The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-06-19
THE MINNESOTIAN.
st. Paul, Minnesota.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1852.
THE COUNTRY NORTH OF Us.

No part Of Minnesota has SO much de-
ceived the early founders Of the Territory,
as that situated in the immediate valley
ofthe Mississippi, and extending north
from the falls of St. Anthony to Crow
Wing. The first year we resided here,
l849, we were accustomed TO hear it spo-
ken of as "barren, sandy waste" des-
titute of timber, and ga region that would
never be settled" A brief space Of time
has proved the contrary. That same
year, Mr.. William Sturges opened an ex-
tensive farm some distance above the
mouth of Elk river, and the result at bar-
vest time proved that no better land exist
ed anywhere for the production of OATS
corn, potatoes, turnips, SC. Others still
farther north went into the experiment
the same year, among whom were S. B.
Olmstead, at Belle Prairie, considera-
bic distance higher up, and David Gil
man and others at Watab, Sank Rapids
and whereabouts. All were successful.
We have, from time to time, as occasion
offered, noticed specimens of the products
Of this region, all going to show the ex-
cellent and prolific character of the coun-
try as farming region.
Men of shrewd observation and tact
have not been slow in discerning the adj
vantages afforded by nature in this quarter;
and the business of farming has rapidly
increased since '49, almost every mile
along the river. Mr.. Beatty and others
at Itasca, Mr.. ]. Russell and ten or dozen
more at Sank Rapids, and Capt. Todd,
near Fort Ripley, have farms now open
and in cultivation that would do credit to
any portion Of the States below us. The
Indian farms, also, at Long Prairie and
Crow Wing, both under charge Of efficient
public officers, bear witness Of what the
soil Of the upper country is capable of do
ing under the hand of the skilIful agri-
culturist.
But the resources Of this region are
not nearly developed. Plenty of good
land remains to be taken up; and as we
have heretofore remarked, no part of Min
nesota affords so good market, at the far
mer's very door, for everything he may
raise, as this. The large Indian annuities;
the Government supplies for troops, and
the rapidly increasing amount of consump-
ton required to supply the numbering in
terest, are the sources of the market
Transportation Of produce to Fort Ripley
from this point cannot be undertake en- with
any prospect of even small profit, for
less than ST. 80 per hundred. With how
much greater advantage, then, can the far
mer in that vicinity supply the demand,
with an enormous profit, than we can here.
The soil being equal, the chances are GER
tainly largely in favor of the Benton coun-
ty farmer.
Nor are people who live in that region
any longer "out of the world" as the
saying is. With Sank Rapids we have
steamboat communication twice a week,
and above there the mail is carried regu-
larly to Fort Ripley and Crow Wing
Our subscribers at the extreme of the
route inform us, that they receive their
papers, three or four days after publica-
ton, "as regularly as clock-work." y
There is very little more inconvenience
in residing up there than anywhere else
upon the Mississippi, and no more danger,
ifliquor be kept from the Indians, which
is matter the settlers are now strong
enough to attend to thoroughly them
selves.
So soon as the Sioux treaties are rati-
he'd, the region north of us, upon the
'0sst side of the Mississippi, will COM
mence to "bloom and blossom as the
rose" From the MINES ota river north,
including the region about the lakes i'm
mediately in the vicinity Of Fort Smelling;
at the newly discovered lake, Minnetan-
ka; the valley of Crow river, and so on up
to the Winnebago line, there is no better
country warmed BY the sun, we are in
formed BY those who have explored it,
Settlers will not be wanting when the
lands are once open. Already, indeed, as
IN other parts of the Sioux country, MANY
OF the good spots are claimed.
Every man who puts a ploughshare
into the soil above US, adds so much to
the wealth of St. Paul. We are the far.
thest commercial point north that will
ever rise TO any magnitude. We then
consider it matter of duty, not only as
journalists for the Territory at large, but