia
the world"
These observations, with slight modi-
iications, will apply to other parts of the
territory. Again he remarks:
The valley Of the Red river or the
North, is about three hundred miles in
length, from north to south, and about
one hundred and fifty in width, perfectly
level, and with the exception of several
small districts of wet prairie, as well
adapted to the cultivation Of wheat and
either grains as any country on earth"
. The climate Of Minnesota is peculiar
Iy favorable to wheat and the smaller
grains; the uniform covering Of the snow
during the winter protects wheat from
,oiater killing, and the high latitude ex-
empts it, in great measure, from de-
structive insects. There is beautiful
adaptation of soil to the climate, a due
admxture of sand with the black loam
which makes loose soil, peculiarly fa-
sorable for bulbous roots--and attract
ing solar heat, conducts it to the roots
better than clay, thereby quickcning
vegetable growth, enabling crops to ma
sure in a much shorter time than further
south where a clay formation prevails
and the seasons are longer. The wri-
ter of this-a practical surveyor-hav-
ing passed four years in this new terri
tory, enjoying favorable opportunity
to examine the soil and natural products,
has found in the valley of the Minnesota
river, strawberry vines twelve inches
high, a luxuriance nowhere before OBJ
served to him in 25 years residence in
the west.
.Ndnnfaciur,ng resources and 'adranta-
ges.-White pine is abundant on the small |
Ter streams, and although The business of
lumber is hut just begun, |
some twenty millions feet of lumber and
logs are annually exported to the markets
below on the Mississippi. Of water power
there is no limit. The falls of St. Anthony, |
where the giant Mississippi is easily and
ch"aply controlled, and the falls Of St. |
Croix. (owned in part by Messrs r. Ran
toul, jr., and Caleb Gushing If Mass have
power to propcl ali the machinery nf New
England, and are barely iithe Of the ag-
grrgnte water power of the Territory.
The great Distinguishing popularity Of