The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-04-15

sissippi, than the who'e region extending from !
the Falls Of St. Anthony 10 Sauk Rapids; above |
which, we have not been. We are informed, /
that the land is much the same above Sank Rap /
ids; which place is northwest ofSt. Paul, nearly, 1
one hundred miles, and north. less than forty
miles At distance Of from, three miles 10 fl
teen miles from the east shore Of the river, ex
tends tsmarac swamp, for an Immense dis
lance, between 81. Anthony and Sank Rapss,
designed by nature. il would seem, expressly 10
iurni.h farmers with rails without spiitiny them;
a HAT from Providence, which the settlers up
,hcre, are not slow TO comprehend. e.,.~ 81
Al various intervals along the river. the trees,
&c, IN this tamarac swamp, ale visible, lar III
the back ground. picturesque As 4 distant forest
of tapering masts. w hat Ss east beyond that
swamp, we not do know ;but Benton county may
well be content with the vast extent Of hnc ara
bic lands that in sight oftho river-sniiicicnt
for IL, 900 farmers, and vet unclaimed. The
soil is exactly Ike that Of Rock river--qui,c as
little waste and-inuch more timber; and with Il
landscape which we can recollcci nothing down
the river, 10 compare with, unless II be The shores
e The Mississippi al the lower Rapids, including
the back groand Of Nanyoo and Montrose. The
first night, we passed On board The boat, al the
mouth Of Swan river. (The Ramsey does. rot
run a, nigbis) The next morning we moved
onward, every mile attracting oar attention to
New beauties Of scenery. All seemed surprised,
we certainly were AT lhe vast extent OF forests on
the west bank Of the rvor. Every few rods. we
met a canoe full Of Winnebagoes returning with
their goods from the payment. There, IN huge
bark canoe filed with squaws and proposes and
bales Of goods, comes Their head cbei, WIN
nshik, hiiuse.f sitting in the stern and steering.
Most Of The canoes, the approach Of the
steamboat, slide cut into some little nook or ed
dy, near the shore, until our boat has passed
At short intervals we find farms, some Of tleHl
large, and all giving good promise. ...
TIVE THOUSAND ISLANDS.
This is an exaggeraiicn; but then the islands
ara so many and so large, that they seem TO
have taken resclute possession Of The channel, as
if to drive the stream back, which however,
swiftly gliies between them, giving the boat good
warm exercise to brave the current. We come
t. the granite formation, at the foot Of the rapids
striking out boldly across the river, TO bar the
channel Useless. What obstacle will not the
power Of steam overcome: The boat dashes
across through ripple and eddy, then tnckng sud-
denly takes another course, bdleting the stream
escaping the rocks, and riding in triumph, above
and beyond the chain of rock. Good, old ,prilui-
tive granfe how familiar you lock The very ma
terra, OF thuse cra.ged mountains amongst which
were born; how like the familiar faces Of the
old men, does it eeun,~ho ioitared TO the church,
ahcre we woTShipped III Infancy.
SAUK RAPIDS.
And here the boat lies pauing and cooling her,
self IN the swift water, like weary beast. Lei
her rest, while we walk along the shore OF the
rapids, about ihree miles, to the head thereof
We leave the boat and warehouse ana the few
teams that are busy there. with freight and pas
sengers. How wide The river is Spreading out,
ever vast expanse OF grantc fragments-s
bat no where preciPiious, and evidently rpassa-
be for steamboats,. Bat what a chance for build
mg canal on the cas-; bank, by simply building
wall OF granite, laid in cement, withou, excay-
aiing aud without any expense but a wall and
three or four locks, And what an excellent wa
ter-power, all along the rapids, wiihoG. need Of
SO much dam, unless perhaps short wing
dam. Here we come to Of deserted tra-
dag houses, formerly occupied by Merrick.
Holmes. Jackson and Bellows Well; the ira
deTs Ought 10 make money. Next beyond is Ro-
herts' trading house, which seems to be at pres
ent i tavern. The Indian trade is now mostly
concentrated At Waiab, which is on delightful
prairie, three or four mics further up The river
But here Is Russel's-at The head Of the zap.
IDS. Here Is good comfortable honse, stables,
exon, fat swine large enclosures, fields of oats,
and every thing 10 Indicate thrift and good living
Here resides the Judge and the Clerk Of the
Court; and Courts must aad 3cU have things
comfortable. Here is Counsellor Philips OF 81
Paul District Attorney Of Benton county, pre-
pairing his prosecutions. The Sioux or Sioux who
killed poor Swartz, are IL be prosecuted. The
people OF Benton talk like rational, law-abdns
gen, who desire 10 see law and Justice take eff
feet and nothing more. The next morning ,Satur-
Day, returned TO thu boat, which cast off her
ropes, at 5 O'Clock, and we swept swiftly baci,
through the enchanting scene which we have
above hastily sletchcd, reached st. Anthony NJ
+. NJ, took stage back 10 our own delightful
Saint Paul, and the labors Of The press highly de-
bghted, and more confident than ever, Of the g!o-
fous destiny of Minnesota.
LHE GEOGRAPHY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
between ST. Paul and ST. Anthony. NAV be thus
properly illustrated; Sit at table with your face
westward, and lay you left arm horizontally upon
The table. bending il at angle of IS degrees
Your shoulder viii represent the location of ST
Paul: your elbow the location of For, Smelling,
(the junction Of the Mississippi and Mnneso;i.
rivers) and your hand, the location of St Anthony
In the forearm, from the eIboic to the hqad.
the Falls has produced a parolys;s That por
ton OF The river rs not nav gable. Therefore, rs
the shoulder Is nearer the he1d than the elbo,c.
and nearer the head than plra,sed forearm can
be, that has no power Of motion, we say with the
utmost truth nj reason, that 81 Pau is at The heua
Of navigation for such steamboats, as can afford
to run IN the trade up the river from ST Iouis and
Galena. In explanation Of this, as well AS 10 ey
PLAIN the relative position Of other places we re-
Ter the reader 10 the following correct map, made
from the Government survey