The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-10-07
From l!,e New York Tribune.
valley of the st. CrOix.

Valley of the st. CrOix.
FALLS OF ST. CRoIx, Aug. 5. 1852.
That portion Of Minnesota Territory which lies
along the banks of the St Croix River though one
OF the earliest explored and the best for farming pur-
poses, has not become well known. The REGIONS di-
recty adjacent to the Mississippi have natnrsy re-
ceived more attention, while the course of IRA, ei and
emigration has been chief, up the Valleys of the Mis-
Sissipp and Minnesota rivers. The various local pub
icationS, too, have set forth the advantages of these
while the eastern branches have been comparatively
neglected. or left TO the slower dis on Of knov,edre
gained by actual settlers. Yet there section pre-.
sentIng attractions f. both the farmer and the
merchant than the Valley of the 81. Croix. The
soil is fertile, the face of the country varied and
the woodland has larger growth Of hard timber
than above, BESIDES great extent oi pine land, now
cons idcraly worked. The river Is naviraiis for
steamboats,, when the channel is ce red to the Falls
OF 81. CroiNthity miles above Saltwater and sixty
hom the mouth ci the Lake. the irhest north OF any
navigabe point from the Mississippi. Numerous iri-
buur, streams discharge themselves into it from the
blnia on either side, atording many points a fine
water power and from the creeks above the falls laIgp
numbers of logs tloated down; an immense uiau-
tty of lumber being sawed this river IT the pcs
ent season. market is thus furnished lor the .sri-
cultural interests. as favorable anywhere in tie
Northwest; and a large amount Of lumber is every
season sent to -. Loas. The read, sale for this OIL
fefs additional advantage to the settler
Several views have been taken Of the scenery on
tins river, and Lows had panorama Of ii; bu; DO
not know that any description has been attclLtc, -
Perhaps the reader will like to follow oar course a
htte; it will he less tedious than was ours for he
viii not have the sandbars 10 trouble him. The
Black Hawk, on icr return from Traverse des Sioux
"'s chartered to take some freight up the ST. CroiN,
which had not been navI9atcd in many weeks By any
large boat, IN consequence Of the l0vncs of the wa
ter. Leaving ~. Paul il the afternoon of Monday
she down the Mississippi To Point DoarE,ss
and mile below entered Lake IT. CioiX. The dif.
ference b tween the surface oi the river ycxed with
currents and the clear, smooth waters Of the lake is
instantly pcrccptihe. The scenery is of the same
character with that f Lake Pepiu though the bluff;
asc not near 80 high or savage They line the Sho,c
the left band; the other Is a low wall of r,s h.,
gradual, RISING and rccceus little ven adyancc.
tiii they, too, become towering nights. jhc graceful
Of the line of Shore the alternate swelling and
sinbin. Of the wooded hills, the deep ines
ally opening between thcm--thc dark shadows thro vn
bs the nights the water with The narrow ilnc Of
hight near the shore MAJ king the departure OF tn sun.
and noW and then projecting hcadlnd further cut,
a dark and shaggy n'ass--wcle beu'ifai that
could not regret the of the Mississippi, The
lake varies from halt mile three miles ~ more in
vid,h.
Willow River, a small settlement within six miIes
Of the head of the lake, passed, and thc boat
stopped to lay by for the al. Int at Saltwater This
village, settled eight years, stands al the head
of the lake, a1d is the great mart Coz lumber Of the
ST. Croix. commanding cNtensis and rich farming
country. II i, picimcsqncy situated al 'he foot OF
circular range Of hills at the lower end OF which the
h Iht, become precicitoCs, and capped with rr-
re-iihc of rock fifteen twenty feet depth
cNtcnd.g around the whole summit oI the blu' aud
presenting the appearance ot architectural
The dwciIng-l are sprinh along the sides cf
The decliyity rs we'll Oh the plain. ana some are
built very elevated ground. The Coaft-iiousc
stands the brow of the hill fine spring, on the
hill side, fenced with a high stone vail, is -aid to
give water To large part oi the town The business
should be brisk, II is To Judge from the nunlll
of public houses. counted three from une point #
view. the Stwascr House, the Minnes Jta House.
and the Lake House, which stands close the water.
There also several houses with the label ''board-
ing" 4 very meat church is from the lake. an,
there others. new Pentcntlary Is Euiidins
which makes stir among ,aloring men, and
brings mone, INTO the place II stands in fine sl-
alton on tn river, halfa nile above the town in
what Is called Battle Iloow,' 4 battle having been
fought there ten years since between the SinuH
and Chippcwas.
There are two mills Of two saws each, enc driven
by steam and one by water power one was nca!ll
buried bv the sand washed from the buli. but will
soon bo again in operation. The prospects Of the
town iou,ishing, and ITS advantages Of location
and the natural resources Of The soon
make ii place Of Importance and wealth.
The river above Saltwater flows lctwcen high
bluffs, win Occasionally an opening, ~ Nnirh
access is had 10 the interior. The wood, dense,
and extend back consisting Of oak ash elm, bass
wood and great quantities of maple. The cleaning
of sunrise on the rounded masses OF foliage, stretch
ing out o the Lake at ITS upper extremity, lofty bull
Narks that stand a. If Ia guard the pass and on the
hi IN northu ard range could not be rValIe by the
artists pencil. \ little ram, cooling the pa.ched and
heated air, was hcc most welcome and refreshing.
ssPaint Rock" makes a picture that might I e stu
Iy for a lanscapc painter The cliffs rise pependlc-
uirly from the WATER to the hight Of titisty forty
feet sometimes oycrhangng the r,yer SO as to form
deep caycruous openings. The rock i orned of lay
crs yarously aud richly colored, giving some idea
of the formation of the celebrated range Lake ST.
perior. Above the solid rampant tower the hills
nartia!lv covered with tall trees. and wearing their
sha,gy crown. On tho Wisconsin side as you as
ccnd the sheer wall the hight of sxy feet or
move lifting itsef perpendcularls from the
line of shore The gorgeouslv coiorcd stone contrasts
with the deep green OF the woods at its base. and
RAGGED evcr.rcens on the summit stand in relief
against The sky. Islands fr'ngcd with willows dot
the river here and there, where the w,d grass
IN the greatest iuNnlance.
Stil ascending, YOU find the same lofty rampant.
crau1y ut lis base and summit with belt Of dense
foliage except where the face of the cuff is entirely
covered with broken masses OF rock. The eve rests
with pleased attention on conioai hight on the
Minnesota side, whose castcilated summit pre- escn,s
the aprearance of hoarv ruins, the opposite side being
4 cvernous savagc-Iookine range of rocks. rendered
wilder in appearance by stuled trees growing IN ihcr
riffs The stream is now closely embraced between
these barriers, expands to greater wiGi5 to ia-
close It's wooded islands. No more exquisite land
scape could be pictured by fancy than the at
this point in looking back The hcadiaads either
side approach each other, the nearest rccedig
little the morning sunshine is golden their woods;
the calm water lies like sheet of silver between,
and the background is a lefty forest-covcred bluff
In the foreground is island covered with tall trees,
the only underground being the high grass, brilliant
IL green A succession Of such pictures, each as it
seems more lovel, than the other, is offered
continue to ascendvaried only by the different hight
and position Of the hills and the islands slunbcring
on the dark, smooth waters.