The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-11-18
LETTER FROM THE NORTHWEST.
ST. ANTHONY FALLS, Nor.

| In addition to the vast agricultural resources
Of Minnesota, there is an inexhaustible amount
of lumber and mineral wealth, which will in
the future be chiefly manufactured in the Ter
ritOry, and conveyed to the most convenient
and profitable market At present, New Eng
land is the great workshop for the nation
The raw material is taken from Louisiana, and
from Wisconsin, and Iowa, and having passed
| through the manufactures of New England, is
carried back to the great valley of the West,
and sold to the original producers at prices
which must pay the immense transportation,
besides affording a thriving profit to the mer-
chant and artisan. There is no necessity for
this state of things, and the time is not distant
when Minnesota will be to the valley of the
Mississippi what New England is to the Unien.
We have here climate better than that of
New England, with New England popula-
ton, New England water power, and a loca-
tion in reference to the South and West, which
leaves them entirely in the distance
The projected line of railroad from New Or
leans to the Falls of St. Anthony will, when
completed, bring this place within one days
twenty four hours travel of ST. Louis and
within two days of New Orleans. A twelve
hours journey in the other direction, by rail
shores of Lake Superior and all this, without
equalling the speed at present attained on some
Of the Eastern roads What, then, is to pre-
vent this place becoming one of extensive man.
ufactures! Our water power is unlimited, and
easy of Improvement. The materials to be man.
uiactured are near us; and the Mississippi is a
great highway for transportation. Even now,
the cotton and wool of the South and West
bo h. I A.
ducers at much less expense than it could be
brought to and from New England but with
such q line of railroad as is contemplated, we
are brought into the immediate neighborhood
of the mines of Lake Superior and the planta-
tons of the South. And who can say that the
mineral of the one, and the raw material OF
the other, will not soon be wrought, in all the
forms Of art, at the Falls of ST. Anthony!
The proposed route from st. Louis to this
place lies, | am told, through the valley of the
Des MONIES and Blue Earth rivers, crossing the
Minnesota river about sixty miles from it,
mouth, and thence to this place. There is said
to be natural grade through these valleys
the whole distance, and there is no portion OF
the West more fertile than the lands along the
whole line There is not, probably, railroad
in the world which passes through so rich an
agricultural country for 80 long distance. In
addition to that there are vast mines of fossil
coal in the valley of the Des MONIES and Blue
Earth rivers, which such road would render
invaluable.
The greater part of the lands along this route
is now owned by the United States. What 6
field of enterprise is here opened for the immi
grant, and one too, that multitudes are ever
now commencing to improve line of settle
ments is already established along the valley o
the Minnesota river as far as the mouth of tn,
Blue Earth and several towns and villages o
considerable magnitude are already rising int,
Importance All this is done before the Indians
are paid for their lands, or removed from tn,
soil But the Governor has just returned will
the money to make payment and remove
them to their future homes Another year, set
Elements can doubtless be made in those valley,
without having Indians for neighbors, Thou
sands have been waiting for these very lands tC
be purchased and brought into market, who
will be on the ground early the coming spring
to make settlements
This Territory has not so many small streams
as New England, but immensely more beauti.
full lakes and level country. In many portions
too, there is not so much nor so great variety
of timber; but we have fine prairies and natural
sary purposes. And we have one kind of wood
here, which, though small, promises to be of
much value; it is the BASKET Wiilov There is
much said of late in agricultural and other
papers about the immense profit of cultvating
the os,er ), and it is also stated that five mil
lions of dollars worth of it is imported from
France and Germany every year. This have
no doubt is true. Yet there is considerable Of
the best variety of this article growing wild in
our immediate vicinity. This might be much
improved by cultivation, and readily supply
the place of the imported willow. We have a
German here who has been familiar with the
cultivation of it in his own country, and who
has been busly engaged the past season in
making most beautiful baskets from our native
growth. He informs me that this is the best
article of the kind he has ever seen that it is
tougher and stronger than the imported will
low. 1t is not, of course, so straight and uni
form in size as though it were cultivated, but
this is easily remedied, and the cultivation Of
it will be commenced early the coming spring
1t will not be at all strange if within five years
the basket-piliou should become an important
article of export from this Territory.
Yours, very truly, }. W. N.