The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-10-07

: Letter frsn Lake superior.
Description Of La Poinse---A Cue Operations. --Re1.
sion Of the PaplA--An hsdian GafA1ing-Aypsav.
anes Of D11eas Ba.ds-A Treaty vdk Tie
C1ppesras-As Importance, &C.. Fl.
La Po1NrE, Sept. II, 1854.
Since my last hurried letter, have been in
this comparatively ancient town-so antiqua-
ted, in fact, that the dank MOSES of time
clothe the bark which forms the covering of
the houses of older standing. Every thing is
quite different from the usual appearance of
American towns. Established, in the first
place, as trading post, far in the interior, the
principal buildings still preserve their original
position, fronting on an interior quadrangular
court, while the pickets, no longer a Tnotec-
ton, rot quietly in the line of outworks. From
this central point, to what is called the old
fort, winding road follows for some distance
the shore of the harbor, and is lined with the
aforesaid bark dwellings, of the hardy half
breeds, who form nearly the whole population
Of the island, and carry on the fisheries estab-
lished here.
The chief resident of the place, is one
AUSTRIAN, Jew, who, at the public sale,.
bought the whole town in block of 100
acres, at the upset price, the other residents
not being aware of the sale, or having the
means Of purchase. The indignation of the
villagers was great when they found they were
in his power; but he gave most of them the
title to the lots on which their houses stand,
and allayed the rising storm. The land in
question was cultivated by the American Fur
Company, but has been allowed to lie vacant,
and is again covered with underbrush Of seve-
raj years growth, save in the immediate vicin-
ity of the village and of the old Fort. This
cannot, however, be seen from the water.
Few places have more inviting appearance
from a distance, than La POinte, whether
viewed from either entrance, or from the cen
ter Of its magnificent harbor. Its position on
an island, must prevent its ever becoming a
very large place; but have no doubt that it
will be place of considerable resort, to spend
the hot summer months l here heard, morn
ing and evening, the matin and vesper bell of
the Roman Catholic Church, to which denom-
ination the majority of the inhabitants belong.
There is beside this, a Presbyterian Church
also.
The chief source of interest here, however,
was in watching the various bands of Indians
here assembled for their payment. Among
fbap, 7 T boI
previous wandcrings. The best and cleanest
looking band is from Grand Portage Harbor,
in Northern Minnesota. Their chief, Saganc-
shsh, is quite an intelligent looking old Indi-
an. Mr.. McCuloch the trader whom men,
toned in my former letter as established there,
tells me that several of the band can read and
write but they came here to receive few
dollars payment, when they could make five
times as much by fishing at home. To-day
the Crow Wing band, with Hole-it-the- Day
10y far the best looking Indian l have seen
at their head, have arrived. as also a band
from the Wisconsin river. Neither of these
have their payments made here, but have come
to great council, to treat for the cession of
the remaining portion of your beautiful Terri
tory. The Commissioners are, your delegate
in Congress, HENRY NJ. RICE, Col. WILSON,
and Mr.. NEWTON, of Cleveland.
1t is very desirable that the land north of
the st. Louis river should be thrown open to
settlement, as l am persuaded the mineral at
fractions alone will soon render it one of the
most prosperous portions Of the Territory.
The unexpcctedncss of the treaty has caused
complaint among some of the traders, which
class have the Indians more or less under their
control. have little doubt, however, that it
will be for the advantage of the Chippewa
tribe to make the treaty ut once. A prepara-
tory council will probably take place on Mon
day next, but you will likely hear the result
of the treaty before this reaches you. AS
soon as learn this 1 shall be off for the East.
VoYAGEUR.