The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-05-07

JOHN G. POTTS,
D. D. G. Sire.
Correspondence Of the Ninnesotiau.
Letters from the Minnesota Valley.
TRAVERSE DEs Sioux,
April 20, 1853.
MEssRs EDIrORs:-The book of the future for
Traverse des Sioux and the region Of the upper
Minnesota beyond us, opens with the promise
of q very active summer. The speculation so
rife in st. Paul during the winter, in Traverse .
des Sioux lots, are apparently about to bear
some substantial fruit. You would be surpris-
ed to see the quantity of squared timber that
has been got out the past three or four months,
and which fairly crowds up the main street.
Among it notice the heavy and Substantial
timbers for the frame of Sibley's new ware
ly got by d. R. Kennedy, who is in charge Of
the Fur Company's Outfit here, and who was
an old hand at such business in Canada. George
Mcleod, Martins brother, a regular go-ahead
citizen, an old Ottawa river timber merchant,
has likewise two heavy frames out-one for .
warehouse 40 feet by rs, and the other for .
dwelling. Besides these, count % buildings
Of various kinds, most of them large, for which
the frames and part of the lumber are on the
ground, or being sawed, and which are under
contract to be put up in the next two months.
Every steamboat lands large lots of lumber,
supplies and passengers. The Greek Slave
was the first arrival on the It'll of April; the
Clarion on the 22d was the next; and the Tiger
on the 9th the third; and all disgorged great
deal of freight at the landing. almost forgot
to mention that one of the buildings going up,
is hotel by Mr.. Spencer, and another. large
livery stable by Mr.. Myrick, while BENZ. Thomp-
son. Esq, has contracted for the erection of o
series of fine tenements under one roof los by
"a feet; and Jack Frazier for a trading house
and dwelling 40 feet by 81. Besides the impor-
tatiOn of lumber from below, two saw-mills are
now in active operation to supply building ma
terials for the people of the Traverse. About
four or five miles above, J. w. Babcock has
is termed an overshot wheel and
muley saw-which is rapping away in fine style
at the rate of 5000 or 5000 feet a day, with
some 500 logs on the ground, ready for brisk
business. Eastwood, the different
varieties of oak, huge cottonwood. plenty of
black and white walnut, with blackberry and
ash, are his principal timber, and there's plenty
of it. He delivers his timber at the Traverse
for Sl4 per NJ. 1t is about mile and half
above this mill, on the same side of the river
that the new town of Kah-so-tah has Just been
laid out. On a most beautiful site; and as it
an extensive back country, with
of access to it, and facilities for 4
fine ferry, and the best point know of for
bridge in case the Railroad from Dubuque
L
will grow into town of some Importance,
equal to LIE Sueur. below it, and second only to
the Traverse in size and business. Its advan-
tages are probably as great as any town site on
the io,cer side of the river. Its convenience to
Babcock mill will facilitate its growth; for the
difficulty of obtaining lumber is the most seri-
GUS drawback generally experienced by new
towns in their early starting. Besides Bah
cocks mill there is another also on the lower
side of the river, little below this place,-an
old fashioned futter-wheel MILL belonging to
Antoin loung.-wbich is likewise saving
away successfully. The mill will be quite an
advantage to the building operations of the
people of lie Sueur few miles below it, Both
mills have only started within a couple of
weeks.
The Indians are gathering in here quite thick
again, from the sugar-bush. They made a con-
siderable amount of sugar. In their liking for
sweetmeats they are perfect children: and
their physician. DR.. Foster, has several cases of
serious sickness arising from their gorging
themselves to excess with this food exclusively.
In the bush. There are some reports in regard
to the upper Indians, which excited fears for
their safety. letter from Patterson's Rapids.
(S5 miles by land, and over $50 miles by wat
er above} says: "As yet there has been no
news OF the Seeseetoan Sioux, or Robe Hun
tiers; and the Indians hereabOuts as we'll az
whites of Yellow Medicine Wood river. Dr.
"iiiiamson's place, think it most probable they
are all dead-shut in from all communication
by the deep snow, until they starved or froze to
death. And l fear those suspicious NAV prove
too correct; but hope for the best.v
Since the foregoing letter was received. Geo.
Mcleod, Esq, has arrived from Lac aui- Parlc,
IN huge cottonwood canoe, 25 feet long and
"A inches across the middle, and made of a sim
gle tree--bringing down in her besides her
crew and lot of stuff. 40 bushels of seed pota-
toes! M. Mcleod says that early in the win
ter the Sceseetoans were heard from-thot
they had fallen in with plenty of buffalo and
had already made large cache of dried meat:
and that though nothing has been heard from
them since, it is not improbable they Jared we'll.
and will turn up after awhile
am sorry to learn that Dr. Williamsop's
lady, at the Yellow Medicine Missionary Sta
ton. had severe fall on the 9Th of April. by
which three or four of her ribs were broken.
Inc Doctor appears particularly unfortunate
since he lett Kaposia and removed to his pres
ent location. Early in the winter. he was 30
as to have his x-teams and sun
plies buried in the great snow storm the team
sters barely escaping with their lives: and bc
ana his people were only saved from starvation
during the winter by the missionaries Mt lac
qni.farie packing provisions down to him ON
the ice. 1t is to be hoped the worst of his trials
are now over.
eso'" mas only been moderately
high this season, and is now falling fast. The
Tiger came up into and landed her freight and
passengers near the old missionary houses, on
whas Is markad as the "Canal' on the town
plat and then passed up through it into the
main river, saving about two miles by the ope-
ration: The larger boats could have done the
same y. out for their barges. Mr.. Cummings Of
ST. p, Anthony, who has the contract for breaking
The 600 acres at the new Agency. landed ten
yoke OF oxen from the Tiger with wagon or
wo, preierrng to make the land portage of 40
'r oo miles, than steam l4O, to reach the same
Ioiht on the most crooked and difficult part of
ne river The Tiger then went on with the
est OF her freight to the new Fort
The next day about noon, the West Newton
ame surging up, herself and barge heavily
oaded with the troops and supplies for the new
ort. had the pleasure of greeting nv friend
,aptaln James Monroe. Jr., (who, by the way'
we are to select military man from Fort
y I