The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-12-31


tible forests of pine timber short distance
above lis, but they were only useful in shelter
ing wild game for the Indians. Those forests
were in due time purchased by the United States
Of the red men, but still for many years the
land was not surveyed, some of it not yet but
the whites could occupy it as PR emptiOners,
under law. Some 1t them did so: they built
mills and the price of pine lumber was soon
brought down from $50 per thousand to $40
The labor and enterprise of these men did not
result in much profit to themselves. Many OF
them broke down in purse and constitution, but
the country that afforded them market were
great gamers by them. and are to this day. We
hope the government will deal with them in
considerable geBtleness. in its present action. II
is an easy matter TO tell of the :! depredations'
Of these men, and to talk nippantly of the mil
/ lions Of lumber that they have stolen but
we know Of no class who have in the past been
more useful 10 others in some respects, who
have worked 50 hard on small pay. and who
better deserve quarter section Of land each as
q gift from the government Instead Of their
having injured the United States by what they
have 30 far done, we contend that they hare
rendered a material benefit by developing the
resources of tie country. and that the whole
ir0akd sell fer larger SuD to-day than i. would
have done il there had not been q single stick
Of timber cut from it, Government should view
the matter in this light. They have not infict-
? th any tiiHf. HAVE tHcN ~ uo
So
connection with this important subject, we
see hy the Democrat that the editor has been
favored by Geo l.. Becker, Esq. with the peru
sal of a letter from Hon. Henry NJ. Rice. dated
18th ult., in relation to the lumber seizures,
from which the following extract is published.
We are glad TO find the Democrat lauding the
action OF Mr. Rice, which IL but n carrying out
of the policy adopted by the late Wing Admin
isrltion. and which received, some months ago,
its full measure Of curses from that sheet as did
th2 opposite policy, attempted to be carried
ont by Capt E-trs. II corresponding quantity OF
.ui~osae l,u,!&tous. Now,Nr. Fillmore action is
sanctioned. and the editor al the Democrat now
approves it, Well. in his country there is,
wit! some people. great ddcrcncc bctwcca
,li;ngs done in The green tree and things done
in the dry. We are. however. always happy to
record confessions to cur side Of any question
Of pa!.!ic policy There is now some hopes for
further mpro, cneut in nceLlor Olmstcd. lie
is evidently upen r"poniant grounds. But tn
the extract from Nr. Riccs letter:
Il have been hard at work since have been
here. C'.c point has been gained. I'll" Depart
m"Ht V III acknnw ledge the acinH o! the former
agent. Mr.. Fillmore. Ly releasing all that l.,
been seized w!i.c!! >tumpagc Ea- been paid.
The difficulty l. Ia protect those who have gour
into the woods in COOL fai!h. To-day saw q
rough draft Of the instructions intended to have
been submitted to the Secretary Of the interi-
or. They IA not sat me. untoldcd my views
10 the chief clerk. who agrees with mg and la.
promised 10 revise lhem On Thursday next.
AIN 10 see the ne" production.
"M;Ny!:enlA ,Np ITS i;l:So,LcES This work
Of oar fellow citizen. Bond. is well received, at
tic East. aud is being read with crcat avidity.
II publication VIII 10 mach good to the Terri
tory. Icy opening the eyes Of thousands and
turnin5 them Minncsotawartls. who could not
lave been reached by newspapers and priratn
letters. We extract below several notices from
tke Eastern prcss-thc one from the New York
Express hy particular request:
! MINNE:,:Ti.---i very fall and apparently alt-
! th"a;c description ii this Territory, from tn"
period OF its first settlement to the present. has
been. published Ivy Mr.. }. ". Bond, a rcsid,n mt
Of 81 Paul, who 5, ems TO have had in view the
actual wants Of emigraut~ and settlers. IIcha,
CLEANED from a variety Of source. all the facts
respecting Che climate. soil, physical geography
Ali resources nf the State. as well as of il. in
cip.cni institutions. which are detailed with
tlHcsii!rSS anu force. quite D4ltiing the theme.
He amount of information conveyed is very
great. and unque>tionably reliable: while the
authors style, kindling often with The magnili-
ctHcc Of his theme. invests it with peculiarly
attractive Enrb 1t is n very engaging leaf Of
our national history. appendix. containing
Il lively sketch of Il tour from Minnesota toru-
/ gets Sound, is added, under the title of Camp
tire Sketches. which have a lid ard picturesque
ar that Il exceedingly taking. ~ apictuTe at
Tie r;tdc exciting life Of the frontier. the book
has permanent aiuc. Q,cdicld.> -.I,,r York
ErangriiSt.
We lave here large addition to our stock
OF information respecting portion of our new
lv settled territory. The book comprises his
tory OF Minnesota. geographical and general
view OF the Territory, its agricultural advant-
ages, soil. climate, descriptions Of the PRINCIPAL
towns, facilities for travel and in short the in
formation that an emigrant would need. and
which general reader would like to acquire.
": y. Obsnptr.
Mr. Bonds book is offered a n brief general
view Of Minnesota. a. il existed prior 10 its or
Sanization a Il Territorial government in 1872
and 50 as it Is at tie present time. The inlur-
nation conveyed in the volume bears intrinsic
evidence of It's accuracy. but the details are too
minute aud wre-drawn. They ght have been
made much more agreeable and quite as useful
mad they been confined to volume half the
size. The usefulness of a book is not very much
impaired. II is trnc. by eircumstantiality. hut
circunstantali.y may lee pursued to extremes
as well as many better quality. Mr. Bonds
book. Wthal. cannot fail to prove scrviccahlc.
But he must he shorter next timc.--.t. J.. En-
press.
We are always gratifrd to hear from places
OF which We have previously known hut little,
and especially IN reference TO the new settle
ments of our own country. Mr.. Bond has done
real service to the community by his minute
history Of one Of the most thriving of these
Whatever one might wish 10 know of the curly
history of the present condition Of Minncsota.
in regard 10 It's geographical features. acricul-
tural advantages, trade. religion. morals Nc..
he may find in this volume. The suLioircd
sketches are pleasant reading. Several well
cXecnteG yIcWs and nap are incluhcd in the