The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-06-14
Drnlafratit ApritltiqI,at iasrt.
[Correspondencs of, the Ashland. Bnion-lr
LETTER FROM MIEEEsoTA.
Sr. Paul, Minnesota TERRITORY. }


ST.. Paul, Minnesota Territory. !
MAY II, 1854.
Mr.. EDrroR.-I can take no better
time to write you few thoughts and
opinions of Minnesota TerritoFgszthan
the present for while q the rain pours
down in torrents, as. it has done here for
two days past, and with no indications
of ceasing yet, and, too, the wind blow
ing and bowling as if old Eolus had
permitted all of them to- escape from
their mountain caves at once, one feels
in a fit mood for writing a. letter.
. I have seen the elephant, lit is a. very
small one,) the city of St. Paul. It is
situated upon the eastern bank of the
Mississippi river, most of it on Q high
bluff. There is not much business done
here. Three-fourths, I may safelyisay-
of all the business is what is done by
the Hotels and boarding houses, in &C.
commodating the emigrants from the east
that are continually arriving here. A
great deal of freight is always coming
up the river, mainly, provisions for the
soldiers at the little forts, (which are
stationed in various parts of the eoun-
try. I have several times inquired Of
some of the inhabitants, here, what
those soldiers were there for, but as yet
i have not found out. Some. of them
can be seen every day lettering round
the village, passing away the time the.
best way they can. .ra s,a,i.
The Sioux and Chippewa Indians, near
St. Paul, came the other day to.get a.
portion of their supplies, from the gov
ernment. They are about as sharp as
some Yankees you have heard of,aon
money matters. One big fellow came
into room where ! was setting with
three or four others, grinned very pleas
antlY and shook hands with every one of
the company in the room, then told us
he wanted five cents from each, for
shaking hands. There was one boy with
us that understood, their language, and
interpreted for US. After he had got
his money he was very communicative
He showed us seven hands that were
painted on his blanket, saying that vas
the number of; Chippewas be had killed.
But am digressing from what I intend
ed to tell you about. ,,sss-.s.
This territory in some parts has az
good soilsas any of the Statess orr as.
the Stateo Of Ohio. but "a great portion
lof, itsisOery poor soiLse Il do not think,
from all the information that ! have
been able to get, that any Ohio farmer
that owns a farm, can better himself any
by coming here All the good land that
is in, the market is taken up by specula-
tors or others, and under the opinion
that the people from the east are going
to pour in here and settle the country
Immediately, every kind of property is
held at an ,exorb liant price. The truth
of these things have seen demenstra-
ted. I know of dozens that have come
here within two weeks, that have return
ed to their homes, because they did not
like the country, and could not buy
farms without paying nearly as much for
them as in the eastern States. Resi-
dents here and men interested, when
they want persons to buy, tell them,
q why here, three years ago bought a
lot or a farm for three or four hundred
dollars and now I ask three or four
thousand for it." The most of oasesrof
which L have heard, they are still ask
ing that much for it. 7,.f ssls6;ssse-
You are no doubt aware, that none of
the land on the western side of the river
in the territory is in market yet This
gives the poor man, if he wishes to farm
for his living, an excellent chance, and L
believe those are the only ones that can
do we'll here They can go upe any 4of
the rivers and by settling upon, and
making fifty dollars worth of improve
ments can hold l60 acres of land, which
will make them independent. 5i9iY
In this place all kinds of business is
overdone. II is reported to contain
5, 600 inhabitants.naI It is certainly but
little larger than Ashland-uq There are
now four daily papers in1 the dPlaeesall
started within three weeks,i andC four
sweeklies. 0utiof.thelUayg swampFtoWn
lots are held at 800 and 4o9 d6llars0lHA
house not as large s.heaone 6naWhiSh
you have your offces ssbringing over
one Thousand dollars a year. 7ovo 9gsd
lg The climate, ] have no doubts isaFsry
healthy. There is very little sickness,
except from persons just arriving. diiFhe
most disagreeable thing sis1lthe wind,
which blows herelas though all thehest of
the world was supplied from this point.
o. But, I must close. ssY on need d7not
think that am sick of the country or
prejudicedj and slhaEeinatnraHy adiscolor.
ed things a little, for thisIaissothe1 plain
truth, which you will soon Eseel demon