The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-04-24
THE SPRING EMIGRATION,
matter on next page.

busting city. Hundreds of people have
arrived here from all parts of the Union,
crowding our public thoroughfares, our
stages, hotels and boardirg-houses to over
flowing. Strangers are congregated a.
bout in little knots on our levees and ho-
tel porches, in the middle of the streets,
in fact, all over the town and country,
for what we know, earnestly discussing
the merits and dement's of Minnesota in
general and 81. Paul in particular, as they
appear to them at that moment. Some
times we recognize one or two of our
townsmen, surrounded by dozen, an
swering all manner of questions in regard
to The situation and prospects of different
localities of our Territory, ceded and I'M
ceded lands, Indians, Indian Treaties. SC.
Business of all kinds has received new
impulse and new vigor from these impor-
tant accessions 10 our resident popula-
ton.
We should judge that large portion of
the immigrants are farmers, who appear
to be anxious to select the choice lands
that will soon be open for settlement on
the other side of the Mississippi. They
are just the meE we want to make a COM
mencement at developing the resources of
the Territory as an agricultural country.
Many mechanics, who are right welcome,
are also among them, who stand ready to
take hold and build our dwellings and
storehouses, mills and factories, churches
and universities. The German and Irish
laborers are here-men of small capital.
but with strong arms and stout hearts,
who come to make home with us in our
health-invigorating climate. The trades
man is here with his wares, anxiously
lnqulring for store that he can rent, or
patiently waiting for few days till he
can erect one on business lot which he
has just purchased. The capitalist is
here, examining our situation and pros
poets, and criticising the manner in which
our towns are laid out and built I'M. bu,
eager to find the best chance of INVESTING
his capital. ..-.......
The immigration this spring, so far as
; we can learn, is composed almost wholly
Of these classes. There appear to be
very few oilers among them, and they
won't stay here long, for they will soon
find out this is no place for drones. We
want producers, such as those who are
now arriving, men calculated to lay the
foundations of industry and good order
in the community in which they perma-
nently locate.
| We observe also among the immigrants
many young men, who have probably left
their homes now. for the first time, with
buoyant hopes and brilliant expectations,
looking only on the sunny side of the
hidden future. A large portion of these.
if they do not meet some one at the levee
ready to furnish them employment, or
find some friend here, invariably get
homesick, lose all their energy and turn
back in few days with a prejudiced
opinion of every thing they see abou,
them. 1t often happens that the most
trivial circumstances will induce them 10
to return, frequently on the same boat
that brought them. If it it should be a
little colder than they think it ought to
be, for the time of year, on the day that
they land; if they find it raining and the
streets muddy, SO that they cannot con-
veniently get about; if they apply to one
or two persons for employment and re-
celve an unfavorable answer, (and some
times they will 60 away, saying there is
nothing for them to do here, when thew
have not made the least exertion to oct
employment) /; or if they do not like their
clearinghouse, or any other like trivial
circumstance should occur to make them
feel unpleasant, they will estimate the
whole Territory by what they could see
of st. Paul or St. Anthony in a day or
two. They become homesick and dis
couraged, sometimes even before reaching
here, and look at temporary inconven-
iences' incident to new country and
growing town. as permanent evils of great
magnitude and past all redemption.
For such people, kind word and an
approving smile, which costs nothing to
the giver, is often productive of the most
happy results. Those who are homesick
are not to be ridiculed out of the notion.
no more than they could be out of the