The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-04-15
NO. LII.

the sake of running little steamboats,, at heavy
cast. With ths exception of two places in the
river, above Sank Rapids, there is nothing to i'm
pede a small steamboat, to the Falls Of pokego-
ma, or 600 miles. 1t is a fine river for rafting.
all The way--can drive logs right along, llAs
cattle.
A TRIP FROM Sr. PAUL TO SAUx RAPIDs,
IN JUNE.
We cannot present more lively picture Of ths
region above US, to Sauk Rapids, than the foIiew-
ing. copied from the Pioneer of the 18th Of Juno
last; which will be new TO at least some cf our
readers.
Two lines of convenient stages, make, oh,
two trips day from Saint Paul 10 st. Anthony
and back We left on Thursday morning; and
were delighted TO farming operations pro-
crossing. blowing fencing, planting. every where.
on that charming prairie. which Is spread out be-
tween The two towns,a distance Of eight miles,
THIS alone, inspired with fresh hope, 10 SO
great change wrought in so shor, time-so
many hundreds Of acres under t;liage, which
were covered. last year, only with wild grass
and aowers Of the prairie.
a mile before reached st. Anthony, wa
saw its bright, fresh painted houses, shining
amongst the distant trees, and saw the waterfall
glis:ening in the sunshine, and seeming more like
picture than the original of picture; but as ws
approach nearer, and listen 10 its suIien roar and
see The spray and examine more closely the ma
terial OF the exmbiioD the cataract becomes a
grand reality, filling the behoder with mingled
emotions of beauty and Of sublimty, the propor-
tons of which, depend upon the constitution
OF his own mind. Far away, down the steep
rocty channel below The falls, sweeps the angry
current; but now, begin TO see the pleasant.
fresh-panted houses Of The village on the right
hand. here cottage, and there substantial two
story house and there again. cheap building,
GthoBt coEnice, or Ornament, peculiar 10 tho
West, building which is neither ODc-siOry
house nor two-story (destuble style of archiiec-
turel and away upon i,e soping hillside, various
houses in the process Of erection, and piles Of
fresh-sawed lumber away off amongst the tail
prairie grass Of last years growth, betokening
that buildings will soon be there and streets Of
ST. Anthony, now known only by reference 10
the town plat.
Here stores new law ollsca-nlore new
houses--nore piles Of fresh sawed umber-asw
cellars comneuced-and come 10 tho
sGw-nliils, active ever, shingle machines, iath
factory, la,hes, and the busting industry Of men
and tearns in and around the mil!s-like big
heart sending active puSailons Of business all
over town, and into the neighboring country and
far-o!f, into the plneries. Here is company of
gentlemen, officers, from For; Smelling, taking q
survey Of The village and the waterfall, from the
terrace back Of Main street. They ,hiak, and
truly think thai ST. Anthony Is destined TO be
famous and n fashionable watering place tina,
neither Saratoga, nor Newport, nor Niagara, can
offer equal Inducements for Il summer residences,
10 iavalIds and people OF leisure. Now pass
along Nam street,an here seems TO be an unini-
proved space intervening between the upper and
lower part Of the town--to the upper town.
which certainly shines with prosperity -everylh!ns
looking end clean. Here we come TO the ST.
Charles Hotei-a fine, spacious building, full of
strangers. What contrast within few months!
What change since year ago, when the
stranger who visited ST. Anthony could not oh.aiR
d dinner, unless through the compassion OF some
cItlZen hc were invited 10 dine al some private
house. After dinner At the ST. Charles, the whis-
tls of the stean.b0a, Is heard, aud We must hur-
~ down 10
The GovERNos RAMSEY.
This beat, the FIRST that ever rode In the wa
tiers oi the Mississippi above the'faia, was built
by Capt Rollins and others; who for enterprise
deserve the lasting gratitude Of Minnesota. In the
hands Of such men, comparatively small SUN
of money, would be SO expended, as 10 open tho
nav igacion of the river, niuny hundreds Of mics
further. This boat, differs from all other boats. in
having locomotive boilers consisting Of great
number Of small offenders, ali OF which. coming
in contact with fire, present large extent of boil
er suface within small compass, for the genera
many, the boilers do not become cTusted with
lime. bp, are kept, with proper care. entirely
clean. The engines also different from any
that we see elsewhere in the west; and are very
perfect IN their way; 50 Is their management by
the engineers; for the stern paddle wheel
spends TO their touch, quick thought.
The boal being small, Of cOursc does not af-
ford very complete arrangements for passengers.
There is a small cabin, which sleeps perhaps
-..ll IL.
freight Of course, is very important part Of ths
business of this boat; and especially the trans
portatlon Of Indian aud Garrison supplies. What
ever WAS wanting in extent Of accommodations.
was compensated by the polite and obliging at
,entions of Capt Rollins. Anongs; the passen-
gers, were the Rev. NJ. Chase Of Natchez. Mise,
and several gentlemen and ladies from the State
of New lork-,hree ladies', 81! ia the bloom of
health, and particularly fine looking women. who
stood in relation to each other. Of grandmother,
da lighter, and grand daughter. Now the boat,
with some difficulty, passes out between two
islands, into the main channel aud heads up
stream, the water swift, oh, how swift! being Just
at the head of the falls A feeble boat could not
stem the current Fire up, boys! Dry wood
this season; last season they had to bnrn green
wood. II take half cord an hour, to run tho
boat.
For long distance our right, extends
BOOM parallel TO the shore, by which mill logs
from above are turned down between the island
and the cas-. shore, into the mill pond. The river
looks much smaller than at St. Paul, and seems
10 be lifted up. out Of the chasm through which
it runs below the falls, TO the level with The
shores or rather, which is the fact there Is no
ciasm until the river finds one after breaking ovef
the apron of rock at ST. Anthony.
SHORES OF THE UPPER MIssIssIPrr.
There are none Of the abrupt bluffs, such as
are seen down the river; but the land comes
down, by easy, gradual slope, to the very edge
of the water, and you LOOK away far back and
see the smooth land. how covered with green.
gradually rising the view rccedss from the RI
ver--far-far away--,he remotest object Is =
sw eing ridge Of prairie land; Of oak openings,
on the right hand and on the left, forest-no.
thing short Of dense forest Of vigorous Young
trees. as Gar az can be seen-and in the channel,
islands, some Of them large, covered invariably
with a heavy growth Of elm. blackberry, maple
and cotton " o0d and whenever as an exception
to the general appearance Of the shores. there is
~( Arup upf