The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-04-15
NO. LII.

ma, or 600 miles. 1t is a fne river for rafting,
all The way-can drive logs right along, lks
cattle.
TRIP FROM ST. PAUL TO SAUx RAPIDS.
IN JUNE.
We cannot presen, more lively picture Of the
region above US, to Sank Rapids than the follow
ing. copied from the Pioneer Of the 18th Of Juno
last; which vail be new 10 at least some Of our
readers.
Two lines Of convenient stages, make, each,
two trips day from Saint Paul 10 St. Anthony
and back. We left on Thursday morning; and
were delighted TO see farming operations pro-
crossing blowing fencing, planting, every where,
on that charming prairie, which is spread out be-
tween the two tosvns,a distance Of eight miles,
This alone, inspired u- with fresh hope, 10 see
great change wrought in short a time-so
many hundreds Of acres under ilsge, which
were covered. last year, only with wild grass
and flowers of the prairie.
! a mile before we reached ST. An,hony, wa
saw its bright, iresh-pain:ed houses, shining
amongst the distant trees, and saw the waterfall
glis:enins in the sunshine, and seeming more ihe
picture than the original of picture bur ws
approach nearer and listen TO Its suiien roar and
see The spray and examine more closely the INA
terial Of the exhibition. the cataract becomes a
grand reality, filing tue beholder with mingled
emotions O! beauty and OF subDmity, the proper
tons of which. depend upon the constitution
OF his own mind. Far away, down the steep
roc>y channel, below The falls, sweeps the angry
current; bat now, we begin TO see the Pleasant,
fresh painted houses Of the Villagers on the right
hand, here IA cottage, and there a substantial two
story house aad there again. a cheap building,
without coFnice, ornament, peculiar to the
West, building which is neither one-stcry
house a ,wo-story (destabe style Of archiec-
;urel and away upon the slipping hillside various
houses in the process of erection, and piles Of
iresh-saWed lumber away off amongst the tall
prairie grass of last years growth, betokening
that buildings will soon be there and streets Of
St. Anthony now known only by reference 70
the town plat.
Here are stores new law olics-nore new
houses--lnore piles Of fresh sawed lumber-nsw
cellars commeuced-and now we come 10 the
saw-mlIls, active as ever, shngle machines, hath
factory, laihes, and the busting industry OF men
and teams in and around the ms--like q big
heart, sending active pulsailons Of business all
over sown, and into the neishboring country and
far-oif, into the pineries. Here is company Of
gentlemen, officers, from Fort Smelling, taking q
survey of The village and the waterfall. from the
terrace back Of Main street. They thisk, and
truly think tina. 81. Anthony - destined 10 be a
lannon's and fashionable watering place tina;
neither Saratoga. nor Newport, nor Niagara. can
offer equal Inducements for ii summer residences.
10 iavalids aud people of lie isure Now pass
along Nam street, nd here seems 10 be uniD-
proved space intervening between the upper and
lower part Of the town-to the pppar town.
which certainly shines with prosperity --essryihnS
looking and clean. Here we come TO the 81.
Charles Hotel--a fine, spacious building, full Of
strangers What contrast within a iew months!
What change since year ago, when the
stranger who visited ST Anthony could rot obtain
dinner, unless through the compassioa of some
citizen, hc were invited 10 dine at some private
house. After dinner NJ the ST Charles. the whis-
tls of the stcan.boa, is heard, and we must har-
~ down 10
The GovERNos RAMSEY
This boat, the FIRST that rode IN the
tiers Of the Mississippi above the falls, was built
by Capt Rollins and others; who 70: enterprise
deserve the lasting gratitude Of Minnesota la the
Ina nds Of such men, comparatively small sum
of money, would be SO expended, as &c open tho
navigation Of the river, Inany hundreds Of miles
further This boat differs ifum all other boats,
having locomotive boilers consisting Of great
number OF small cyleaders, all OF which, coming
in contact with FIRE, present large extent of boil
er suface within small compass for the genera
ton Of steam. Contrary to tbs predictions Of
many the boilers 30 moi become crusted with
lime. bp, are kept, with proper care, entirely
clean. The engines also different from any
that elsewhere IN the west; and are very
pesiec, in their way; 50 is their management by
the engineers: for the stern paddle wheel re-
spends 10 their touch, aaIck thought.
The boai being small, OF course does not al
ford very complete arrangements for passengers.
There is u small cabin, which sleeps perhaps q
dozen and still smaller cabin for ladies'. The
freight, Of course, IS very important part OF tho
business Of this boat; and especially the trans
poriatlon of Indian and Garrison supplies. What
ever wanting in extent Of accommodations.
was compensated by the polite and ob!iging al
tentions of Capt. Rollins. Amcngs; the passen-
gers, were the Rev. NJ. Chase of Natchez, Miss.
and several gentlemen and ladies from the State
Of New Iork--three ladies', all Ia the bloom of
health, and particularly fine looking women. who
stood in relation 10 each other, of grandmother.
daughter, and grsnd-daushte Now the boat.
with some difficulty, passes out between two
islands, into the main cha incl and heads up
stream, the water swift, oh, how swift! being just
ut the head of the falls. A feeble boat could not
stem the current. Fire up, boys! Dry wood
this season last season they had 10 bnrn green
wood. Ii take hall a cord az hour, to run tho
boat.
For long distance right, extends
boom. parallel 10 the shore, by which mill logs
| from above are turned down between the island
a nd the east shore, into the mill pond. The river
looks much sualier than at ST. Paul, and seems
10 be lifted up. out Of the chasm through which
i, runs below the falls, TO the level with The
shores or rather, which is the fact there Is no
chas,n until the river finds after breaking ovey
the apron Of rock at ST. Anthony.
! SHORES or THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
! There are none Of The abrupt bluffs, such az
are seen down the river; bu, the land comes
down, by an easy, gradual slope, 10 the very edge
Of the water, and as you HOOK away far back and
see the smooth land. now covered with green.
gradually rising the view recedss from the ~
ver--far-far away--the remotest object 10 =
sw cling ridge of prairie land; or Of oak openings,
on the right hand; and on the left, forest--no.
thing short Of dense forest oil vigorous young
trees, as Ear az can be seen-and IN the channel,
islands, some Of them large, covered invariably
with heavy growth Of elm. blackberry, maPie
and cotton wood and Whenever a. an exception
to the general appearance Of the shores. there y
any thing assuming the form Of an abrup. biuf. 1t
is crowded with pine trees. Occasionally spot
of universal beauty, bursts upon the view; sach
as tho landscape at the mouth OF Rice Greek
mr. Itasca Pryire or the eastern shore near Swan