The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-01-08
For the PiOncer.
Benton County AfTaiis.
SAuK RAp,Ds, Dec. 80, 1855


S.uK RAPIDS, Dec. 80, 1851.
J. VI. GooDHUE Esq.--As am much IN
tere.ted in all that apper,ains to Benton
County, and especially It's farming interests,
| herewith send you three different varieties
OF Indian corn, viz: the eight rowed yell
low; the white flint, and yellow dent
The seed from which The latter was grown
was obtained in Grant Co. Wis; and the
specimen furnish you is portion of the
first crop raised from il in this Territory -
The seed Of the two first varieties was
brought from Iowa; and the specimens |
furnish are from The farm of u. Cilunan,
of Watsh. The three different kinds were
all planted at the same time; from the ?Oih
10 25ih of May, and cut about the 18th of
September, after having been plowed and
hOed hu, once in the latter enl Of June.
Had it been planted a week or two earlier,
it could have been cut by the end of August.
Hon. ID. Gilman who has raises. 900
bushels IS or 20 acres; averaging so bushels
to the acre; he snys that the dent corn RI
pene,i first, and he thinks produces the best; :;
It always u,atured and ripcneh in his gar
den last year ami this. in August. lie says
IL should he planted IA soon as the frost is
out Of the ground in the spring; the sooner
the brurr; Immediately after the ground is
plowei anh The frus, has left the surface if
possible.
The yellow dent il the very kind Of corn
that it is said by foolish persons that we
cannot raise in Minnesota; but it has long
SINCE been decided TO the contrary. Mr..
Gilman is living witness that we scan
live" too here and he well while we do live,
M he is the very personiication Of good
health and good living; The former Of which
believe, he never enjoyed much while in
the State, below.
Mr.. N. w. Kittson inten,is taking seed
enough home with hin, to pembina, to plant
anacre from whichhe expects TO raise enough
TO put in 50 acre field; ne says it always
ripens there, and that the people all 'can
live" to. Mr.. Gilman also has some stacks
Of very fine white Oats--uil Of which he n-
tends 10 keep fs seed. J. Russell, Esq,
has several hundred bushels Of equally tiue
corn, all ot which riDened and is hard and
sound. He too makes out To live away up
here, besides feeding a host Of farm hands
and all the travelling community. Healthy
As this climate Is, we are afflicted with con-
sumption, but it i> a rapid consumption of
good vcfualS; in1 our disease is contluu
ally growing on ne.
have just made Christmas visit up To
For, Ripley AMI Crow Wing, and was treat
Ell jusI as well as at Fort Garry and Selkirk
Settlement. Our officers stationed there,
mt the head Of whom is Capt. !. 3. S.
Todd, are a glorious set Of fellows, asd
may their shadows always eIonga,e anI ex-
pand in size to the nob!sst Of nj! fair propOr
tuns.
The Rev. s. w. Nsnney, Chaplain u.
$. A., lately appointed and stationed at that
post, is as jolly and liberal minded "A gentle
man, AZ he is sincere and devout Chris
tau. His shadow might grow considerably
smaller, and ye, retain goody proportion
ard rofundlty.
the Military Reserve, At Belle Prairie, has
so head Of the finest stock cattle in the
country; they are more rugged and healthy
and thrive better he says, than in any other
part of the West. He kills one every week
to supply Fort Ripley, Grow Wing and the
surrounding country Baldwin, as his Jolly
friend, A. Cunraii D. P. NJ, delights in
calling him, is one of the men, aud his head
make il right next week, rs he intends TO
visit St. Paul 10 see the animals stirred up
at the opening Of the Legislature.
-
was accidentally left by his comraie. on
Belle Prairie, ani after wandering all nigh,
upon tire river, he reached the Fort at )
O'Clock next morning, 80 badly frozen that
it is the opinion Of Dr. Head he will lose
both Of hi. feet, his name is Connolly. The
house Of q W. Henderson took fire on the
morning of the 2lst, and came near being
destroyed; his wife was very i'll at the time,
and the fright, exposure, and excitement,
resulted in her death on the 9th inst; she
was meulher Of the Beaulien family.
The removed Indians from the ST. CrOix
300 in number, were paid So, 900 on Christ
mas day; a very appropriate time for nak-
ing lLdians presents, as well n. White folks.
| The Agent, while making wbiskey seizures
was pursued by an old s1uaw with kettle
of hot water, and it he had not lone some
pretty tail running. he would most inevila-
biy have been scalded. The Agen, started
for Fond du Lac on yesterday, where he
makes the last payment Of the season.
The honorable members elected to the
House and Council from pe,nbina, viz:
Messrs. KittsOn, Rolctte and Gingrass, ar
rived at Grow Wing on Christmas eve in
IS days from home, stopping TWO days at
Red Lake BY the way. Each had his ca
riole drawn by three fne dogs, harnsssed
,ast,Iy, with gingling bells and driven tan
dem fashion, in }, 20 at least, over a bad
road when put To their speed. They usually
travelled from 80 TO 40 miles per day. and
averaged about IS miles. They came on
down here each man in his own train, and
intended taking them to ST.. Paul, bu, as the
roads are heavy and The snow deep, they
will proceed Oh down to-day by xleighs,
leaving the dogs to follow. they fed them
on the trip hu, once day, and thai al night,
on pound Of pe,ntnican each. Or this
they draw man and baggage rs fast as a
good horse would travel, aud on long jour
nrys they tire horses out. So much for dog
train.-I am sorry they are not going down
below, as it would very much CRAFTY the
curiosity Of the good people Of the lower
regions to know how some Of their honOrn-
bies travel. Contrast their mode with tha,
of the eigh, dollar per day candidates who
hasten on to Washington IN elegantly fur
n,shed steamers and velvet CUSHIONED cars,
anJ put up uncomp'ainlngly, with all the
neon eniences Of the journey, so anxious
ara ,bay to serrp fh,tr coffnfru I 0piv in