The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-04-01
ST PAUL MINNESOTA TERRITORY THURSDAY APRIL ! 1859

ice 10 STATE, Stnat tne region north OF Iowa
and east of g-Sioux river, traversinx the
entire valley Of the Minnesota up to tie
Winnehago line, and connecting with the
purchase made by Governor Ramsey, OF
the Red River Chippewas,st Buffalo river,
Is comprised therein; SO that glance AT ths
map, will show the Mississippi to he the
eastern boundary Of the tract TO which the
Indian title has been extinguished, for a
distance of nearly three hundred miles. Ii
is not SUI prisins that the most intense anx-
'ety Is manifested hy the people of tho Ter
ri1ory, as we'll as 10y thousands who intend
to remove there, in the fate Of these meas
ures, the success Of which is vitality inpor-
tant to the interests of Minnesota. Already
are hundreds pressing across the line 10
make their homes in these fine lands, in an
ticipation of the Immediate ratification of
these treatitie; and these hundreds will be
sweiied to thousands so soon as the naviga.
ton Of the rivers is fairly open. The trea-
ties are universally regarded as wise and
JuuiciouS in their provisions, both as they
! affect the interests of Indians and OF the
Government. The Dakotas or Sioux band.
cannot remain where they now are, withou,
imminent danger of collision with the white
populations; and magnamtmous and lust
policy, therefore, would dictate their con-
centralioD as stipulated in The treaties, with
view TO their instruction in the ar.s of
civilized life, in spot remote from the
white settlements, and where they are not
Liable 10 be disturbed for many wears 10
come.
he Pembina treaty referred to, as ne 90
tiated by Governor Ramsey IN September
last, Is also important To the interents of the
Territory, as II completes the line Of pur-
chase between the Mississippi ansI the
boundary Of the British possessions. The
trade between Lord Scikirk's colony on the
Red River Of the Nor,h, which has d pop
ulatioh OF about eight thousand souls, and
on our own settlements, is rapidly ncreas-
ing. The indians interested IN the treaty
are very poor and needy, and the amount
stipulated 10 be paid them, although in,igni-
f'ant 80 tar as the Government is concern
ed VIII yet go far To administer to the com
fort Of these miserable beings. Penibna is
the name OF "A settlement on our side Of the
line within the purchase, and contains up
wards OF thousand souls, principally per
sons of mixed Indian aud white booi -
These people are active and enterrrjsny.
hardy and intrepid, excellent horsc,nen, and
well skilled IN firearms. They su.,sist by
agriculture, and by the chase of bnfilo. -
They are recognized bv law as citizens of
our Territory, and should the treaty he rat
fled, so as TO enable them to acquire indi-
vduai titles to the land upon which th.y
now live, their numbers viii soon be aup-
menied by accessions from the British siI,,
Of The line, OF those who are anxious 10
emaucipate themselves from the non rule,
of the huge monopoly, called The Hudson's
Bay Company. These settlers would form
an invalubIe defence TO that exposed frontier
in case Of difficulties hereafter, either with
the BRUSH Government, (to which the, are
much disafected )or with the Indian tribes.
The number Of acres in the cesson Us st.p-
uiaied ~ tie Penii,ina treaty, is abou; L.
700 600
The soil of Minnesota is admirably adap-
ted 10 the cultivation OF all cereal grains.
W heat, oats and barley, are already raised
in considerable quantities; corn Of al kinds
grows 10 great perfection. " heat and bar
ley afford il sure crop, even at The BRUSH
colony in Iatiiuede 30 -, more than %
north of ST. Paul. Garden vegetables of
every kind are raised III all parts of the
Territory, OF u SIZE ami quality unsurpass-
ell. What will be the result in The culture
of fruit trees has not yet been fully tested,
but there is no reason To doub, that the ex-
pertinent will be successful, with al! those
species which are found in the same paral-
lei elsewhere. Wi!d strawberries, raspber.
ries, plunis, and other fruits are found m
abundance.
Minnesota is destined To he great agr-
cuitral region, and It's prairles are especial
iy well calculated for raising stock -
There is also such an extent Of WATERFOWL
er throughput its broad surface, thai there is
every reason To believe that manufacturers
will flourish also. The reports OF ihpse
scientific men who have explored the coun-
try, Justify lis In The supposilion that our
Territory is rich in iron and copper ORES,
aud more particularly ingalena or leai -
There is good grounds for The belief thar
coal viii hc found, hut that problem is no.
yet satisfactorily solved. Should II be dis
covered in any considerable quantities, the
fact will be of mO,e real advantage 70 Min
neso,a Than mines o! silver or gold.
On the upper portions Of The Mississippi and
ST. CsoiX rivers, hes the great region of pine,
which will continue to prove source Of wealth
to Tie Territory and future State, fora century 70
come. The manufacture Of pine lumber already
constitutes very large part Of tie industrial la
bor of the people The quantity produced during
the past year must have exceeded 25 900, 600 Of
feet, the greater part of which was required for
home purposes. This branch Of commerce Is Ia
the hands of hardy, en,erprising, and respectable
men, who. after enduring every species Of priva
ton incident their vocation, too often iated
to encounter heavy losses from the uncomfortable
foods, which set ut defiance equally the strength
and skill Of man.
! The climate Of Minnesota IS not subject 10 sud-
den variations, especially IN winter Although
IN some yenrs the snow falls to a considerable
depth. vet, as general rule, we have far less
Than i. The case in New England, or in the north
ern part Of ihe Slate Of New York. The COM
paratise absence Of moisture in the atmosphere
is doubtless attributable 10 the fact, that very
! large bodies of water to he found, although,
as have before stated, small lakes abound. Du-
ring the coolest weather in winter, the air per-
feclIy still, consequently the temperature is much
more toIerablc, and even pleasant, than could be
supposed by those, who reside in the same par
ailel Of latitude on The stormy Atlantic coast.
The navigation Of the Mississippi is not TO be
relied on after the first week in November: and
steamboats, arrive in the spring about the 10Th OF
18th Of April, SO that the river may be considered
as closed for nearly FIVE months in The year.
have known steamers, however, to reach Saint
Paul as late as the 20th Of November, ard ge'