The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-03-17
MINI sofa.
BY THE LATE JAMEsM. GooDHur.

AIRY oil our lcrtltory ~ AS follows:
Beginning in the Mississippi river, at a point
wheie the line OF AZ degrees aud 30 minutes of north
latitude crosses the same, thence running due west
on said line, which is the northern boundary Of the
State OF Iowa, to the ~ W. corner of Iowa; thence
southery along the boundary Of said
State, to the point where said boundary strikes
the MissorIl river; thence up the middle Of the
main channel Of the Missouri river to the mouth OF
the White Earth river; thence up the middle Of the
channel Of the White Earth river, to the boundary
hne between the possessions of the United States
and Great Britain; thence east and south Of cast,
along the boundary line between the possessions of
the United States and Great Britain to Lake Superior
thence III straight line 10 the norhcrnEost point OF
the State of Wisconsin, in Lake Superior; thence
along the western boundary line Of the State of Wis
cousin TO the Mississippi river; thenca down the
main channel Of the Mississippi, to the place Of be-
ginning.
This is n vast area-ccrtainly large enough for n
State. extending through more than six degrees of
latitude, and in wdh from the Missouri on the west
to the ST Croix the east, that is, it extends
OF the Mississippi river. The portion lying cast Of
the Mississippi, between Wisconsin and the Mis-
sissippi, comparatively narrow segment, has been
bought Of the Indians, and is present home but
OF the part even on the east side, all the northern
poition still belongs to the Chippewa Indians; and
embraces Immense forests Of hard wood and of pine,
through which the Mississippi and its tributaries roll
their dark, solitary waters while aR the land west
=
braced 10 the treaties negotiated last summer.
NAvIGABLE WATERS OF MINNESOTA.
| In the north is Red river, sluggish, deep river,
navIgabc for batteaux and ham boats, and doubt
less Tor steamboats, hat what the real capacity Of
that river Tor navigation, do not know. 1t rises
IN Minnesota, and flows northeast that river and the
Mississippi flowing off in opposite directions, and
the po'tages between their waters being very short,
he Missouri river, not nay gable for steamboats,
| as Minnesota line ripaI y vi fhcut
the removal of obstluctions
The Mississippi river, navigablc always when
open, 10 Fort Snelng, which is four miles and
half southwest Of ST. Paul! and yet up the river
At Fort Smelling the Minnesota (St. Pcters) pours
in its deep, quiet volume, bping a stream about the
same size as the Mississippi, which comes hurryng
down from the Falls OF St, Anthony, nine miles
above, to join 1t below the promontory which sits
Fort Smelling, like lazy old sentinel,
The Minnesota river is avigable ordinarily, TO
Traverse dcs Sioux, 100 miles and extraordinarily,
another hundred miles and more; and how much
more, God only knows. Ii about the same
thing, as tar up as you choose TO boat-gencr-
ally deep, rather narrow, rather sluggish, and re-y
crooked suitable only for short boats in any stage of
water; and very likely in low water, not navigable
AT all, without Improvement, above the Rapids thirty
miles above its mouth.
The SAINT Louis river, ernptyng into the end
of Lake Superior, is navgabie to the Falls, twenty
miles, for large vessels.
The Saint Crox, is navigable from its mouth
nearly the Falls of St. Croix 50 miles; but is
shallow above Saltwater. Boats such as now navi-
gate the Mississippi, therefore, seldom So above
il,wa,er.
Minnesota abounds in lakes. Between the St
Croix aud the Mississippi, they to be innun,er
able and they also plenty OF the Mississippi.
Their shores chiefly of gravel or pebbles, and
usually the other side OF the lake, is covered
with growth Of timber. The water rather shall
low, clear, cool and entirely destitute Of the qualities
Of the b"ggy marshes and sloughs of the south;
many of the lakes covered with wild rice and
arc alive with waterfowl. Frequently the lake opens
at one end, into a tamarac swamp, G!ed with young
tamaracs "a tree resembling the Spruce,) thick rs
they can stand. Through this swamp, the water
then passes into another basin, little less clcva-
ted, which it fills and makes another lake; and thus
there is formed, often, a succession Of lakes,
nec,cd by a spring stream that through them
all.
MOUNTAINS.
We have never yet mountain west Of the
Allegheny ridge and OF course, none in Minnesota.
Near Lake Superior, we learn there is elevation
of land, that approaches the dignity Of a mountain
but the nearest approach to mountains cscw here s
in the towering bluffs along The shores Of the Msss
sippi; and from Dubuque TO ST. Paul, these bluffs
are really tbs grandest feature Of western scenery
Except these bluffs and the dense forests Of the grca,
woods there is portion Of this vast Territory,
where n loaded wagon may not be driven, provided
the streams can be crossed.
Viewed from distance, the ranges Of bluffs IN
Minnesota have the irregular outline Of aims,
seen in other States. But the very apex of the high
est of them may always be reached on side, "
an easy, gradual slope. We do want mountain
scenery here, as we'll every where in the valley
Of the Missis.ipp river; and have often thought
could afford to give away Of smooth, fertile
counties, for on+ of the White HilIs to be planted
down in the middle of Minnesota
CLIMATE,
The whole world cannot produce a climate more
salubrious than that of Minnesota. We have
never yet known case of fever and ague in it, nor
any unwholcsome water, either in wells, springs,
lakes streams. il rs for coei heaitl'M climate,
that braces up tc human frame for rigorous crot7n,
pa ys'cai and mcata that regard Minnesota incon
parably superior to any other new State or Territory
III North America. They NAV raisc in
Illinois, more wool in Ohio, pork in Iowa,
more cotton in Mississppi; but Minnesota can beat
them all at raising In our coldest weather,
when the mercury congeals, perform much
labor out of doors, at any time IN the year. The
air is then still as death - the smoke from the
chmneys falls to the ground; every human body ere
ates around itself IN atmosphere of warmth. The
Stiffness and dryness of the atmosphere and the Wig
orous health enloy, account for the comfortable
enjoyment here, of a degree Of cold that would he
DAYS intensely hot but frequent showers, from sp, ing
until harvest, and most Of them in the sho,t nights.
AT midsummer when the sun scarcely to 20
down in the West to lave his golden axle in the
Pacific, before again behold his blazing chariot
10 the East. At nine O'Clock in the evening, it is
then scarcely too dark Cor your wives and daughters
to be sewing. Our frequent showers multiply
qutes. These insects, which at first were a terri
BILE annoyance, have about ceased to be troublesome
in ST. Paul, we made use OF mosquito bars, last
ID -ftx r.
December, is Of delightful, sunny days.
rising by degrees into the rigor Of winter; and win
ter in Minnesota, is the most social, comfortable
son Of the year. We experience no chilling winds
and shivering, drzzlng rain storms, usually. 1t is
very uncommon to have winter open the past
has been. Scighing generally continues good here,
through all the winter months. The past winter
have had bu, very little snow, but hundred miles
further mp the river, and everywhere north, they
have had from two three feet of snow. The river
generally closes about the 18th of November, and
opens the last Of March, and boat may generally be
expected early in April.
INDIAN PAYMENTS.
Supplies arc brought up the river, for the semi
annual payment to the Sioux, Chippeway and Win