The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-04-03
Correspondence Of the Wntchinan Of the Prairics.
Sketches Of Minnesota.
NJ VI BE III.
ST. PAUL, MINSEsoTA,}
Feb. ), 1851. {

Feb. >, 1851.
Mr.. EDITOR Having but little op-
portunity to see the country at this sea-
son of the year, l propose to give your
readers in this number few "notes"
on matters and things in general" A
brief account Of passing events may not
be uninteresting to those who are de-
sirous of hearing from this far off region
and learning what is being done for the
welfare Of the Territory.
In the first place allow me to say few
words in regard to our winter, which
abroad, is thought to be 50 very severe
and scarcely to be endured, except by
the hardy sons of Name. Indeed, al
most every body who comes into the
territory anticipates a fearful time in
wintering" away up here in this hy-
perborcan region. In our opinion there
could not be more foolish cause of alarm,
especially if this is fair specimen of
Minnesota winter. As yet we have ex-
perienccd but little cold and less unpleas-
ant weather; while the idea of being bu
ried up by vast body of snow has
proved complete illusion. There Is at
present greater quantity of snow shan
we have had since the winter commenced
which would measure about one foot in
depth, anywhere in the vicinity Of the
capital. For some time there was not
enough snow to make good slcighing.-
From those who have resided long
time IN Minnesota we learn that deep
SHOWS and snow storms are quite un-
common. As yet we have had but one
storm that reminded us, at all, of a real
snow storm In New York or New Eng
land, and indeed we may not expect
different state of things in this peculiar
climate. We generally have a clear
sky, bright sunshine and dry atmosphere
with but few sudden changes. We
could not wish for finer weather. 1t is
true we sometimes have what is called
severe spell of weather." but it con-
tinucs but short time. Thus iara great
er part of the time has been just
cold enough to retain the snow and make
it the most delightful winter weather
that have experienced in any coun-
try. Before the winter season set in,
which was about the first of December,
all, weather from the East, the sunny
South or the fertile prairie land, united
in eraising the fine Autumn weather
which was almost an uninterrupted sea-
son Of charming Indian Summer, but
now il is the same with regard to old
Winter. In short, all are delighted,
and particularly as we anticipated SO
much suffering ircm the cold We are
most happily Disappointed aud can tru-
ly say,
"a charge came o'cr the sliril Of onr dreams "
In winter the people OF Minnesota
find themselves in rather an isolated con-
dition, being so remote from the 'rest Of
mankind" and, as it were, excluded
from the world--or Us we would prefer
to have it, the world excluded from us
The mail arrives from Gaena once a
week, but the papers are quite old be-
fore they reach US. We, therefore,
not uniiequently have occasion to wish
for Telegraph or Railroad. We
live i'm anticipation of better times--a
glorious future before us, when the
already aourishing capital of this fair
New England of the West shall receive
news from Washington at an earlier
hour than our friends in the capital OF
the New England of the East A few
years, we think is destined to affect a
great change in Minnesota.
At this season of !la year the Mime