davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11

taking the widest portions of the inter-
vening waters. We landed and walked
some distance along the south shore, find
ing heavy underground with rich soil,
but as yet not very large timber We en-
barked and run for what was previously
named Cedar Point, hut for reasons which
will soon be explained we named
Point waxon.
This is an elevated promontory half
mile in length, running out from the
southern shore of the lake. At the ex-
IRENE point, and for fifteen or twenty
rods back, it is not over two rods in
width. The shores on either side run up
with gradual inclination, except just at
the point, where they are more abrupt
The prevailing growth on this promonto-
ny is red cedar, very large, with an en-
tangled jungle of underground, which
shoots up between the matted limbs of
fallen and decaying cedars, some of which
indicate that they were felled centuries
ago. This place is undoubtedly HOLY
e. ound, for here are the unmistakeable
signs Of Dakota worship from ages ago
TO the present time. Therefore we say
let this be Point Wakon.* 1t deserves
more meaning cognomen than Cedar
Point. The heather orgies of great
and powerful race: for whose ancient
homes we have just bartered pittancc of
our trashy gold, here were celebrated
long before the "world-seeking Genoese"
reared the Haunting standard of CASTLE and
Aragon upon the shores of the Haytian
seas. The appearance Of the ground
the marks upon the trees the ruins of
rude affairs; remnants of old scalp hoops !;
the painted stones, and all such impe-
ments Of savage rites, prove eur theory
beyond the possibility of CONTROVERSY
We are told that until month or six
weeks ago, a finely painted rock, sacred
to the Dakota, was here preserved with
religious care. The rceking scalp of the
Chippewa had lain Upon it, and around it
had danced the Dakota Brave for genera
tons. But the white man came, and
with the grasp of the Vandal laid his
sacrelgious hands upon it, to be deposit
ed in some two-penny museum! Why
should not this sacred relic of departing
race have rested here forever? We
admire the taste of the being who stole ii
away! But no Minnesotian will deem
the base deed unaccountable, when they
are informed that it was perpetrated by
we won't name him, knowing that
notoriety is as sweet 10 him as we'll
earned fame.
&c The youth that fired the Ephesian dome,
Outlives in fame the pious fool who built it's
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
Point Morrison.

This was named some time since for
MIR. Morrison, one of our party, who has
made several voyages up the lake. We
went back into the woods some distance
and must be permitted to say, in all call
dor, that never even in Ohio have we
seen better timbered land or better soil.
The similarity between this and the sugar
maple groves of Ohio, including the I'M
dergrowth Of pea-vine, nettle, ginseng,
&c., is very great. We measured one
sugar-tree which was three feet in diam
eter. There is also, intersperscd, white
oak, white-hickory, white-ash, Eastwood,
&c. The b;.se Of the soil is yellow clay.
No better wheat land can be found in any
country. We saw no prairie anywhere
near the lake. After dinner we ran about
ten miles further up, passing from the
division we were then in through a mar
row channel, half mile long, having con-
siderable current, into still larger divis-
ion, on the western shore of which we
encamped for the night. We were only
about half way TO the head of the lake,
but were compelled to turn homeward the
next morning.
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
Tie Metropolitan Hotel Of New York

