The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-07-30
For the MiDBcsotIan.
A Week up tho Minnesota

10 tne MINNESOTA |alley, 1t Is thought that
few brief notes of 4 weeks soiourn within IFS
bounds might not be unacceptable TO your rea-
ders. Leaving st. Paul on one of those eonyc-
ncnt steamers now engaged in the Minnesota
river trade, the traveller, after stemmipg the
current of the Mississippi some six miles, finds
himself entering the Minnesota river. The
scenery on either hand for ten miles or more is
but slightly varied. a range of hills on cacl,
side some two miles apart, rising from 100 to
$50 feet above the bottom land. and beautiful
ly intersperscd with prairie and timber, bounds
the vision. series Of lakes OF ponds on the
right or left, caused partly by springs snd part.
ly by the Overlooking of the banks in high wa
ter cover nearly One-third of the space between
the hills for twenty miles or more as YOU as
cend The remaining portion is covered cithc.
with timber of good quality mostly, or with
three to five tons per acre of excellent hay.
The first point at which you approach the
high lands sufficiently near to effect landing
with convenience, is near the residence Of Hon.
Martin Mcleod, some ten miles above Fort
Smelling on the north side OF the river. Here
a fOurishing settlement already exists with in
wiling opportunities for cmigrants to obtain ex-
cellent farms-timbcr medium-prairie abund-
ant and good.
The opposite side of the riveris principally oak
openings with lakes and streams. until you
reach Nermillion prairie, some six or seven
miles distant from the Minnesota. As You pro-
coed up the river. mcanderng the bottom with
almost geOmetrcal regularity about eight miles,
you arrive at the residence Of Mr.. Dean and 9TH
crs on the north side. Here is a good landing
good soil, prairie timber oak openings, lakes
and brooks-with a iOurishng settlement and
yet "much land " to DC occupied. On the south
side the country is more dcnsely timbcred for
several miles above and around the head of
Credit river, small stream that comes in q lit
tie below this pOnt--sOil superior and but few
claims Showing out from Deans landing you
proceed about four miles by water when you
arrive at the newly laid out town of ---.
still on the north side of the river. and Just at
the lower end of that delightful prairie called
by Mrs. Ellct eden Prairie" 1t is necessary
to ascend the bluff in order fully to appreciate
its lovclincss, but the labor will he more than
rewarded. Yet, beautiful rs it is, there are
some reasons to doubt whether this was in fact
the place originally fitted up by the Great Ar
chitcct as the pristine residence of the prOgcn-
itors of our race. Here also is a tourishing
scttlement-Mr. Abbott and others having NOV
ed in last fall and winter. The prairie is about
five miles long and near two wide. 4 hand
some lake immt diatc1y on the north side of the
prairie. the outlet of which will afford water
power for several mills. Soil rich-timbcr good
and abundant and first rate opportunities for
settlement through to MinnctOnka lake, some
eight miles north. Immediately at the upper
end of this prairie commences an extensive
body of rich, heavily timbcrcd land. cOntinu-
ing twenty or thirty miles, until it connects
with. and indeed may be considered as forming
a part of what is called the big Woods.'-
This vast tract of timber extends from the big
bend Of the Mississippi, fifty miles above st.
Anthony Falls nearly due South, almost, OF
quite to the North line of Iowa, and is from
twenty to forty miles in width. The soil is Of
t,.,l Al
every variety known in the West. The next
point at which you stop is Shakopc, about six
or eight miles above the last named place. on
the South side of the river is the first landing,
with the exception of Mr.. Farihaults in the
same neighborhOod) on that side of the river
from the mouth up This is beautiful site for
town. The bank is about twenty-five feet high
and entirely above high water mark. A stra-
thm of limestone crops ont for Il quarter of u
mile or more and probably undcrlncs the whole
town plat. Here was the largest Indian village
on the river, known as Little SKIS villagc-bnt
already the pale face is there. and this month
the Chief and his band take up the line of march
toward the setting sun, to kindlc his council
fire on the border of the great prairics of the
West--lcaving only his name to remind future
generations that this was once the loved home
of his ancestors. and the scene Of his deeds of
hcrOsm and strife. The country gradually ris-
cs as you proceed into the interior about two
miles, until it attans the ordinary elevation Of
the country generally. The prairie upon which
the town is LAID ont extends three miles to the
river, six miles below and about five or six
miles above. Two stores. boarding house,
ware. house. two lime kilns and several neat
and tasty residences furnish abundant evidence
OF the enterprise Of Messrs. Holmes, Spencer,
Kennedy and Othcrs-proprictOrs and citizens
OF the place. There is already large settle
mcnt III the interior, and abundant room for
many more. Opposite and above is flourish
ing settlement of forty or more German fami-
lies. Shakopc will doubtless grow into a place
of importance. As you proceed, numerous
towns, landings aud settlements are passed,
mostly on the north side of the river for forty
miles or morc-soil rich timber dense and large
but u very small portion cleared. The next
point that attracts special attention is lie Sue
ur: situated on the south side of the Minnesota
and immediately on the west side Of the large
body of timbcrcd land allndcd to above This
is a beautiful location. good landing and grad
ual descent into the interior, good soil-bcad-
tiinlly nndulatnG prairie and an abundance Of
superior timber. a hOurishing settlement al
ready exists here of twenty or more families as
was informed, and there is room for as many
hundreds. The prairie runs south about seven
miles and then west along the river about fif-
teen miles, intcrspcrscd with groves and points
or arms of timber. The next point of note is
Traverse DIES Sioux. on the north side or rath-
cr on the west side of the rivcr-as its general
course in its descent, is much more from south
to north than from west to cast for fifteen or
twenty miles above or below Traverse This is
point OF note and has been for many years.
as the principal crossing place of Indians, trad
crs and travellers, who have taken the Minncso-
Ia route for Lac-qui-raric and Red river. The
site is unsurpassed in beauty. rcccdiug in gen
tie swclls or elevations. each overlooking all
hpInyy he ~ ff,r a mi
more and then spreading ont before yOu is as
beautiful and rich unhnlatihg prairie inter-
spcrscd at convenient distances with groves of
timber as the most fastdous could desire. This
rich, rolling land continues north and north
west at least fifteen miles, the distance Travelled
by the Rev. Mr. Adams and myself and how
much further am unable to say. Immediately
west, inc country Is OF the same character for
about five miles Beyond that. il is rather bet
tor ulaulcl To stack Il.