The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-06-18
The 81. Croix Valley Is Farming Country.

Well it is! While people are going crazy
about the valley of the Minnesota and other
portions west Of the Mississippi, they should re-
collect there are old locations worth looking at,
with high market at the door of every farmer
for the next hundred years, Or as long as the
pineries last Going by land from Saltwater
to Taylor's Falls, you pass over the same char
acter of country as lies between ST. Paul and
Saltwater, with the exception that the land is
of much better quality generally. West of
the road lies Carnelian Lake, large and beau
tiful sheet of water. Immediately back of Ma
rine is another large lake. Marine is situated
upon the line of the open and timber country.
Immediately north of that point commences the
heavy hard wood growth consisting of oak
OF the largest size, sugar maple-which pre-
dominates-bass wood, ash, white walnut, &c.
This extensive forest runs north some thirty
miles to the mouth of Sunrise river. The Pc
culiar and eligible situation of Marine, on the
immediate southern border of this heavily tim
bered country. gives it great future advantages
over many other points on the st. Crox
In company with our friend j. L. Taylor
Esq, we rode out some twelve miles west of
the borders of Lake Chisago. The heavy tim
Der continues the whole distance. the western
border being within 20 miles Of St. Paul. The
land is of the very best quality, rolling bu. not
broken, and the heavy timber SO thick that the
rays Of the sun can scarcely reach the ground.
The timber, soil and character of the country
through this forest and around Lake Chisago,
is precisely similar to what we see about Lake
Mnnetonka. Lake Chisago has about 40 miles
of coast as we are informed by Mr.. Ludden,
who assisted in meandering it at the time of the
survey. Around its shores are settled several
families Of Swedes, who are beginning to farm
in small way. There is also a settlement of
these people in the vicinity of Marine.
Sunrise river, or creek, takes its rise about
four miles north and six miles west of Marine,
and about six miles NORTH bearing east, of White
Bear Lake. 1t runs in a northernly direction
and empties itself into the St. Croix sixteen
miles above Taylor's Falls. The valley of this
stream is unsurpassed as an agricultural coun-
up, which is also the case with the entire timber
country we have spoken of east of it. 1t is
proper also to mention that the source of Sun
rise is in the same township as that of Rice
creek, tributary of the Mississippi, sixteen
miles above ST. Paul Toward the mouth Of
Sunrise. northwest ofTaylOr's Falls, and tray
ersng the banks of the stream is one of the
most fertile and beautiful Of prairics, extending
eight or ten miles north and south and from two
to three east and west. Only about two Sec
tons of this delightful farming Paradise is yet
claimed This prairie is peculiarly situated,
from the fact that it is north of the great range
of fertile prairies found cast Of the Mississippi.
What renders this tract so very valuable is that
it is Immediately adjacent to the immense hard
wood timber country we have alluded to, and
close on up toward the pine region.
You may then follow this range of good farm
| ing land from Sunrise to Snake river-ali well
watcred and timbcrcd: and still approaching
nearer and nearer to the Pinery market, where
all kinds of produce bears the highest market
price, and will so continue for two or three gen.
/
of good land for farming purposes, with pine
timber close at hand, so that farmer can put
in his time in the woods in winter, and attend
his farm in summer-ali without leaving home
| We have thus noted at length the character
of the country from the vicinity of White Bear
Lake, ten miles from st. Paul, to within sixty
miles of Lake Superior. for the purpose of dis
suading the public mind from the false belief
which appears TO have generally obtained. that
the country northeast of us is an impossible re.
gion of lakes and swamps. The facts are just
as we have stated, although it is true the coun.
try is exceedingly well watcred with spring
branches and clear lakes. A very large pro.
portion of these lands are marked number one
in the field notes of the surveyors, while, ac-
cording to the same authority, there is no land
Of this high character (or at least scarcely any
immediately about st. Paul.
| We must have Roads.
| Last winter two or three citizens Of St. Paul
we claim no credit or great forecast for being
one of theul--urged upon the Legislature the
expcdiency of having Territorial road from
st. Paul to Taylor's Falls. A bill was finally
passed, mainly through the excrtions of Mr.
| I nd nj tbn ChiSo iii ST ict nroyidno for n