The Journal of Commerce gives a
glowing description of this magnificent
hotel. The ground on which it is situa-
ted cost 100000. The building, which
has frontage on Broadway and Prince
streets Of SIG feet, or nearly onc-sixth Of
a mile, is five stories in height, having
100 parlors with both rooms and cham
bers attached; besides 200 gcntlemen's
rooms with hot and cold baths. The en-
tire building will accommodate from 600
to 700 guests, and cost 100000; furni-
ture, &C., $4,000; being grand total
Of $95O,OoO.
Europeans visiting our country are
struck with the excellent and extensive
arrangements in our hotels in all of the
principal cities but this gigantic estab-
lishmcnt will be an object of special
wonder, furnishing additional proof of
the utilitarian progress of our great
country.
1t is time TO begin to think about the
October election. An open field and
victory are before us. Select good men
and true as candidates for office, raise the
democratic banner, and the result of our
next election will be hailed throughout
the Union as Democratic triumph, and
when General Pierce shall be President.
the Democrats of Minnesota uiH be suifa
bly, and substantially remembered, as men
who have done their duty, and contribu-
ted all the influence they possessed 20 the
National Victory of l852.--Democrn.
That's the way to talk it! There's
some sense in coming right out and own
ing up that you are fighting merely that
you may be suitably and substantially
remembered" in the Distribute of the
spoils. This is the only incentive TO VIC
tory that pricks on the ardor Of our neigh
Dor. If there were no spoils in the case,
his columns would be as tame as a seven
day kitten. But he has, some how or
other, worked himself up into the belief
that a narrow-mindcd bigot from the big
oted and intolerant State of New Hamp-
shire is going TO be elected President
over such man as Winfild Scott, and the
shadow of the spoils haunts him as did
the visionary dagger the disordered
brain of Macbeth. In his insane rawlings
he imagines the honest men of his party
are in like state Of desperation, when
in reality the great body of them care not
rush who hold Office. They are entire
ly independent about the matter, so far as
the mere pay is concerned, and only wish
the offices filled by competent men.
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11

Minnesota all right in Congress-every
thing through-no room for particulars
this week. '.'
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11


keeping round its northern shore, and
shortly find ourselves at
Cedar Lake.
By what means it ever got this name
we are at a loss to imagine, as there is
not 50 much as a shrub Of cedar anywhere
near il. 1t Is beautiful ii'tlc sheet Of
water, and great place for fish, which
fact we can prove by Cairns and Capt.
Monfort; for it was here they caught their
two-horse wagon load, mentioned IN the
Minnesotian three weeks since. We
thought Of calling it Lake Monfort or
Lake Cairns, we don't care which. From
here our course was nearly due west, but
over one of the toughest countries out of
doors. The soil is generally good, with
thick growth of hazel, wild cherry BUSH
es, &c., but very little timber. Plenty of
water for stock, and excellent hay mead
ow; far off to the right is seen groves of
tamarac and other COOL timber. After
sundry poundings and joltings over four
or five miles of this wooden country, we
came to another beautiful little lake on
our left, which, in honor of our excellent
and popular Secretary we named
Lake wilkin.
We don't know whether it was ever
named before, and don't care; hereafter
it is to be thus known. We forgot TO
mention that "Cedar Lake." although
within a mile Of Lake Calhoun, does
not belong to the Calhoun and Harriet
family. 1t pours its waters out to the
north, through the creek which enters
the Mississippi just above the Cataract OF
St. Anthony. Lake Wilkin we think is
one Of the Calhoun chain. Three or four
miles on, we came for the first time to
Little Falls creek, which we crossed.
The land along this creek is good, and
mill privileges plenty. The growth of
weeds, grass and hazel is as high as
mans shoulders. The surface, however,
is too much broken to invite settlement
while less elevated and depressed sections
remain open. Crossing one of the high
peaks hereabouts, while the team was
making the circuit of wet meadow, we
found bunch of the wild sage, which
is mentioned by Fremont and others as
growing SO extensively upon the plains Of
Oregon and California. We were not
before aware that it grew in this country.
The whole Of Minnesota is a rich and
inviting garden for the explorations Of
the botanist, and we wish greater atten-
tion were paid to this matter. On our
right rises the highest peak of this billy
region, from which it is said view can
be had Of Lake Minnetonka, the course
of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers,
the village of St. Anthony, twelve miles
distant, and the place where St. Paul is.
1t is called Mount Ararat, from the fact
tina. here Noah (Major Noah) rested on
his return last June from an exploration
Of the deluge of waters (Minnetonka)
beyond. Four miles farther, and we haul
up in front of
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11

