The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-08-28
For the Minnesotan.
Largest Settlement on the Minnesota River.

| For the Minnesotan. .-.. -.
Largest Settlement on the Minnesota River.
Mr.. Enron: Allow me to commun;-
cate through your columns to your readers,
more especially to those in Cook Co., Ill.
Early this spring, left that county for
the purpose of finding a place suitable
for new colony. In passing through
Illinois l found some good chances, were
it not for the scarcity of timber. Wher
I arrived in Galena took the steamboat
and crossed the Mississippi into Iowa,
where l spent six weeks in exploring the
country, but was unable to find any great
quantity Of timber. left for Minnesota
Territory, l must confess, not a little dis
heartened at the hard stories told by those
whom | met on their return. When |
arrived at St. Paul, my ideas frightened,
and | ventured to take passage on the
Blackhawk for Mankato, where left the
boat, and after taking a good look at the
country, took the back track, calling at
every town and town-sitc, and thoroughly
examining the country as far as Port
Holmes.
Here l stayed all night, and in the
morning went back among the hills and
lakes: thence returning to half-breed
village farther down the river. Here l
crossed the river into Hcnncpin county
on the lower end of Eden Prairie. l
found Mckenzie, Kentucky-ized Suck
or, in small board shanty at this place.
He has the handsomcst town-site that |
have seen since left home, but he has
done nothing on it yet. He lived on the
Sioux land all last fall and winter, at
which time his house and every thing
that he had was burned down by party
of Sioux. After this he was obliged to
subsist entirely on game, and spent his
time in exploring the country lying be-
tween the Minnesota and Mississippi
rivers, and also the Crow river country.
This young corn-cracker q claim the
privilege of calling him what pleasc)
cordially invited me to dine with him, and
then he said he would go with me and
show me the country. After dinner we
started for Minnetonka lake, about five
miles north. On our way we passed
through the largest settlement that have
seen on the river. They were all busy
either in breaking or cutting hay.
The country around Minnetonka lake
is really delightful; and intend planting
my colony on its cast shore. There is
but one settler on the lake, and he intends
building sawmill at the outlet. The
lake is as clear as crystal, and it must
be deep (for this strange genius in his
description OF it, says that YOU can see
them making tea in China.) 1t varies in
width from one to five miles. and this
young pioneering Sucker thinks that it is
at least fifteen miles longs and OH its
shores found the largest groves of sugar
maple that have seen i'll the West and
as handsome as ever l saw in my life
After surveying the country 10 my salts
faction, returned to Eden Prairie by the
way Of Floods lake, Round lake and the
Big Woods. Floods lake in the Big
Woods, two miles west of Eden Prairie,
is clear and handsome, about two miles
square, and is settled on the north and
east side by Messrs Riley, McNulty and
Flood, and or the south by Mcssrs. Clark
and Afford. There j: YET snl"ndid
CHdiiCCS lOl Scitiil'S Oh tHiS idNC.
Passing down through the Big Woods
and the north end of Eden Prairie, we
came TO Round lake, only one mile and a
half north of McKenzie's landing. On
this lake the Abbots, from Rockford, Ill.,,
were the first settlers. They have men
now busy making hay. The grass is the
most remarkable wild grass that have
ever seen. 1t is fine red top, growing
over six feet, and stands as thick as hair
on a dogs back. Leaving this lake. we
returned to McKcnzic's shanty. While
look around cannot help thinking that
this will soon become q large town. Gle
vatedas it is about one hundred fee: above
the Minnesota river, and backed by so
large an extent Of good farming country.
Some may be surprised at seeing large
spring on the very highest point in this
TOWNSHIP. The stream sinks and runs
under the surface of the ground, and
pours out like a mill-tail on Taylor's
claim. Ho!comb's, the next claim below,
on Hennepin river, has the greatest mill
privilege in the Territory. 1t is large
enough to run ten run of stone, and
sawmill the whole year round.
Leaving this settlement, about four
miles down the river | came to hand
some little settlement in the vicinity of
Bloomington.
SD. WASON, of Chicago.
| This lake is forty miles in length.--EDs.