The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-12-10
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.
Eastern Minnesota, LAUNDERING, &c.
TAYLoR's Falls, Monday, Oct.7, b3

Chisago, Minnesota Territory, was organized
as separate county on the LIST Of January,
1852. 1t is situated between 45 deg. 18 min.
south, and Ga deg. 30 min. north, varying from
l3 to 80 miles in width, including an area Of
more than 2 900 square miles.
At the time Of the organization of the coun-
ty the permanent population, most of whom
were settled at TaylOr's Falls, the county seat,
or within few miles of that place, did not ex-
coed 200. The floating population engaged in
the lumber business would swell the above
amount to 600 or 700. Since that time the pop
ulation has been fast increasing, thOughnOt with
that extreme rapidity incident to some other
parts of the Territory. The entire population
of the county at the present time, including
both permanent and transient, is estimated at
1,600 or LOO.
Nor is there country often found, not even
California excepted, where the inhabitants in
general are subject to so many exposures, which
would seem to undermine health, constitution,
and cause premature death.
During the winter, seldom night occurs but
some of those engaged in drawing supplies, for
want of better accommodations, are compelled
to make the snow their bed.
This class of individuals seldom suffer, rs they
anticipate the reality and supply themselves
with blankets and provisions. Yet many lone
traveller has been obliged to wrap about him
the scanty clothing he CHANGED to wear at the
time, with neither the means of kindling fire
to warm the chilled frame nor food to appease
his hunger.
We shall pass hastily over those engaged di-
rcctly in cutting and drawing out logs, for, not
withstanding their labors are intense, and
though they never heed the cold, not even when
the mercury cOngeals, no occupation can be
more healthy. Their camps are warm and COM
Portable, their food of the first quality, and lucky
is the man who is at liberty to exercise freely in
the clear, bracing atmosphere of Minnesota
winter. But, during the spring and early sum-
mer months, the exposures of many of them
could hardly be greater. We refer to those en-
gagged on the drive, that is those who drive out
the logs from the smaller streams into the St.
CrOix, and thence to the st. CrOiX boom, five
miles below Taylor's Falls, where they are col
lected, assorted, sealed, and delivered to their
several owners.
When the stage of water is favorable, it mat
tiers not what is the weather, not a day, not co.
en- Sabbath excepted. must be lost, for the loss
of a single day not unfrequently prevents the
lumberman from being able to market his logs
the first seasons, which equally ailt cts the in
tercst OF operator and labOrer. as the contract
between the employer and employee is, that no
mans wages are due till the logs are sent to
market and returns received therefor.
TO sum up their exposures in few words, it
is one continued scene, from the latter part of
March till June or July, of severe labor both in
the water and out by day, and sleeping in their
wet and sometimes frozen clothes at night.
At the boom to which we before referred,
from some time in April till midsummer, the
number of men employed, including raftsmcn.
varies from fifty to two hundred. Their labors
are severe in the hot, scalding sun, frequently
in the water, while a change of dress on account
of wet is seldom thought Of
During the summer months not only the bus
mess men are continually passing to and from
ST. Louis and other points on the Mississippi
but hundreds are engaged as pilots and labor
ers. in running RATS Of lumber and logs from
the boom and other points on the st. CrOiy riy-
err and lake to their destination at the larger
towns on the Mississippi, exposing themselves
to all the diseases so prevalent at that season of
the year. But a small share Of the mentioned
class are residents of this county, yet most of
them are within the borders Of it portion of the
season.
| A colony of Swcdes and Norwcgians. now
amounting to three or four hundred have set
tied in the county, twelve or fifteen miles west
of TaylOrs Falls. Owing to the distance they
are compelled to travel and often with scanty
means, most Of them perform their Journey ii,
| the most economical manner. While on tie cars
the third class must answer their turn, on steam
boats they are literally packed in the stecragc
cabins the hOt-bcds of disease
! When they arrive at their destination. till a
temporary shelter can he erected, they are corn
PEELED to sleep in the open air. or crowd int,
the close. narrow dwellings of some of theil
Swedish friends.
One more fact must not pass unnoticed With
in the space of time am about to mention. moi
less than thirty or forty infants have been born
in The county, and in the majority of cases with
out medical aid or advice for either mother OF
child.
Yet with all the exposures of the different
classes we have mentioned, with an average
population for two years past Of one thousand
including transient and others, and as before
estimated, present population of sixteen or
seventeen hundred. so far as my knowledge en-
tends, and have made much inquiry from pco-
pie living in different localities since the organ
ization of the County, the LIST day of January.
1882, now nearly two years. not a sin Gle dcafh
Of dduh, child, or infant, has occurred.
ANSELL SMITH.