The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-08-14
THE COUNTRY.

THE COUNTRY.
We have not found as much leisure as
some of our neighbors TO travel over the
country this summer, and see what was
going on among the people who have been
pitching into old mother earth, and are
turning up to genial warmth the virgin
soil Of our broad prairies. Business has
kept us SO closely at home, that until
Wednesday of this week we had not been
at St. Anthony since October last. We
found our spunky little neighbor much
improved, both in size and business. The
addition of four saws to Mr.. Steele's mill:
adds just that much to the lively appear
ancc as we'll as the manufacturing wealth
of the town. Many good buildings have
been erected this season, and others are
going up, one of which is large brick.
Many improvements are also going for
ward upon the lands between here and
st. Anthony. New fields have been bro
ken up and fenced, and comfortable farm
buildings erected. The crops look fine.
We saw as good corn in the Groveland
settlement as we ever met with upon the
uplands of Ohio. Potatoes, oats, buck
wheat, &c., also look remarkably well.
a field of the latter grain upon Judge
Meeker's farm, we have never seen sur
passed anywhere; and be it known we
were raised in buckwheat country.
Hundreds Of farms have been COM
menced this season upon the Military Re-
serve and the newly ceded lands west of
St. Anthony. Mr.. J. H. Stevens informed
us that 1T least one hundred and fifty men,
not counting women and children, had
settled in Hennepn county, north Of the
Falls, this year. This country extends
up the Mississippi from the mouth of the
Minnesota TO Crow river, and thirty miles
up the Minnesota from the Mississippi.
He thinks it is bound to be the centre of
wealth and population in Minnesota. The
Arcadian country around Lake Mime
tonko-a sheet of water fifteen miles west
Of St. Anthony, and navigable for large
steamboats, throughout its entire length of
forty miles-is attracting much attention.
Mrs. Elicit and her travelling companion
had Just started upon an excursion to this
romantic spot when we arrived at the
Falls. We have never been to this lake,
but intend visiting it soon when our read
ers shall know more about it. We would
advise every one, male and female, who
has leisure, not 10 fail taking trip ,hither
while the weather is good. Those in
whom we have full confidence, say that
SO far as natural beauty is concerned
Minnetonka and the scenery about it has
no equal in Minnesota.
We took that delightful drive home
across the prairie by way of Fort Smell
ling. Many changes are there apparent
since we passed the same way, one year
ago. "Claim shanties," with here and
there a tolerable house, dot the green
meadows in every direction; and nearly
every quarter section has broad furrow
plowed around it, to mark the lines Of
claims. But still the beauties of nature,
in their richest profusion, were there
spread to view, with the Little Falls in
fermediate, by way of grand relief to a
monotonous prairie road. Surely there
is no such pleasant drive, amid all Mime
sofas beauties, as from the Falls of St.
Anthony TO Fort Smelling, on the west
side of the Mississippi. For some rea-
son or other, we never enjoy it half SO
much when our horses heads are turned
the other way, and we have heard many
others make the same remark. -..
"God made the country, but man made
towns That is a recorded fact and
as much of San out-of-the-way, country
place" as people at distance NAV regard
st. Paul, it is quite enough of CITY al
ready to make one used to real city life
glad to get out Of its dust and noise. after
months confinement within its limits.
The sublime handiwork of Nature is al
ready defaced to almost the extent of a
st. Paul denizen's vision, from the centre
of his town; and those who can feel and
appreciate the presence of the Almighty
in the green fields apd blooming prairies,
have yearning to 60 forth amid the
scenes Of incompatible loneliness which
50 profusely carpet our allotted portion of
His footstool.