The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-07-30
For the Minnesotian.
The Minnesota Valley.
TCOnc/,,IeI1

For the Minnesotian
The Minnesota Valley.
[Concluded.]
MEssRs EDITORs,-I closed my former COM
munication in describing the beauty and fertiI-
ity of the country around lie Sueur We re-
sumed our upward journey by moonlight, and
in the course of few miles found ourselves at
q claim of Louis Roberts, short distance be-
low Traversc-des-SiOux, on the west side Of the
river. At this point party Of us left the boat
and walked across the country to the town.
Our way lay for some distance up a steep hill,
in the side of which an excellent road had been
cut. From this road, AS the moon threw its
mellow light into thick foliage on our right and
lit up the twisting stream far, far below us, its
water still in view, though forest lay between
us, the topmOst trees rustling in the breeze at
our fcct,-the whole tout ensemble of the scene
was unique and strikingly grand.
After gaining the summit of the hill and
crossing small level, the town of Traverse DIES
Sioux lay before us on slightly undulating
prairie, slopng gently down to the river.
! must confess that was not struck with this
as the beautiful town-site which had expected
to find, but Us | saw it then only by moonlight,
was willing to postpone the decision of my
judgment concerning it.
From Traverse up, the country becomes in
creasingiy beautiful, and as far as we could as
certain from the short excursions we made
when landing, and the glimpses of country
which we caught from the hurricane deck, pre-
senting more and more attractions for the set
tier, and promising q richer reward for his
labor.
One would naturally suppose that the por-
ton OF the Sioux purchase nearest to St. Paul
would, for the present absorb nine tcnths of the
agricultural immigration, but this is, by no
means the case. Settlement is going OH as ra-
pidly, or nearly so. one hundred miles up the
river. as it is in our near neighbOrhood. This
can easily be accounted for by the best claims
below having been taken at an early date, and
by the general superiority of the upper coun-
try, in the quality of its soil. and the small
amount OF land which is incapable of easy cul-
ture.
People sometimes tell us in ST. Paul that the
town is going ahead of the country. What a
partial view of things is thus taken! ST. Paul
is not mere county town, the focus of trade
for sparsely settled county; it is the capital
OF and the focus of trade for a whole Territory
the key to the most promising and rapidly set
thing country which has yet invited the atten-
ton OF emgrants settlers living one hundred
miles up the river as surely make their pur-
chases, and find their market in st. Paul. d.
rcctly or indirectly, as those residing in our
very suburbs.
Babcock's Landing is important from the fact
that it is now shipping considerable quantities
OF lumber. manufactured at the saw mill some
three quarters of mile hack The Landing is
not good one, though from the labor that the
proprietor is employing upon it, there seems to
he disposition to remedy, to some extent its
defects; the bluff, however, is too high for the
difficulties to he entirely overcome ; this how
ever, can DC entirely overlooked in the great
advantage of its possessing an excellent saw
mill, constantly at work, and sending up and
down the river its lumber to supply the in
crcasing demand. A considerable quantity of
excellent black walnut has already been shipped
from thence TO ST. Paul, and as the country
abounds in that timber, our town can appro-
pirate almost any quantity of it. and trans,nute
it by the hands OF its excellent furniture manu-
facturcrs into those articles of beauty and util-
ity. for which that wood is specially adapted
Back OF this landing. on a fine fertile soil.
quite number OF farmers are already located
amongst whom are several known to me as men
who are of the right stamp to become the con-
stituent elements of a new society
The advantage of saw mills in these rising
settlements. not only to the settlements but
also to private enterprise. is, think. not sufl-
cicntly appreciated. At the various town sites
and through the whole settled country. scores
OF buildings would have been erected which
have had TO wait OH account of the difficulty of
getting lumber. Saw mills must pay in this
country. whenever they are properly construct
ed, and indeed would be among the best invest
mcnts which could be made.
After passing through finely timbcrcd
country, and taking an hour or two to cut
snags out OF the stream, we arrived at Mankato.
which at once mentally pronounced as the
best town site on the river. The landing seems
10 tod law nfu,ro
from the hand of man, and the town site for half
dozen squares back. will need no grading ::
thence back gentle ascent, beautifully wood
cd, continues some distance, and thence n fine
forest OF excellent timber continues for some
three miles. while north and south beautiful
PLAIN. nearly level, stretches out embracing all
the beauties and facilities that could be desired
Tor town site. At this place there was a
greater TURNOUT of population to greet our
landing than at any other point and Twas graf
lllcd at finding so many familiar faces A po-
hccf lie mad gwen to some OF them such back
woods appearance that | found it difficult at
first to place them; but all, without execution.
ard L convcrscd with many expressed them
selves as highly delighted with their situation
and prospects. One thing seemed to me to pro-
mise well for this point, more families had set
tied here, more ladies and children were to he
seen, than in any other place along the river :
these families, too, looked happy and intelli-
gent. a day and Sabbath schools are started,
with excellent female teachers. \ general de-
sire maniiests itself for the privileges of rcligi-
Gus worship. and indeed the entire tone of mat
tiers here is ono which is very pleasing.
MankatO City, to the left of the town. is n
beautiful spot Ii. McKenty. Esq, (wno is
truly wholc-souled man, and who laid ont the
place. has done much more to call the atten-
ton of settlers to this part of the country than
any other of the immediate proprictors. A
more beautiful situation for villa residences, is
rarely to be seen, at the same time. with little
Improvement, its landing will he excellent
ne two places, the town and city, will cvcntu-
ally be one, and probably become of more i'm
portancc than any other on the river.
must hasten on to Eureka From orr last
point, the river seems to approach its maxim
um OF eauty. Above Mankato saw a greater
number OF linefarm sites than anywhere below.
There is in fact an almost unbrokcn succession
Oh beautiful groves and small rich, deep-soilcd
pralries, with any amount of good landings
above high water. Passing thus through the
lOvcliest country / ever bcheld we reached