The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-08-12
For the Pioneer.
Our Scenery,

Ia New York lady visiting this region with friends,
has written letters for the New York Tribune, dss-
criptvc of its scenery. From these we make the fol-
lowing extracts.l
The best thing visitors can do, after establishing
themselves at the Rice House. the excellent hotel
toned IN my last letter, and taking survey Of the
cmiosties OF ST. Paul. is u secure places in one Of
Willoughby Powers stages for what is called ''the
grand touf." This line Of stages uas three times a
day between ST. Paul and ST. Anthony, and arc
always at the landing the arrival Of tn, boats, to
serve the convenience Of passengers who wish to
complish speedily what they have to do. They are
new and handsome coaches and the drivers are nva-
rably civil and obging accommodate any party de-.
string to make the excursion, they will go the tour
referred to; driving II St Anthony and allowing time
for view OF the different Falls thence t, Lakes
Harriet and Calhoun, with the diversion of n picnic
dinner on the shore; to the Minneha-ha Falls and
Fort Smelling and by the Spring Cave to St. Paul,
arriving in time for the visitors, if in haste 70 return
| with the boat down the river more particular
description Of this trip may be interesting.
! A seat on the top of one of Willouyhby & Powers
coaches, is a capital emnence from which to view the
country; those not privileged to such IN ELEVATION
must content themselves with peep from the win
dows, from which they may discover enough to re-
ward observation. Leaving the city, vou cross fine
breadth of prairie land.
Approaching the verge of the bluff which overooks
the Mississippi, the road continues within view of the
river, following it upward. \ distant and imposing
view of the two largest falls can be obtained when
nearing the lower town of St. Anthony.
The place has but recently emerged from wilderness
to the digniy o.. village, and owes its rise entirely
to the lumber trade carried on; the great saw mill
near the falls, 1t Is SAID, saving thirty millions feet of
lumber during the season.. In the sumner months the
town is much resored to by visitors, especially from
the southwestern States; these have come in such
numbers that no accommodation could b. found for
them, and they were obliged to return with but a
glance at the curosties they had come to vicw--
Now the state of things is favorable; an excel
lent hotel--the ST. Charles-has been opened in the
upper part OF the village, under the management cf
Mr.. J. e. Clark, where the best accommodations can
be had. The buildings extensive enough to fur
nish rooms for large number Of guests, and the lib
era care and attention of the proprietor leaves them
nothing to wish f)r in fact few can do the honors of
the scenery well, or willing to take trouble
for the pleasure of others. 1t under his guidance
that made first visit III; Falls and surround
| inJ county.
1t is pleasant walk, a short drive from the no.
tel along the river Bunk. pond on the left of the
rapid current is filed with innunelable logs fioated
down the river from distance of several hundred
miles, and directed from the current into this rcser-
vor, to be converted into boards in the saw mill,
which is in operation day and light. Above the
rapids extend half mile, broad wild waste of
tinbIing waters bordcred by craggy shores, which
when the current is swollen by the spring food must
present a sight rivans the celebrated rapids Of ST.
Mary's river.
little below, footblidse two boards wide, shack
ling ami uncertain, but safe enough the pres mt sea-
son, conducts YOU to a large island, which divides the
two principal falls. This island is inhabited, and
thickly wooded Crossing it at the upper end OF the
shore, and descending to a smooth ledge of rock Won
come to the shelf which faces the grca, Fail of
st. Anthony. This is by the waters into cres-
cent form, and embraces three separate falls besides
smaller cascades. The perpendicular descent is not
more than eighteen feet but the vast body Of water
the orce with which 1t prccpitates itself the curve
OF the rock, and the wild beauty Of the rapids above
and below together with the rush and roar If the
waters ashed into th!cefol luy by their aies, among
the Doulders ami oss hcaped IL widest confISiJ at
the Tot ii the descent, which thev lean tn ow.
n5 volumes OF rainbow crowned spla y into the air
combine to impress the h,hode, with cinotions Of
deepest awe ald admin alton. When the river il n
ITS greatest height, the picture is grandar; the sw.
len torrent descending with such iDpetuosity as to
describe iarge falling and orea cavern in
the very sanctuary of the food wheic one NAV enter
behind the falling water and far into its re-
cesses as To be sea. cey wecd. The haaped mass of
broken rocks Is then overswclt by the food or yelled
by clouds OF Eaniand spray; and the small island at
the foot OF the fall which concCas the oppost, one
from view is half buried in the rushing waters.-
There Is no access TO this island except in winter on
the ice
These falls are said to have been discovered first
about 1850, by Father Hennerin, who named them
alter his Eatron SaintSt Anthony. 1t is only with
IN som: thirty or thnty-ive years that they have been
noticed by Americans, and but recently that the num-
Der OF yiseis to them in season has been cons eia-
ble W hen the COMMUNICATE on between Chicaro and
Gaeaa shall be rendered easy by the CON- .t;on of the
railroad, the town will doubtless be fashionable one
IN the summer season from the Eastern States.
Ihe entIre descent IN three quarters of mile has
been estimated at 90 feet; the rapids below descend
ID feet Immense fragments of the rock are breaking
MI Cnntl la fha q IL, 4
several rods even since the recollection of persons
who nave visited them The gorge below with its
cras9y precpIces, Is wild aud picturesque. Along its
precipltous cliffs may be gathered in abundance the
petilhed moss which is a noted product of this
region.
To view the fall on the other side Of tho river i
is necessary to re-cross the foordse and walk 10 to
the large BRIDGE this and 60 down the hill tn
the Terry Tins Is another curiosity; the ferryboat
moving with its burden across the rapid waters with
out the and CT machinery. steam horse power
Having reached the opposite shore walk down me
river to the sawmill the bank and fine view i
obtained OF the tremendous rapids which form the
othcr great tall, and are picturesque than the
hrst The grandeur of the scene grows on the sense
"hich becomes enlarged as you gaze upon it, to APP
prehend more, and TO be filled with new convention
OF, the greatness Of the Creator of ali this wondous
magnfcence.
Having Toasted the eyes long upon this snrpass;ng
spectacle, you may return and re.cross the ferry and
rct1ce your steps down, to the PERCEPTIONS bank that
over'ooks what is called the Little Falls, A small
DIVISION oil the river is here prccptated down the
rocks; but though less awful in grandeur it is equal
ly beautiful with the larger falls. Descending by
steep PATH You walk along the fallen rocks tenn,,y
from ore mass to another till YOU stand within the
circle Of the fall, and near that its s;lverv sn,
covers you, and you feel the rock trenlble under Won,
feet. The boudcrs piled in such confusion form mn.
mcous riffs into which the are driven when
they plunge from above. There are two large falls
and the water Of one, in its descent, pitching on an
upright mass Of rock, falls in broad Sheet Of
foam, into the same chasm that receives The DESCEND
ing torrent on the other side. These waters. 0unc
together and churned creamy foam, strueqI, iii.
y in the narrow rift, and bursting forth with tremen
dous impetuosity, inging up volumes of sprav dash
onward m torthrous course precipitate themselves
down another descent, whence, joined by the smaller
jets aud broken into thousand crested waves Nv, ,b
fragments of rock, they rush onward to the valley
The behoder must spend hours this spot. drinkpp
IN ITS bewlldeIns ovelness, before he can understand
how completely the feelings may be subducd into har
mony with the scene.
These falls the Dop. Of transition f-,r, a.