The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-07-11

quests YOU to b. eak the first earth in the enterprise
on Monday. the 26,h June, 1854, 10 o'clock, and
give a brief review of its future prospects.
Respectfully your ob't serv',s,
N. H. WOOD,
SWEET
JEREMIAH RUSSELL.
SAUK RAPIDS, MINI. Teri, June %, 1854.
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt Of
your kind invitation to break the first earth in the
commencement of the improvement of the water pow
er Sank Rapids, and give brief review of its fn
ture prospects. l thank you for the compliment i'm
piled in the invitation, and shall accept with pleas
ure. Respectfully your ob't serv't,
w. A. GoRMAN.
Messrs. WooD, SWEET, and RUSSELL, Com.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN In obedience TO
your kind invitation, have this moment made
commencement Of the first great improvement of the
water-p power Sank Rapids, on the Mississippi
river, and at the county seat Of Benton county, Min
nesoia, the Goth day of June, 1854.
We stand to-day the banks of this wonderful
river, 500 miles fiom its mouth, and 2,
900 miles from National Capital, commencing
work Of vast Importance To this western region. MI.
Vannest. late of Iecunseh, Mich, has invested
large amount OF capnaf to erect extensive saw and
grst mill. Also, to manufacture laihs, shiny les,
sash and door mandatory, window blinds, and such
other branches as may | e found necessary for the
wants of the country. This is important improve
ment and at an important point in Minnesota. 1t is
particularly so, b. cause at this point the survey Of
the Northern route of the Pacific Railroad commence
ed, ab,ut year ago. From this point, then, con-
the Northern branch Of the Pacific Railroad,
which is to strengthen the bond OF this great mon.
At this point is found the most abundant supply of
building stone-he shortest span fer bridge across
the Mississippi river and plenty of the choicest tim
bcr Near here commences the most extensive
res in the west, which are now, soon will be, IN
market. At this POINT is located and in operation
the land office for all of the upper Mississippi coua
try, and reaching down TO Elk River. From
ST. Paul to Sank Rapids and Lake Superior, Rail
road will be made at early day Mark the PEE
dicton.
Around Sank Rapids for 20 or 80 miles, and even
further, is as beautiful and fertile country can he
found in any part OF the great North West. This is
fancy sketch of the country, it is strictly true,
all VIII, have it know. 1.-THE conner wants
timber, p,arie, and water, he can find it here. If
h, all prairie, he can find it here. II he de-
sreS II all ''nhrr. he can have it here. Ii he de-
sre> lovely lake, filled with choice fish, and limpid
around near his farm, he can find it here
II he seeks to live within hearing of the OF
these rapids, he buy few lots in this rising
town, and enjoy life agreeal,y, with as kind inter-
esting, and intelligent neIoh bors can he found in
he oldest settlement of the East, North, South or
West Little would Eastern lady friends expect
this Western frontier, yet my deg hted
this morning with their sweet tn:"s, sounding the
polka the waltz, and the ''oI'i folks at hone, and
Ibis, too, within sight OF the Indian wgwann.
! " ha, wish could the farmer make, which could
not be g.atiticd in this vicinity? What could the
mcchanc desire that is not to be found here! Here
frequently met hy the interrogation is v,u
MINES ia too cold during the winter season! This
popular error, 1t to me- will never DE corrected
until the enquirer comes here and enjoys the regular
ru.rv; then they will say, Minnesota winter is more
pleasant than other portion OF the year.
! Ladies and gentlemen, could perform no greater
service to Minnesota than to prevail upon every cI
zen to write back the old folks and Young folks at
home, and tell them that people educate the if
children in the wintcr-a,tend church, read the BIZ
bic, improve their minds, and morals. elevate all our
social blessings, draw closer ali social enjoy
mcns, and st i've to make every around us COM
Portable and happy. Our mechanics work at the
bench and the anvil; and the Jack plane and saw are
heard with the merry song OF content. Our enter
prising lunbermen cut logs in the neries, and work
the coolest day without an overcoat. We can say,
with truth, that or " nters arc in fact the most
pleasant portion OF the year.
But the enquiry will he, and is frequently, made,
where is Sank Rapids! 1t is IS miles above ST.
Paul, the Mississippi river, accessible in the
spring and summer by steamboat, and in spring.
mer fall and winter, by land, over road almost rs
smooth and level ordinary plank road in The old
States, observing in your routc AS beautiful landscape
scenery can he found in the 81 States of the I'm
ION. Sank Rapids is only or 8 days from Boston,
New ork, or Philadelphia except during the win
ter, when the ice ubstructs the OF the rv
II orr Fl lends from abroad come to visit Minnesota
and think that agriculture does not flourish and ma
ture here let them from here and see Mr.. Rus
sells farm, few miles further Mr.. Gillman's
90 still further on and see Mr.. Depue'S, on Platte
river, go still higher up and see the farm of Mr..
Sreess, Mr. Beanlean, Mr.. Ayers and Genera
OImStead, and all their skepticsrns will be dissipa
ted.
These, them ladies and gentlemen, are the resour.
that sustain these extensive manufacturing
establishments, that must soon be erected on anc
around Sank Rapids.
) But the enquiry NAV be made, about outlet dur.
ing the winter, for have alread, said that steam.
boats ply in spring, and fall, above the Fall.
Of St. Anthony to Sank Rapids. But we answer
that Lake Superior and Sank Rapids are but little
100 miles distant, and the unsurpassed agricu.
tural and manufacturing capacity of this region mus
soon unite the two points by railt Dad and predict
the day not far distant when the junction of rail
road from Lake Superior will be formed with the
great Northern Pacific Railroad route at Sank Rap
ids, because the Lake of mines and minerals, com
mcrce and wealth, will by the laws of trade natural
" seek the junction with the road to Golden
California, and especially to d'aw by the nearest
route to the commercial marts Of the north anC
, east, the trade o.! China and Oregon.
If our eastern manufacturers could see the vas
water power at Sank Rapids and St. Anthony and
compare it, with that at Manchester, Lowell, Law.
renee, Portsmouth, Springfield, Providence, Sc
surrounded by agricultural districts for hundred
miles of exhaus;ess fertility, how wonderfully en-.
larged would be their views of this great and might,
West. Then, If the visitor for pleasure invest.
ment should come to Minnesota, and stop at St
Paul ST. Anthony he will lose sight Of the fair.
est part OF this favored Territory, which he car
only see by coming up to Sank Rapids.
1t the emgrant wants home, it is here. II he
wants employment, this great enterprise will afford
it. IF he wants to commence with a new and pros.