The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-01-19

BY J. w. BosD. Red6eld, MY.

attention of the Inhabitants Of the Eastern, Middle
and even Southern States, have been turned toward
the great and growing West, and the ntluring mind
has gone to sea- for food to sa,iaie its appetite
but Notwithstanding the nnunerable number Of letters
written.-the information derived from the Press.
and by personal intercourse, still every mail brings
letters Of inquiry respecting this North cstern
region, and the chances of success in this most in
MIGRATING Of all climes The great mass Of the peo-
pie do net know the genial atmosphere which pervades
the West-they d. know that here they can better
their conditions, and partakc more profusely of the
comforts Of hfe.-they do not fully realize the fac,
that here, untold millions Of acres Of rich soil are
awaiting the hand OF the laborer-that here, toll is
rewarded tina, here, all alike fed from the boun-
tiul hand Of Nature. Were these facts made known
did the people rightly understand them, there would
he less jostlng less misery and starvation less tears
and moans less theft less intemperance, less crime
Of every and description; and he is true phi
!anhropist who imparts such information as will give
them sht subject which to them is of such vital
Importance. Thus we glad to chronicle the ad-
of Mr.. Bonds book into the great world of lite
and thought for in il found not the tinseIry Of an
overdrawn imagination not the sophisty Of the soph-
list, not the specuations Of the theorst but rather
those tangible evidences Of WORTH righteousness and
correctness, which absolutely necessary for the
success of any enterprze. EARNED with these and
Truth, (he most essential element in the character Of
a book, the volume must be the means of accom-
plishing much good, only by guiding the Immigrant
to safe and pleasant home, but also by giving a new
impetus to our already rapidly increasing Territory
The volume before opens by giving succinct
account Of the early history of Minnesota which
ssts principally of the of the Indians who orig
| inally inhabited this section of country Occasion
ally some hardy pioneer penetrated the dark forests
and brought from the Red man the labors of his
hunt, but these were few, Of whose names have
become oblIterated the shores Of time. The same
chapter also informs us when the Territory was or
ganzed, who the officers, and such other general
information as would be interesting to the inquirer
and useful for future reference.
| In chapter second We treated to a very minute
description Of the general face Of the Country and its
geographical features, which is only Of great
value to the Immigrant but is also highly interesting
to the Indifferent reader. We quote the following
| Tor the edifcation of our distant friends:
|
"The Territory Of Minnesota, as Organized by the
act Of Congress Of March 3, lS49 is an
extensive region being about four times large AS
the State OF Ohio, and six hundred and seventy
FIVE miles from southeastern to its north
western border. 1t extends from the MssssipDi and
81 Cro'x rivers aud the western extremity Of Lake
Superior on the east, TO the Missouri and White
| Earth rivers the west, a distance of over four
hundred miles; and from the Iowa line (attitude 43e
800 on the south, TO the British line latitude 49o)
on the north, also distance Of over four hundred
mi!es-the whole comprising an area of l66 900
square miles, I06 goo 900 acres. At one roin
along the northern boundary, viz, Lake of the
Woods, the line extends to latitude 500-a fact not
generally known--whie the south western part il
extends tor seventy miles below the Iowa line to the
junction Of the Missouri and Sioux rivers in latitude
APO 30 thus running through and half de-
grees OF latitude, or a distance due north of five
bundled and twenty-five miles.
Almost the whole of this is a fine rolling prairie of
rich soil, sandy loan, adapted the shot summers
Of the climate. and which produce bounteous!v raw
luXurianiiy. The u.fiCe Of The country excepting
the Missouri plains, is inter. ersed with numerous
beautiful lakes OF fresh waterfall abounding in the
finest fish, and their banks covered with a fine growth
Of woodland. The Land is about equal, divided be
tween oak-OpenlLgs and rtai,ies, the whole we'll
watercd by numerous streams navigaLle for steam
| ers."
On the subject of raising corn. grain, &c.. the
author remarks
owe can grow all the cereal grains--winter wheat
and corn among the rest; and grazing ccunr, il
can scarcely be eQualled Cattle and sheep and all
KINDS OF live stock, more healthy here, and can
be produced in AS fine degree Of perfection, as in
, the States The evidence Of farmers who have
turned their attention TO this branch of farming indus
try fully proved this by their pas, experience in tho
States, contrastcd with their great success while
here"
The following paragraph we copy merely to show
the rapid increase since the organization Of the Ter
ritory:-
'The inhabitants Iof the Territory now number
twenty thousand. One year more, az the present
rapid rate OF migration, will see doubled. There
is not an instance in the whole history Of the great
Northwest, or Of frontier life and civilization, in
which Territory, Immediately after ITS organs attain
has been settled with such r,pidy, and in which
thriving, busy, busting towns have sprung up almost
as it were at the touch of some enchanteI's wand"
| The agricultural advantages to be derived from a
residence in Minnesota. well = general remarks
farmers, capitalists, mechanics, aborers tourists
Sc, the authors themes for the third chapter
His advice to the newly arrived immigrant is So
healthy and pointed, that insert aragraph or
two, as indicative Of the writer's own character
! elf you should not find work immediately make
good claim at once, strike out for Yourself "A while
/
broke in time Tor crop in the spring. Dag up acre.
and plant potatoes, corn, and vegetables, enough To
last you through the next winter. Work afterward
at anything YOU may find for your hand do and pay
for the breaking up next fall Of You can not do il
yourse of at least ten acres, fence it, and as much
more as you can next winter; and by this time, 1855
you will have homestead Of your own--a good crop
Of oats, corn, and potatoes, in the ground-and Il
you a lucky fellow, a wife and children in the
sharty. yourself as independent as lord and
thousand times more happy.
ell you do not find claim to suit you--one CON-
bining all the requisites of soil, wood, and water
with frontage on the river, and mill-stream run
ming through it (and the most Of these are already
taken)--then buy out some one already located, or
take the next best that you Can find: make claim
somewhere, and improve it; do remain around the
town sing day, but go work with stout heart
and deter minaion TO overcome all obstacles Do
be discouraged ty bad weather, or the scishness
or indifference Of any that you may apply for advice
or aid in effecting your first settlement"
Chapter fourth q ives quite extended review
of the weather, soil and climate Of Minnesota which
! Il. 4