an interior town. We won't tell all the
incidents of that evening; but must at
least remark that if they had not arrived,
appearances indicated we would have had
dull, quiet evening. Our own party
being, to considerable extent, as yet,
strangers to each other, no one felt like
ssletting himself lloose;" and besides,
the Captain" whose reputation for the
best Of "boon companions !" is we'll estab-
ed, was very unwell and had TO retire /;
"the Doctor" was also unwell; Col.
Stevens was busy, planning where the
Public Square and Court House should
be located /; and our friend Lennon--a fell
low of infinite wit and jest-began to get
his John Bull up about something, and had
not word to say. So we would have
been poorly off for amusements had not
the St. Paul boys come to our relief.
Dance, song and yell was the order of the
night until the margin Of the "short
hours;" when, by sharp listening, it was
ascertained that distant wolf could,
now-and-then, get in howl elgcwise.
Then we slept.
John Bull amid the Wilds OF Minnesota.
Bull in his travels is the same every
where. On the plains of America amid
the ruins of Colosseum and the Pantheon !;
in the interior of Africa, he is a distinct
i've character, and can be pointed out a
hundred yards distant. He carries his
nationality on his face, and his country in
his manners and disposition. Our John
did full justice 10 his paternity. Could
Queen Victoria have seen him, she
would have instantly settled a pension
upon him, for his faithful deliniation of
the leading points in the character of the
great British nation The true Yankee
and the true Bull, notwithstanding the
old original relation, have become anti
podes wherever found. Yankee must al
ways be playing his pranks on Bull,
getting ahead of him." and edging him
off into narrower quarters. This pro-
pensi'y strongly" stuck out at our camp
last Monday night. There not being suf-
ficient accommodations in the shanty for
all hands, buffaloes were spread out
doors, and four or five retired to this sky
canopied apartment. Among them was
Lennon, who took an outside birth, which
happened to be just in front of the wag-
on. During the antics Of the night,
while he slept soundly, "the Captain"
although sick, concluded lie must have
his joke at Bulls expense; SO he and Ed.
Murphy quietly rolled the gentleman
from the robe, and placed him under the
wagon-tongue on the bare ground. He
slept soundly during the operation, and
until morning, with nothing but the wag-
on-tongne for He enjoyed an
excellent nights rest but when he
awoke there was one mad individual in
that crowd, certain. The getting mad
part, after he had slept well, is English ;
to have laughed it off would have been
Yankee. But we must hurry and start
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
View from Point WaLon.

Up the lake it is grand beyond des-
cription. Heavens, what a subject for the
pencil of a Cole or Sontagg! The wind
is beginning to rise, and the dark blue
waves are tumbling up on the clear sanity
beach at our feet, the white spray plash-
ing over against the boulders farther from
shore, and then again gently receding into
the bosom of the lake. Upon a tree
against which we leaned, was the name,
in bold pencil-mark, of q Elizabeth F.
Elicit" trace by her own hand only a
few days previous. Watching the gam
bols of the waves, intuitively came up
permost in our thoughts her own beauti-
full lines-which we first read in our
schoolboy days-commencing:
sThe waves that on the sparkling sand
Their foamng crests upheave--
Lightly recedng from the land,
Seem not trace to leave;
Those pillows, in their ceaSeless play,
Have worn the solid rocks away.:'
These waves were tumbling in from
the huge water, which one of the party
with her at the time of her visit named
Lake Elicit. Feeling poetic, in this par
ticular place, how natural that these ia
vorite lines should spring to our lips !!
This division Of Minnetonka is about ten
miles from east to west, and, generally,
about five from north to south. The
headlands at the upper terminus were
visible in blue outline, with the inter-
vening shores, sloping up gradually to a
great distance, thickly covered with a
growth of timber such as we had not be-
fore seen in Minnesota. The beach, all
the way round, is from ten to twenty
feet wide, mostly of firm, clean sand and
gravel, intermixed with beautiful corne-
llans; but at intervals bikes of small
boulders reach TO the waters edge. The
same description will answer for all por-
lions Of these shores, after leaving the
extreme eastern arm. Near by us, up
the lake, is beautiful little wooded ISL
and Of four or five acres. This is called
Elicit island. Beyond, midway in this
division, is much larger island; but we
are about embarking again, and will soon
be alongside it. Some of the company
insisted upon naming it
Owens Island.
Now. we care nothing about such
empty compliments. If it was named
something else previously, (and we don't
know whether it was or not) let it go by
its original title, whatever it may be. II
We had the CLAIM, to it, the name might
go to the dogs. 1t is fine body of land
embracing some thousand acres, heavily
timbered, and high above the water. 1t
is favorite place, we are told, for Indian
sugar making. The growth is mostly
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
Lake Bryant.

