The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-10-23
PEsfBINA, Sept. 25th, 1851. J
Thursday, 6 A. NJ. {
d. A. ROBERTSON, ESQ.


-. a. KOBERTsoN, ESQ.
We leave for ST. Paul on Wednesday next,
Oetobcr LIST, our first days march will be to the
new town of st. Joseph, the Pembna Mt, as
it is Called 80 miles to the west of this place. the
Governor having agreed to meet the Half-brrceds
there; number being about TO assemble for the
fall hunt. have just learned that those from the
settlements across the line, also coming up,
and that there will be some three hundred lodges
there; they will hunt, however, along the line,
and on the British side, the buffalo bcin, found on
that side as well as ours, Capt. Pope to the con-
hary, Notwithstanding. ST. Joseph contains half
a dozen houses and two stores. Rev. NJ. Bell
court resides there, and Is erecting a log church
and have heard of Mr.. Kittson's determination
TO break up the post at this place and remove
there too. The ground here having Overlooked
for the last three years successfully. Red liver
rising 81 and 33 feet above low water mark, and
houses on the point between the junction Of Red
river and Pen,bina, being flooded to the depth Of
and 3 feet this yenr and last. Mr. kiitson was
obliged To leave and live upon the hills near by,
for more than a month last spring. .1
The hea West floods known in the country, Oc-
Cured in 1924, 25 and 20, the latter year, the
water rose Go feet in height, and the Whole coun-
try was completely drowned out; large party
left Selklrk in consequence, and made an over
ldHu FluiItN dCfOSS ptdiUS ~ 81. refers anu
Galena, near which last place they settled.
These foods serious objection to this val
ley and to Peulbina in particular, the site of which
is comparatively low; though think that having
occurred only a. intervals heretofore, ii will be
many years before The like occurs again. Partly
in consequence of this Of things, there not
particle OF farming done here now, and on our
arrival were obliged TO send Immediately to
Selkirk, for barley for our horses. A dozen voya-
geurs in large barge brought up go bushels and
occupied days to make the trip, having to wan
till this years crop, which was cut and still, stand
ing in the fields in shccks was threshed They
started back on Tuesday, for 100 bushels more.
and upon their arrival, we viii march. Barley is
worth in this settlement, 10 cents bushel, and
costs US here about s. So Its usual price when
extra demand takes place, is so cents; and for
wheat, % cents; which is the price paid by the
Hudson Bay Company the year round; butter and
eggs pence, meat 4d, -four SO 90 to SIS 90 per
bbl., according TO the kind .hree kinds are made
The people revel in abundance. The worst Of il
Is, they have no proper outlet for their surplus
produce to stimulate them TO Increased xeitons;
but this is owing 10 their situation merely, and is
an evil time alone can remedy, as they are brought
nearer TO US by the iron chain, and market open
ed to rouse thom into more activity and life At
present, they pay Is 81, for their lands per acre.
Each settler has frontage Of g chains upon the
river, and extends back miles in depth. Only
d small part Of this, however, is cultivated. The
houses are of logs, matched and shingled, are
warm and very comfortable; some of the larger
of frame, two story, and few of stoac, ali
have plenty of barns and stables, with num-
Der of large stacks of wheat hay and barley, and
as we happened there in their grain harvest, the
people were all busy in The fields. The Indians
and HaIf-breeds, men, woman and children, reap
in0 MI h,n1ino (tho,s tvth borSo nj
carts, hauling IN the same and stacking it. 1t az
forded an interesting and novel sight, in contrast
with our early harvest of July 1t usually takes
place here about the 20th of August, and is full
month later this year than common, the season
having been very cold and wet up to The 18th of
August; up to which time, fears were entertained
for the loss Of the whole crop. The weather,
fortunately, changed, and for month was very
warm and fine. The grain all ripened, and the
yield Is large. OF wheat, 20 to Is bushels, and
barley 80 to 30 bushels per acre; spring wheat is
sown from the goth to the 25th Of May, and bar
ley, from the LIST 10 the 9th Of June potatoes the
largest and fines; have ever seen, produce large
ly, more to The acre than in Minnesota Indian
corn natures, but il not raised to much extent,
small variety is grown; but the situation is too
near Lake Winnipeg, which influences their eli
mate, and the late spring iross are apt to iniure
IT. / am told that corn natures here better, and
that the is about one week later in the fall
than down below; we had hot cora on our table
on the 18th inst, the day after cur arrival here,
which was grown in Mr.. kittson's garden; but it
will never be much cultivated in these settlements
The other crops proving more valuable.
The English and Scotch settlers extend along
both SIDES of Red river, from the Assinboin to
lower Fort Garry, ''ihe stone posi- as it is
called, about 20 miles below. This is Ear the best
post of the settlement; Is wiudmils are scattered
along the west bank, upon hich this lengthy ser
pentne village of 5000 people, is principally sit
uated, and along the line is solitary water mill,
and another III Sturgeon Creek, about 8 miles up
the Assiniboin, built by MIR. McDermot,, n very
wealthy and ente rpri.ns Irish citizen, who came