The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-06-12


ken up The Location and Peopie-Character
Prairie.
The first of last week, we paid Wis
it to the settlement of the :. Western Farm
and Village Association at Rolling Stone,
one hundred and thirty-fve miles below
St. Paul. The cause of our omission to
alludc to this matter in our last issue, is
well known to our acquaintance here in
st. Paul. We arrived home from our
visit very ill, and were unable to write
single line for last weeks paper.
1t having been published to the world
by the Galena Jef,ersonian, and copied in
to the Pioneer and Democrat of St. Paul,
that this colony had ''broken up" we,
having great doubts as TO the truth of the
statement, concluded we would test the
matter personally. Leaving here on the
Excelsior, in due time we were put ashore
at Holmes Landing, Wisconsin. which
is nearly opposite the new settlement, al
thong h three miles distant, across sloughs,
islands and tow-heads. This is a good
place to stop at over night. The Germans,
at tie louer landing, are kind, accommo-
dating people, and will give you good
comfortable bed. Inthe morning the rrow
will have nice cup of coffee, and some
ham and fresh country eggs all ready for
you.
The next thing was to get over to the
settlement. The Tcutonic Charon which
we had employed, said we would be there
ever queek;'' and SO we were We gil
ded across the low islands among the for
est trees and shrubbery, frightening the
ducks and pigeons from their social morn
ing chats, and were at Rolling Stone be-
fore the sun was high above the maies-
tic cliffs that tower away in the east
Instead OF finding the settlement 'broken
up" we saw on stepping upon the ground
groups Of rugged men and women,-firm,
resolute looking people, busy at all kinds
of work one might expect colonsts to be
engaged in. Some thirty or more COM
Portable cabins are already erected, and
others building. The number of families
on the ground at the time was perhaps
forty-not less. They were rcsolute,
contcned, and determined to stay. Most
Of them are in good circumstances. They
were planting gardens, and preparing for
cultiva,nS the soil on more extensive
/ scale. Further additions to the colony
were expected from New York. One
family that had just arrived, were so I'M
fortunate as to lose most of their house
hold goods by the upsetting of a boat in
the slough. The lady remarked to US,
with an air of contcntmcnt and rcsiena-
ton: that it was heavy loss, but people
who removed to a new country must cx-
pect TO submit to some hardships. We
concluded she would get through.
An impression has prevailed among
many of our citizens, that these colonists
were a community Of socialists, who hold
every thing in common, after the fashion
OF the Shakers and other similar societies.
Such is not the fact. There is no COM
munity Of lands, or houses, or property
Of any kind, real Or personal. Neither is
there Of labor. Each man has his own
house and grounds, and his owl goods,
teams and farming utensils; pays for what
he gets, and receives wages when work
ing for others, jus: the same in every res
| poet as in ordinary communities They are
an association only for the purposes of set
tlemcnt, and holding claims. Among them
are men Of almost every sect and party,
religious and political, that we find any
where.
The location Of this colony is one of
the most beautiful spots in Minnesota
Objection has been made to it, because it
is cup slough six miles" where
steamboats, can never run. This matter
about boats not going there, at least in
high water, is all stuff. We will guaran-
tee they will find their way up whenever
there is load of produce to bring OUT
The water had fallen considerably when
we were there; still there was eight feet
in the slough. The village is located
upon high and beautiful oak opening,
covered with fine growth of timber
The soil is good, with clay sub SOIL
Back is valley, extending for fifteen or
twenty miles, composed Of as rich and
well disposed farming land as we ever
saw. The grass in this valley at the
time we We're there was knee high