Here we began TO realize something we
had imagined in regard to Minnetonka.
The lake is clear Of water-growth, and
begins to assume the deep blueish green
of old Erie itself. The shores improve
greatly, and indicate that the timber is
becoming good. The extent of this d.
vision is about two miles from east to
west and a mile and half from north to
south. In giving these distances, it must
be borne in mind that the shores Of Min
netonka are succession of deep indenta-
tons and jutting promontories and penin-
sulas; and between these headlands we
measure distances from point to point,
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11

few moments respite for our horses,
keeping round its northern shore, and
shortly find ourselves at
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
Up the Lake.

At eight o'clock Tuesday morning we
embarked in two batteaux, and voyaged
up the creek about four miles to lis head.
Here opens the eastern arm Of Min
netonka, or Lake Browning, as Mrs. Ell
lett named this division, in honor of
(since the death Of Margaret Fuller the
greatest living authoress of England or
America, Elizabeth Barrett Browning
We have no objections TO the name, but
there is no propriety in giving separate
names 10 the different divisions of Min
netonka, any more than there would be
in changing the name of the Mississippi
at every bend from here 10 New Orleans.
1t is all Minnetonka; and we fear that
Mrs. Ellett's Lakes Browning, Bryant
and Elicit, semi-separated as they are
merely by peninsulas, with channels, de-
void of current, half mile wide, con-
Meeting them, will not stand as long as
the trees ashore upon which their names
are pencilled. In fact, this eastern arm is
scarcely worthy the name Of lake, as the
greater portion of its surface is covered
with thick growth Of wild rice. water
lilies and rushes. Passing over about
mile, we turn an acute angular point and
enter water of much more imposing
appearance. AS we approached the point,
which runs from north 10 south, rnyriads
Of ducks rose from the rice thcket along
the shore. An adroit sportsman might,
in few hours, load boat with them
In the branches of a dead cedar OIL shore
was an eagles nest, and near by, on an
adjacent tree, sat one of the " birds of
Jove" watching his eyrie. We turn the
headland and enter what Mrs. Elicit
calls
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11

sugar maple-trees very large. We had
strong head wind and rough sea 10
plough through, and some of the party
were unable to swim, which made things
little ticklish. But with Porter, an ex-
pert boatmen, at the helm, we pushed
through safely, and landed for dinner
about five miles above Point Wakon, at a
place known as Trf TTt r -.--
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
Its Location and Extent.

The eastern arm Of Lake Minnetonka
is, by the Travelled road, about twenty
miles west of the Falls of St. Anthony.
The road now travelled, after you get
west of Lake Calhoun, is rough and diff
cult to 90 over with teams. Four miles
before reaching the lake you have to stake
water" and traverse the outlet till YOU
reach the eastern arm. This outlet is
what is known as Little Falls Creek
which, after running through Lakes CAL
houn, Harriet, Amelia. &c., forms the
beautiful and romantic cascade of fifty or
sixty feet, near Fort Smelling. By the
way We speak of, Minnetonka cannot be
reached with teams until road is made
over sundry high hills and extensive
marshes. 1t is the opinion of some that
better and equally near route can be found
directly to the lake shore, by crossing the
country from the Minnesota river. The
general direction of the lake is east and
west, although its expansive arms stretch
far to the north and south. At some
points we should suppose its navigable
waters could be reached within eight or
ten miles Of the Minnesota. The extent
Of the lake is at least forty miles from
east to west; in places it is five or six
miles in width.
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
Our Party.

