The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-11-04

river, tributary Of the Minnesota river, emptying
stream, rising near Lac Traverse, flows south
easterly distance Of $50 miles, and empties into
the Mississippi at Fort Smelling, miles above st.
Paul, and the same distance below St. Anthony.
This is one of the finest streams in the valley of
the Mississippi, and the country through which it
flows is not excelled for salubrity of climate and
fertility Of soil by any part Of the United States.
In good stage of water steamboats, ascend
it almost TO its source; portage of mile or two
then connects it from Big Stone Lake with Lake
Traverse; and the outlet of the latter, the Sioux
Wood river, (all Of which are so miles in lengthy
with the famous Red River Of the North. This
stream is navigabIe at all seasons for steamboats,
from the Bots de Sioux to Pembna on The British
line-to Selkirk settlements, 100 miles beyond,
and even to Lake Winnipeg. The whole trade
of these extensive regions will eventually seek
this channel to a market, following down the Mn
nesota to the Mississippi at St Paul-and thence
to the States below a railroad connection will
eventually be made from the mouth Of the Bots
de Sioux to Fond du Lac; also from the same
point to St. Anthony and St. Paul via Sank Rap
ids and the Mississippi Another will connect the
same point with Lac qni Parle, on account of the
portage at Big Stone Lake; thence down to the
mouth Of Blue Earth; thence southeasterly
through iowa to some point, say Prairie du Chen
or Dubuque, on the Lower Mississippi Let not
the creduous reader smile ut this; | have been
,l,x H. - a.
cribed, and without enthusiasm, write from sur
vey Of the country and knowledge of its capaci-
ties and resources when once brought out Lei,
think the great tide Of immi grafton will
confiae itself to the banks of the Mississippi and
Minnesota rivers; on the contrary, the whole in
terror TO the north and west Of these two streams
will soon be peopled and thic!.ly peopIed too.
The only interruption to the navigation Of the
Lower Minnesota river in dry seasons what
called the Rapids, some 40 miles above its
mouth. This is a ledge Of sand stone rock, ex-
year, be removed.
The Mississippi above St. Anthony, is navsa-
bic almost indefinite distance to the north; and
the steamer Gov Ramsey has already been run
ming in the trade above the Falls for three years.
as far as the Sank Rapids $50 miles which with
the Little Falls, GO miles beyond, are the main
obstacles in navigation Of over 400 miles from
st. Anthony to the Falls of Pokegama. Lake ST.
Crox and River is navigabIe TO the falls, rs miles
above the junction Of the Lake and Mississippi;
and the St. Louis river is navigable from Lake
Superior 20 miles 10 Fond du Lac. Numerous
other streams, are navigable for Iigh. draught
steamers and hat-boats, from so to leo miles !;
penetrating into the interior, to the pineries and
giving easy access into the country in all drec-
tons. There are the Blue Earth, Rum, Elk Sank,
Grow, Crow Wing, VermiIlion, Cannon and
others.
On the Northeastern border Of the Territory, is
Lake Superior with its valuable fisheries and its
shores Astounding in inexhausiible mines of COP
per, ron SC; besides atfording us The facility of
that vast inland sea for immigration and COM
| merce.
The Great Father Of Waters too-the mighty
Mississippi, after rising ia I,asca Lake, in the
northern portion of the Territory, flows by de-
vious course for some 500 miles through the cas-
tern part; and below the mouth of the ST. Croix.
forms the dividing line between US and Wiscon-
sin for some 200 more to the Iowa line. This
mighty river gives US the whole lower valley to
the Gulf, for a never ceasing market for our ag-
ricu!tural produce, our lumber and our manufac-
lures; for with the unlimited water power at nu-
merous points, it were idle to argue tina, we are
not destined to become manufacturing as we'll
as an agricultural community, and that the whole
Of the lower Mi sssippi valley will not be depen-
dent in measure the Minnesota, Of which we
are all so justly proud
As to our being too far North for comfort or
convenience, or for future greatness as a State, |
have not patience to even speak Of it; am not
writing for the ediication Of people so very silly
as TO believe any such humbugsery. We can
grow all the ceral grains--winter wheat, and corn
among the rest; and a grazing country, it can
scarcely be equalled. Cattle ard sheep, and all
kinds of live stock, are more healthy here and can
NC piouuCcu III Us uiIe II degree OF perfection as
in the States. The evidence of farmers who have
turned their attention to this branch of farming
industry fully proved this by their past experience
in the States contrasted with their great success
while here. The inhabitants now number some
$4,000 or 10000; one year more a, the present
rapid rate OF immigration, will see it doubled
There is not an instance in the whole history of
the great Northwest or Of frontier life and ciyili
cation, in which Territory Immediately after its
organization has been settled with such rapidity.
and in which thriving, busy, busting towns have
sprung up almost as it were at the touch of some
enchanter's wand. The whole history Of thi,
Territory is only ecpsed by that of California,
and that only in the sudden accession Of number.
which gold, the God of nine-ten,hs of the human
family, has drawn together, like some huge mnl
strom--the most dscordant materials from the
four quarters Of the universe. In real asricul,u