Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-01
TIE GREAT WEST.
BY JOHN rsiIts WARREN.


nation, that III the then unkllONll lHIcccsSlDlc
interior of this vast continent, midway between
the Atlantic and tn, Pacific oceans, and two
thousand miles above thu delta Of the ma jestic
river upon whose banks it stands, there should
arise city, which in only five years time should
attain greater prominence in the public cStima-
ton, and attract more wealth and population
than many eastern towns can boast, with the ex-
periencc of half 4 century on their heads? | am
a Mnnesotan, and it is fit, therefore, that tie
succeeding portions Of this article should relate
more particularly to tee features of this magnt-
cent region, which in its resources and rapid
growth and half revealed destiny, affords an adj
mrablc exemplicat;on of the natural grandeur
and sublime development Of the west.
cannot conceive of more interesting and de-
lightful journey for the summer tourist, than the
transition from some one of the eastern States
to st. Paul. This is now very easily effected
and with much less Inconvenience than is gcner-
ally supposed. By the middle Of next summer
the entire trip may be made comfortably in from
four to five days, through the uninterrupted agcn-
cy Of steam. Go We, who are debilitatcd in health
and detected in spirits, and behold the ntermnl-
lie prairies of Illinois when gemmcd with the
fowery luxuliance of spring: and sail up the
winding and island-dotcJ course of the Mlssis-
sippi, the enchanting loneliness of whose banks
will forever lingcr in your memories like the see
merry Of pleasant dream. Your health will i'm
prove, your spirits will become buoyant and your
minds will be more strongly impressed than ever
with the unparalleled grandeur of the country, i'll
which it has been your good fortune to be born.
The great Lakes, the llimitable prairics the vast
rivers the noble forests, the clear skies and fer
tile soil of the west, give evidence that nature in
thus fashoning her works on so tremendous a
scale and with such consummatc unity and skill,
has in this portion Of the world some gigantic OBJ
iect to achcvc-some incStimablc scheme of be
nfccncc to man, at present hid from human ken.
The territory of Minnesota includes an area
four times as large as the State of New York, and
occupies position which may not Inappropriate
" be termed the natural capital or geographical
center of the North American Continent. Over
one hundred millions of fertile are here
awaiting the advent of the harrow and the plow.
Myriads of gittering lakes are scattered like jew
els throughout the broad cxpanse, whose waters
as pure the spotcss heart of innocence
Amid these countless lakes and intcrsecting
streams, the Mississippi, the st. Lawrence, the
Red river of the North, and many others of the
larger arteries of America, take their rise This
fact alone stamps Minnesota with the seal of des
tiny for certain as civilization never fails to
track its navgablc rivers to their sources, will
this immense territory at some not very distant
day, contain population of which many an cas-
tern State might well BE- proud. Minnesota is
tbo or bno thn utra1u nm
dire region, from which majority of our noblest
streams derive their source. Occupying the high
est table land in the United States, it slopes grad
ualy towards the equator and the pole, hence its
rivers flow both north and south, serving either
tributaries of the Mississippi, or discharging
their waters after long and arduous journey in
to Hudson Bay. The position of Minnesota there
fore is unrivallcd. Standing at the head of nav
igati N, on both sides Of the most important river
of the globe, the whole great valley, for more
than two thousand miles above and below, will be
ceasciess market for its produce, for all future
time! The resources Of Minnesota are vet in their
infancy, but they are intellectually ercat-naturc
has been lavish of her favors to this fair land
man only has to stretch forth his hand and they
are his. The climate is unsurpassed in salubrity.
1t braces in an extraordinary degree, both the
mental and physical powers of man, adapting him
for the most protracted and vigorous exerton-
other climates may be equally favorable for
s'raising gran'-none can exceed it for ''rasin@
men,. Low spirits and unstrung nerves are I'M
known in the Territory, and disease seldom makes
its appearance, save when cngendcrcd here us
elsewhere, by the false tastes and dcpravcd appe-
of m
sadly out Of practice, and are obliged to turn
spectators and politicians, to keep the mill of
life in motion. The general surface of the coun-
try is that of an undulatins prairie, diversified
with soak openings" and groves, which shade the
banks of its numerous lakes, and supply as much
timber and fuel, as the Increasing demands Of the
country require. Nature has indeed been kind.
She has fitted all things well! The soil is deep.
and enriched with the accumulated mould of
ages. In its wild state, it produces vegetation
of almost tropical luxurancc /; when cultivated.
its yield seems incredible, in comparison with
eastern lands. Why should farmers remain in
active and poor at home, when finer farms and
better markets, with competence and happiness
and health are offered them as ''a gratuiiy'' in
the west? In Minnesota, agriculture will ever
find a munifcent compensation and an attractive
home. There labor is respected and Incidence
regarded rs a vice. There the land is eminently
adapted to the production of every useful vegeta-
BILE and grain and is literally proffered by the
government, to the Industrious poor. Come vc
moneyless and choose yourself farm! The ex-
traordinary success, which has attended the efforts
of cultivation for the past two years, affords the
most gratifying assurance, that Minnesota will
eventually become, one of the finest grain grow
ing regions ever known to man. There too, have
stood for ages, great forests of pine, amid whose
shaggy boughs the wintry winds chant their SOL
emn song. Within these extensive pneries Of the
north, are concealed the materials of many a
city and enterprising town. whose very site as vet
is solitude ITSELF: The pineries of the Upper Mis-
sissippi are the post inexhaustible and valuable
in the world. This circumstance alone would be
sufficient to insure the future importance and
wealth of Minnesota. Every State in the huge
continental valley as far south as the Gulf of
Mexico, will in the fragment of century, order