The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-11-27
FACTS AND FANCIES.

- Inc southern mail arrived on lueeuay
night, bringing one weeks later news from Ga
lena. 1t was only thirteen days after the re-
ceipt of the Blackhawk's mail, and had the
Franklin's mail been received at the time it
GU ght to have been, it would have been only
ten DAYS from the receipt of mail by steam
boat to that of one by land. This is great
improvement on former years. This mail was
brought by the Nominee as far as Lacrosse,
where it was transferred to the land route. A
large number Of passengers, who came by the
Nominee, were compelled to come from there
by land. The stage was crowded, while many
came up in other conveyances, and still
greater number started on foot The road is
represented to be in good condition, owing to
the energy of the mail contractors, who have
been at greatexpense in repairing it. P. S. Since
the above was in type, we learn that the Nomi-
nee left the mail at Prairie du Chen, the place
where it ought to be left, instead of bringing it
to Lacrosse.
$4,000 of the Sioux Indian money have
been set apart for the liquidation of their debts.
These are due principally to the traders who
have lived among them. Some of these claims
date many years back, and are rather uncer-
tain but large proportion of them are I'M
doubtedly correct and just. How much these
claims amount to in the aggregate, we have
never learned, but we think it must exceed the
amount thus set apart by considerable sum.
SUDDEN DEArH.-Egdius Keller died very
suddenly on Tuesday last. He had been suffer-
ing for several days from sore upon his heel,
caused probably by being frozen sometime
previous. On Monday his ankle commenced
swelling, and the Inflammation soon ran up his
leg, and reaching his body passed to his heart.
He lived but few hours. Mr.. X. was a very
worthy, respectable German citizen. He was
an old resident of st. Paul, and has been a
member Of the Town Council for the last two
years, which Office he held at the time of his
decease. His death will be regretted by all
who knew him.
SHEEP.-We should like to see some of our
farmers attempt the experiment of raising sheep
in Minnesota. 1t may be that the experiment
has been tried. but we have never heard of it.
1t appears to us that sheep might be raised in
this country with profit to the owner. Of course
the farmer would want sheds to keep them in
during the winter, for the warmer an animal
is kept the less food it requires to sustain life.
The fact that the ground is $50 long covered with
snow during the winter, would of course make
it more expensive to keep them during that Pc
riod CT the year; but we do not believe but
what it could be done with profit to the farmer
At any rate, we shall want to see the expert
ment thoroughly tried, before We shall believe
to the contrary. Every spring our butchers
bring up large number ofsheep. Having just
been sheared, they are generally the poorest
looking animals ever beheld and it is almost
enough to make one sick of mutton to look at
them. But after they have run around town
for few weeks picking off the short grass to be
found in our streets, they become as fat as sheep
not be recognized as the same flock, unless one
saw them every day, although they might have
fotry ear-marks.
THE WEATuER.-Some of our readers may
consider this standing subject for newspaper
paragraph, and wish we would put something
more interesting to them in the place of such
items; but We hope they will reflect that a
large number of our readers live without the
Territory, who take our paper for the purpose
of gaining information in respect to 1.-THE best
way. we will here observe, for the accomplish
ment of that purpose-and who are particular
ly interested in any thing that relates to our
climate. 1t has not been so cold the past week
as it was the week before, the thermometer be-
ing above freezing point during the most of the
time. On Sunday last the snow commenced
falling, and fell to the depth of three or four
inches before night. On Tuesday evening it
commenced showing again, and showed almost
constantly for twenty-four hours, while at the
same time we had warm south wind. The
snow Of course is very heavy, there being some
rain, and is now a foot deep, lit is said to be a
foot and half in the woods.) We learn that
it is from two and half to three feet deep in
the Rum River pinery, about 100 miles above
St. Paul. The river which had been closed by
the cold weather Of the previous week, has
been opened in many places by the subsequent
mild weather. We believe that boats could
now come up as far as Lake Pepin without be-
ing obstructed by the ice, although the Nomi-
inee was compelled to stop at Lacrosse last
week; and we presume boats have been up there
the present week.
We learn that the enterprizing Tiger, not
fearing the ice in the river, nor the frigid zone
either, pushed on ahead of all the other boats,
till she became surrounded by the icebergs in
Lake Pepin, with dull prospect of getting out
at present. We presume that when the news
of the probable fate of the Tiger shall have
reached Dubuque, an expedition will be imme-
diately fitted out for the relief of Capt. Max
we'll and crew, but we greatly fear that like the
many expeditions in search of Sir John Frank
lin, it will only end in vexaton and disappoint-
ment. Capt. Maxwell, like Sir John, has ven.