The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-04-15

and PAID for, by voluntary contribution, in little
more than one week--churcbes filled on Sunda y
two new churches to be erected---( another
Presbyterian and German Methodist two ho-
tells built, and two more, very large ones now
building, one at each end Of the town--saw-mils,
foandries. and all sorts Of enterprises put in ope-
ration in twinkling. an Academy Of the highest
grade for young ladies', projected this season, and
the thing now actually commsnced---c stea mboat
business and n trade now actually greater than
J that Of any other town but Galena. above ST
Louis,-thcse are only some Of the changes in
the fortunes Of this vigorous town. which We have
witnessed, since we landed in St. Paul on tue
18th Of April ISi9, from the old ''Senator, - the
prompt, honest, faithful old Senator, Capt Orrin
Smith, who the Nominee, and whose
insides-ens;ne and boilers, il good enough to
wear cut half dozen new bodies.
The PLAN Oh SAINT PAUL.
The projectors Of this town, appear TO have
had but the smallest possible ideas Of the growth
and importance that awaited ST. Paul--anticipa-
ting neither that 1t would be commercial centre
or political centre neither That it would be the
Capital OF sew Territory, nor the centre of the
largest pns lumber operations on the Continent
nor the seat of new Surveyor Generals Office,
for the Government Surveys Of these wide re-
gons; nor the point Of trade and supplies, of out
It's and steamboat operations above il, 10 the
sources of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers
The original plat, was Land off, in very good imi-
tation of the old French part of ST. LOUIS, with
crooked lanes for streets, irregular blocks, and
little skewdangular lots about as large as singy
card of gingerbread, broke in two dasonaliy
without reservation, lit 10 be called public
squa1e-without margin between the town and
the river, without preserving tree for shade, of
all the majestic trees, where the town -; the ugly
stumps of forest, that now disfgure the town
without pertinent evidence Of boundaries made
by the survey In fact, il was a survey withoa,
, inca ement, plan without ineihod--a volun-
tecr crop Of bui!dinss--a sort OF militia muster OF
tenenlGnis. So much for the old plat. Then came
IN Rice & lrvins's Addition, up the river, COM
mencing al Mr.. Neiil's Church, and embra cling
the Upper Landing. This is laid out but little il
any better. In fact, the two plais appear 10 have
taken running jump at each other, like two III
val steamboats,; which having inextricahly run
into each other, The passengers and crews have
concluded 10 knock down the Ratings and run
along together, as enc craft.
Then came IN Smith s. Whiney's Addition.
next below the old plat. This is about as irgGSu-
lar, being laid off upon a contracted scale also.
Hoyt's Addition came IN behind Smith * Whit
ney's. bearing a strong family resemblance to the
older additions. Leaclr's Addition, comes in
above Rice lrving's, extending far up lown.
Then came in the Kittson Addition, below the
Old plat Of Smith & Whitney's Addition Kilt
sons Is lid Off in smaller lots than any Of the
other addnI,ns; and its streets make no sort OF
coincidence with other streets in town. 1t would
save immense cost and prove eternal bless ing
to st. Paul, if the whole site Of the ,uwn could
he now thrown into common'Geld, and plated
as II ought TO be, with large reservations Of public
ground, with straight, wide, regular streets, and
blocks and lois Of uniform size.
WATER.
Near ST. Paul, above and below, are two fine
mill streams; and from springs, rising from the TEL
race in the rear of the town Is smaller stream, of
pure water which passes down 10 the river, aero.
Rice & Irving's Addition. This stream formerly
passed down back of where 81. Paul is. and emp
tied through The ravine in Fourth street, into the
river, at the Lower Landing. 1t is sufficient 10
supply large city with water; snd the Corpora
lion intend to conduct i, down through aque-
duet, TO furnish the town. The sooner il is done
the better.
STEAMBOAT LANDINGs.
There are two in ST. Paul; the Lower and the
Upper Some expenditure is needed 10 maj e
either Of them complete FOR business purposes, in
all stages Of water. AT the Lower Landing, theg re
is wanted an embanknent down Sihey street,
from the foo. of Fourth street, 20 the river and Il
leyee along the shore-aii which can be done
easily At the Upper Landing, il is necessary 10
drive piles down across slough and low ground,
for IA considerable distance, and &c raise em-
bankinent on the shore, to build wa, ehouses upon.
This Improvement is now IN progress. Between
the two landings, il PERCEPTIONS bluff, 100 feet
high, which light be graded down so as to make
a good levee; and perhaps at some time, II will
~ fhoco Ian hpr
sons Addition, half mile below the old Lower
Landing a new landing beug made, which - to
be connected with the bluff IN The rear OF 1t, bv
plank road upon an cnbaHkment, across The
marsh, to the new hotel there being erected. the
"Kittson House"
GEOLOGY OF MINNEsoTA:
This is subject, 10 which we have paid bat
little attention. The portion Of Minnesota how
ever south of line extending east ana west
through Sank Rapids of the Mississippi river, and
Patterson Rapids Of the Minnesota river, appears
to be of The usual limestone and sandstone for
NATION, of The valley of the Mississippi below
while above that line, the granite crops out and
the formation is chiefly Of the primitive rock.
This formation must he much modified however,
as YOU approach Lake Superior, which has been
the theatre of the most gigantic Volcanic move
mems that Natuie ever exhibited. TO which we
are indebted for our rich
CoPPEa REGIONS.
West Of Lake Superior. where ehnos seems
tumbled into worse confusion, amid gorges and
hills and chasms, which Art alone can make pas
sable or even i,ckassable. in the land OF the Chip
pewas, lies the copper mines Of Minnesota, YET
nnxroucht to any extent, but known 10 he as rich
as the richest Of those mines that are wrought
further east. along the southern shore Of Lake
Superior
IRcN.
We hear Of iron ore being found in various
parts Of Minnesota; but have never thought tbs
discovery Of it, Of any particular importance.
| Coal.
Relying perhaps too much upon the dosmas o.
biologists, we were for long time ncreduou:
about the existence Of coal in Minnesota: but We
can denbt it no longer. We have in our posses
sion, specimens Of the fines, quality of bituminou
coal, free from, sulphur, and burning with FAR les
cinder than the coal Of Rock Island, which We
kaou, was found within days drive above 81
Paul We can no longer doubt, that the Goa
fields of Iowa, passing along FAR up the valley o
the Des Moines, cross over and make deposits II
the valley of the Blue Earth and the Minnesota