The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-23
From the Boston. Herald.
The Nerth-Westcrn Country.
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA TERRITORY, J
. Oct. %, 1854. -.rI !

.a Oct. %, 1854. ~yaI : I
DEAR HERALD,-Yesterday was lovely day,
and according to my usual custom, attended
divine worship in one of the seven churches
with which the city of st. Paul is blessed. 1t
was exceedingly pleasant to find our New Eng
land customs observed upon the Sabbath day,
to listen to the same gospel truths, to join in
the same devotional exercises, and sing the same
hymns of praise which are heard in the land OF
the Puritans while so far from the region with
which these scenes are most familiarity associat-
ed. The congregation assembled on the occa-
sion could not have been distinguished in their
external appearance from the intelligent and
fashionable religi0nists of the Eastern States,
and doubt not that their worship was as de.
vOut and sincere as that of any assemblage I'D
Boston on the same day.
Seven boats arrived yesterday '.from below
bringing nearlyia thousand passengers, and
large amount of merchandise, besides horses,
cattle, and the household stuff of many emf
grants. This is an unusual number for one day
but it serves to show that strong tide of emf
grafton is setting into this Territory, notwith-
standing the rival attractions of California and
Nebraska. 1t is stated authOritatively that
more than forty two thousand persons have ar
rived in St. Paul by the river boats, during the
season. Many Of the settlers are from Ohio.
Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, as well as from
the rugged and unproductive portions of New
England This is because the soil is quite as
fertile the crops more certain, and the climate
healthier. and because the people OF the new
States have seen how easily fortunes are made
by taking up good land at government prices.
| A large number of the settlers upon the Min
nesOta lands are Germans Swedes and NOrwe-
gians. The - foreign influence was felt in the
election held in this territory recently. A re-
port was circulated that one of the parties con-
tanned large number of Know Nothngs, and
the result was a complete overthrow of that
party. / don't know whether there are any
lodges of the mysterious order here or not.
the report alluded to had however, the desired
| effect.
The doctrine of" Squatter Sovereignty" was
enforced at the late sale Of a portion of the
lands belonging to the military reserve. The
lands were advertised to be sold at auction to
the highest bidder, in sections of eighty acres
each. This, of course, barred the presumption
claim but each section had its squatter, and
each squatter was bound to have the land at
one dollar and quarter acre. According
ly, they formed an association to secure their
object On the day of the sale. the Land Office
at Saltwater was besiegcd by spectators. will
! ling to give rather more than dollar and
quarter an acre for land worth fifty dollars.
The s9nattcrs were there, too with large
number of friends. 1t is said that they were
armed and determined to effect their purpose
by force. if necessary. At all events, the agents
Of the claimants bid off every acre of the land
at the minimum price Of Government. 81 %
per acre, and not speculatOr dared to bid
against him. Some Of the spectators would
have bid in spite OF the reviewers Of the claim.
ants. but they were deprived of the opportuni-
ty. All OF this class were marked, and before
the bidding commenced they were sevcrally in
vited ito go and take drink by some hos.
pitablc squattcr, who would not take g no" for
an answer. 1t was in vain for them to reply
that they had inst taken something" or that
they - never INDUCED in anything of the Sort
each one was surrounded by ng and hur-'
ried off about two miles where the squattcr's
buggy which contained the fluid was stationed.
Before the party could return to the Land o.
flee. the lands had been struck OIL to the agent
of the claimants. 1t has been rumored here
that the sale had been repudated at Washing
ton, but as the money has been paid to the 20.
vernment agents and the titles to the land is
sued in due form, it is hardly probable that the
Administration could legally override squattcr
sovereignty in this case, even if they desired 10
do so.
The first Agricultural Fair ever held in the
Territory was that of the Hcnnepin County
Agricultural Society. which occurred at Min.
neapOls last week. The weather was unfayor.
able. but the display is said to have been very
creditable. Gov. German and Gov. RAMSEY
addressed the people from big farm wagon on
the ground the hall being too small to accom-
modate the number present Gov. GOrmau
stated that he had received statistics. Officially
showing that the Territory had produced the
past season, 215, 900 bushels of wheat, 100. 600
bushels potatoes, 400 600 bushels turnips, 40 600
to 10000 bushels onions. Flint corn is raised
90 bushels to the acre, and dent corn Yields Go
to 70 bushels to the acre
The specimens exhibited proved the fertrit,
OF the SOIL OF the country, in very satisfactory
manner The potatoes raised in Minnesota arr
beyond compare, and spirited lyric ought ,n
be written to their praise by the first poet that
shall arise in the Territory. They are deli
ciOus.
st. Paul has one large hotel built in the mn.
dern style. and another spacious and comfortu.
Die house erected four years ago, besides nu.
merous small houses of entertainment kent
mostly by foreigners. The city standing mon
ahigh bluff. with landings at the upper and
lower end. about half a mile apart, there is ma
turally some rivalry between the " upncr ami
lower towns" large hotel was built in the
lower town last season. to balance the attra,,
ton OF the W lnslow House in the uppcr town.
The SantomInc House was burned down a few
weeks since. before it had been occup;el-
Doubtless by an inccndiary. 1t is surmiscd
that t. act was prompted by the rival inter
ests OF Inc upper town. 1t is to be hoped, how
ever, that lncendiarism will not be conducted
on sectional principles here, or rather that i,
VIII not be practised at all for the metropolis
OF the North-Wes is as yet destitute of a fire de-
partment Another hotel is about to be erect
Ell at the lower town, on a splendid scale
such at least is the intention of the parties in
terested in that quarter of ST. Paul
considerable trouble is experienced hero
In consequence of arrangements of the chr.
rency. There is bank in the Terrific.
ry, and financial matters here are man
aged by private bankers Some of these
are agents of Banks in various and diston.
parts OF the country. and they throw as many
OF the bills OF such banks into Circulation ~
possible, and as the brokers make money by
discreditlng banks and buying up their bills a,
discount, there are continual rumors in the
streets to the prejudice of various banks. tits
not a diilcult matter for bankers here to cry
DOWN the circulation OF a sound institution and
buy up their bills at a heavy disconnt and
when they have purchased a consjderabla
quantity to send them off for redemption or