We left St. Anthony last Monday for
a hurried exploration Of Lake Mime
tonka. Secretary Wilkin, Col. J. H.
Stevens, DR.. Ames, Ed. Murphy, A.
Murphy, Mr.. Miller, formerly of St.
Paul, but for the past two years resi-
dent of Hennepin county, Mr.. Lennon,
(brother of the St. Anthony merchant
Mr.. T. Porter, and our humble self COM
posed the party destined for the lake.
There is no fun or pleasure in excursions
such as this, unless you have the right
kind of company. We were singularly
fortunate in this respect. Most of those
named are well known TO our readers
DIR. Ames has resided in the Territory
since last fall, but is not extensively ac-
quainted in St. Paul. He is highly in
delllgent and iberal-minded gentleman-
an Eastern man originally, but resident
of the West for the past fifteen years
has become thoroughly imbued with
Western manners and customs-an ex-
cellent hand to trough it, on occasions
like this, and most agreeable travelling
companion. Mr.. Lennon is an English
man who "came over" the present sea-
son-intelligent, well educated and read
up thoroughly in the politics and li,cra-
fure Of the day; and witbal good foun.
dation for successful American mer-
chant and useful citizen, after he pets
"broke in" and understands the {. hang
of things" On this occasion he was The
character of the party, as will be seen
before we are done with him. Well, we
are Off
Mine p.ecicus souIs, and all aroe,
To dash through thick and thin.'
a drive Of five or six miles across the
most beautiful prairie in American
winch we have often mentioned to our
readers-and We haul up in front of the
bri'ette House on the pleasant shores Of
Lake Calhoun.
This is sheet Of water whose fame
10 worldwide. We had heard Of it years
before we came to Minnesota. It was
named by officers Of the army, in honor
Of John c. Calhoun, thirty five years ago
when he was Secretary Of War. Its
lovely mate and near neighbor just below
H. Lake Harriet, was named at the same
time, in honor of the lady of Col. Smell
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11
MlxNETONKA AND A TRIP THERETO.
Iss Discovery and Name.

Its Discovery and Name.
1t is of course incredible to suppose
that body of water forty miles in extent,
could have remained within fifteen or
twenty miles of St. Paul and St. Anthony
until this year, and not have been known by
any one to exist. The mere discovery Of
Lake Minnetonka by white men, probably
dates as far back as the time Of Father
Hennepin, but discovery and knowledge
of it, vast resources and extent is an
event of this year. That lake, or series
of lakes, lay off in that direction, was
known to all the old Indian traders, and
we have heard them speak of the fact fire.
quently; but until the explorations, COM
,uenced early last spring by Messrs. Tut
tie and Stevens, it is evident nothing like
q correct idea OF the topography of this re-
gion was entertained. Minnetonka should
be Mdeatonka {; but as the former name has
already been started, and has gone abroad
to the whole world, the charge cannot be
made without great Inconvenience. So,
rather than undertake so serious JOB as
to attempt the change, it is probably best
to stick to Minnetonka, which simply
means Big Waller, while Mdea,ouka is
more definite, meaning Big Lake.
The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-09-11

oil HlcH. AHese Lectures VIII be CON-
mcnced at 3 o'clock next Sabbath after
noon at the Baptist Church, and continued
upon the same hour upon the succeeding
Sabbaths until closed.
Some canting hypocrite makes an ass
of himself by driveling attempt in the
last Minnesotian, to say something very
severe against the editor Of the Dem
ocrat, whose honest independence is gall
and wormwood 10 the sneaking nav
worms that infest this community. The
stupid and lying scamp, who, no doubt,
makes great pretensions of picty and
good manners, attempts TO create the i'm
preston that we are opposing the execu-
ton of the laws, SC. Ii the cloak OF cant
were stript from the shoulders of this
!" Loyal Son Of Minnesota naked. in
tolerant, self-sharpencd, laundering knave
would stand exposed TO public contempt
That will do, considering it comes from
that pure and sainted pen that never al
lows word of personal abuse i" to drop
from It's consecrated point! 1t appears
we are to have the old TRADE of the fish
market over again previous to the Octo-
DER election, with slight variation from
The Ramsey and Sibley" hashing up of
last year. Instead of the war this year
being directed against the Corpus .Juris