The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-06-18
A WEEK ON THE ST. CROIX.
Facilities for Going About.

pened hundred times, to otheTs as well as our
self, to be cbuckcd down under the high bluff
among our pleasant friends of Saltwater, with
no manner of way or convenience for leaving
there, except at California expenses, unless you
chose to take the back track to st. Paul, wait
for steamboat going down the lake, or paddle
bateau up against the swift current of the st.
Croix The interesting and valuable region
comprising the valley of that river has been
neglected by strangers, as well as citizens Of
other parts of the Territory, mainly because it
happened to be destitute of good roads, and off
from the beaten track of general travel. Ad-
ded to this, the inhabitants of that region are
an entirely different class from those who dwell
over this way. They have not among them any
spectators or town builders, to answer the pur-
pose of conspicuous advertisements In the col
umns of daily newspapers by keeping the great
and unprecedented advantages of their several
locations prominently before the people about
the streets, and at the hotels, and upon the
steamboats,. Their vocation is the active and
laborous one Of getting pine logs out of the in
terminablc sOrcstsu toward the sources of the
river, converting them into building mater-
oils, or running them whole in ten acre RATS to
the markets below. A man to follow this bust
ness successfully, has very few spare hours
throughout the year for running about the coun-
try 'gasing.' In July and August he cuts his
hay, near where his winters operations are to
take place; in September, October and Novem-
Der, he gets up his his supplies from then I'M
til April he is in the woods with no chance
to get out of them, and no disposition to get
out even to 'crow, until the spring freshets
unlock the chains Of winter, and sweep his logs
into the booms and then till July and haying
time comes round again the months are occu-
pied by the most important and interesting of
the whole years transactions getting his prop
crty to market and receiving his well-carned
cash therefor.
But thanks to the good-natured responses of
our dear Uncle Sam to the St. Croix peoples pc
iition for good road through their country,
and Mr.. Sibley's faithful attention to their in
terests in seeing the ways and means put
through to consummate the measure the impor-
can't region of country to which we allude, is
about to be placed in easy and accessible COM
munication with its neighbors residing in other
parts Of the Territory, as well as the rest of
mankind In addition, some adventurous ge-
MUS on small scale, 1--WE don't know his nancy
down about Oquaka, Illinois, last year conceiv-
ed the good idea of procuring steamboat suit
able to perform the duties of tri-weekly pack
ct between Saltwater and Taylor's Falls, the
extreme point Of steam navigation up the St.
CrOix. 1t is true, he didn't appear to have
a very correct idea of the kind of craft the peo-
pie really wanted, and would well support. in
that trade; but such as he thought and planned
be late last season brought forth. Some of our
readers will recollect the yarn "a true one we
presume.) we published few months since
from a California paper, giving a strong Illus
tration of the initiative powers of the In.
dams of Oregon. They had seen a steamer
padding up the Columbia river, and forthwith
they must have one also So they erected two
pieces Of old stove pipe in the bow of canoe
set an iron pot amdships, and placed small pad
dlewheels on either side further aft, with cranks
attached to shafts passing through inside of the
vessel. A fire was then built in the pot, and by
some continuance the smoke let forward into
the stove-pipes. A stalwart buck Indian was
then placed flat on his back between the cranks
attached to the Wheels whose duty it was to
turn them, he thus answering all the purposes
OF engine and engineer. 1t is not probable he
ever calculated the amount of firing up ne
cessary to propel the steamer, by heaping pine
knots upon the fire in the iron kettle, although
that was not left unattended to when under
way, judging from the smoke that rolled in
black masses from the stove-pipes; but it is
said the firemln had to perform the additional
duty Of administering steam to the motive
power Ivy means of a long-necked glass cylin-
der, vulgarly called bottle in some parts OF
the world. And what is most singular. the
miniature steamboat was propelled by this ope-
ration, although there was not the least percep-
tible connection between the rude furnace and
the glass instrument. How this was done is a
question to be decided by Captain Ericsson, the
spirits OF Fitch and Fulton-which We presume
can be calledu up by the Rappers at any time
and the gentleman who owns and directs the
Humboldt, saltwater and Taylors Falls pack
et' In fact, we are very nearly of the opinion
that this Humboldt is the identical Columbia
river steamer we have just been speaking Of.
We are certain she is not the New York and
Havrc packet of that name. She must be con-
siderably the senior of that famous craft. and
in all probability gave name to her. But
jokes aside, the little Humboldt is a great
accommodation to the people of the St. Croix.
She stops anywhere along the river to do any
ana all kinds of business that may offer, and
will give passengers longer ride, so far as
time is concerned, for a dollar, than any other
craft we ever Travelled upon. She is also. to
outward appearances, temperance boat. and
carries no cooking or table utensils. She stops
at the Marine, going and returning, to allow
the people aboard to feed upon good, substan
tial dinner and the passengers are allowed, i
they feel so disposed, to carry bars in their side