The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-15

A SENSIBLE MAN. - Mr.. Pease, of the POUCH
keepsie Telegraph, who was one of the Excur
SION editors, writes to his paper as follows o.
st. Paul and its surroundings:
NEAR Rock ISLAND,
Mississippi River, June TO- 1854.
DEAR READERS - Presuming it will he no
disappointment to you if this letter be not dat
cd from ST. Paul. Minnesota, as promised in our
last, we have deferred writing it until after Wis
iting that and other interesting localities upon
the Mississippi. Saint Paul, you are aware,
is the Capital of Minnesota Territory, lying
about twelve hundred miles WEST, and about
three degrees NORTH of Duchess County. 1t is
pleasantly located on the east shore of the Mis-
sissippi, at the head of navigation. Unlike
most other places on this river the city of st.
Paul is built upon quite high ground. overlook
ing very beautiful country. which in its gen.
eral appearance is more nearly like the East
than any found after leaving New York State
The city is divided into what is termed the up
per and the lower city, from the fact that one
portion Of it is much more elevated than the
other, though the distinction is now useless as
the space that used to exist between the two
divisions is nearly all built over.
In point of beauty ST. Paul will compare ia
vorably with any Of the smaller Eastern cities,
while in respect to enterprise and business she
far Outstrips them. Building lots are worth as
much there, if not more. than in Poughkeepse,
and find purchasers a great deal more readily.
About the city lays one of the finest agricultu-
raj districts in the world. and from the Falls of
st. Anthony can be derived water motive
power unequalled for manufacturing purposes
But manufactures should and will FOLLOW, not
precedc agriculture. it would do the hearts of
many of our Duchess county farmers good to
look out over the splendid untitled land with
soil as rich and fertile as can be found in their
most carefully cultivated gardens. that lies
spread out in broad green. untencCd acres be-
tween the city of St. Paul and the Falls of ST.
Anthony. and this is but Il small section of Il
Territory which, we are told, abounds in most
inviting agricultural sections, as also it is rich
in the most useful minerals.
six years ago. said Gov. German, in a
speech in the new capitol, 'whcre this beautiful
ediicc now stands, was an Indian settlement
and but few years earlier, scarce acre of
ground was owned and cultivated by the white
man." SO rapid has been the growth of St. Paul
And as one would readily infer the population
is not one of ndolent habits. nor ignorant, eli
thcr in mental calturc nor the decOrum and
proprietics of polite life. Al grand ball Civ
en- in the capitol in the evening, the youth and
beauty of ST. Paul were assembled in large
numbers and in point of refinement grace.
good manners. and especially in extravaganza
of dress they would compare favOrably with
the same number gathered upon a similar oc-
casion any where east. In fact it is only the
energetic, Industrious and shrcwd who 60 to
these far western settlements, and as they who
go there do SO for the nearly sole purpose of
making fortune, there are but few idle per-
sons seen.
1t may be that the price of land. and cspe-
cially of building lots in st. Paul are at present
little artificial, yet there be no doubt that
it will one day be IA great, wealthy city, aud
certainly with the advantages which large cities
possess, it would be a most desirable place for
residence, for nature has done not a little to
make it attractive. Beautiful scenery. good,
healthy climate, most excellent water, rich
soil, noble river, to bear its products thous-
ands of miles away to the south, and the Falls
Of st. Anthony few miles away, ever to be a
spot of interest to lure those who are travel
ing for pleasure. all these are attractions which
tend to invite eastern emigration to st. Paul,
and no price or rivalry can rob her of them.