New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-14
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
THE FEsTIvAIs-EXCURsION OF THE CHICAGO
AND ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD.


~. PAUL, Minnesota Thursday, June :, 1855.
Certainly Of all our rivers, the Mississippi is the most
inI 0sng the picturesque, and the Iuos. beautiful
spoak OF ha; part OF it above the mouth Of the Ms
rouT for the rest have not tcen. Magnitude with tho
moot delicate finish grandeur of outline with exquisite
beauty Of detail the characteristics OF it, scenery
The broad and powerful stream Is broken by frequent
islands all covered with dense foliage which, az this
at least, deccusly fresh and green and borieroi
by lofty bluffs far beautiful than the Palisades Of
tie Hudson rising every fantastic variety of FORM with
abrupt aud craggy rocks in 'front.' but with the most per-
feet green swGrd stretching back The prairie in the rear
or sopng down in lovely hollows and charming hooks
that break the continuity OF h- wall and give
slant change and delight the beholdcr. These hills all
the aspect of old cultivation and tho groves Of oak
that dot their smooth surface, scattered along Their sides
percLod like orchards their submits, have nothing
Wild and favor the Illusion. The rocks that form the
foundation Of the bluffs and chiefly face the river do no.
rise abruptly from the edge, but break cut about
half way the hight 10 tower porponcariy and broken,
in the form of ancient walls castle baicmcnts that
tho very Rhine does historic IN is appear
At little distance, regua. these walls, 50
true often the eliminating point regular tie abrAsures
Of time aud weather tina; is diAcu; to believe tina;
some Of barbarans built these Businesses and long
ao left them TO fall to ruin KS SAID. river so rch
IN all the elements of beautyand there Indian e
ecnd enough for romantic aso, atiou.but, above all,
To river rich in all the elements of powcr We gaze
with wonder at these astonishing fields prepared by ma
Herself where there forests 10 be cleared and
where the first tool of the pioneer the powand at this
soil whose teomng richness and facility OF culture
the future home OF millions There is no region
or earth. think which sustain larger population
than that both sides Of the northern Mississippi
rich soil suited every product OF the temperate zone,
3 :.
genial bat not enervatng frequent streams 10 afford water
power and fuel abundant the earth the great river Tor
highway and railroads which, in orty.cgh hours land
the traveller on the Atantic-wth all these advantages
the entire country become the home Of OF the
freest most intelligent powerful and most indepen-
pendent communities of the world No where else has the
hand of Providence marked ont the foundations Of En-
pic no whore else Is there such TN influx of immigration
from all directions.
Ny last letter left the member. Of party Just dehark
ing GGona for visit To the lead mines Il was my good
fortune there fa into the hands of the Hon. h. b. WASH
prRSE the able and I'd member Of Congress from
that District and Of Mr.. HoUGnIoN. the editor of The
Adroter and Go.ee, and in their company and that Of
the Hon CHARLES HUDSON OF Boston, to drive out some
four miles from the view cwlyoponcd and very
remarkable lead mine. 1t is broken and billy country
like parts of Connecticut in its general features but with
this notable difference that to the very tops OF the hills
the soil free from and is Of exceeding excellence
The crop of wheat here from - 10 % bushels to the acre.
and every vegetable grows in perfection better potatoes
never saw than load passed the way, worth, as
was told but 90 cents bushe while in New-fork we
have to pay - for better ones. Land Immediately
about the town is worth SlOo an 10. farming pur-
poses.
The mine perhaps the richest opened in the
country the vein WAS discovered by accident in clearing
l. 4 flo. but,. In.
e the utmost depth to which the hill has been entered
hc vein has been followed in horizontally not requiring
perpendicular opening of than twenty feet for ven
tIation and for hoist-way fat Tie The vein is
ceedngy rich having yielded with the very little work
aircndy done upon it, and almost without expenditure
some 600 believe to its owners. We went in far
as il had been worked: the metal lay in aud in
great purity; richer show no miner could desire.
Tie j, gcrs0aiap the able Free-trade paper published
Mt Caena gave the very day of our arrival an inter
estng account + the lead mines their extent results and
processes az well Of The other unexplored mineral
riches OF the country. From that article learn that
the mimi of lead, hitherto nero scratching OF
the surface, without science, capital or machinery,
Is about 70 be carried by associations with ample
means and every resource OF the art. ms must
make IN the history OF Gaena, and Il hailed
as such by Tie J6crsoRaa, though believe that some
time ago when The TuBUSE limited, that but for the
decline in the lead trade, produced by the free trade
uocy of 1916 mining would long this have been
RED on upon such large scale with yield transccndins
even that of or l7 Tie JeGcsoaiaa treated that
suggestion with dsrespec There s great reason,
however occ with it its present view OF the matter,
not only OF the benefit the change must confer
upon the lead region but account OF the consumers OF
this important staple who have 10 pay rather exer-
bitantly for it.
After having viewed the mine, party were invited TO
a collation. spread under the trees on the hillside
above the shaft, by the Gberality OF the people OF
the place. Wines OF Ohio and OF France stood
upon the board. Sparkling Cntawba, the fayorite,
and glasses were drained to the health and property of
Galona and it, citizens. Il sorry TO say that total
abstinence not the rule of the Mississippi Valley every
body feeling il to be a sort OF duty temper the Limestone
water of the cou try with little brandy or other equally
ardent correctiye) Then came speeches, first from
Professor SILLrNAS, who, in simple and appropriate
language, eulogsed the beauty and richness Of the West
and dwelt with a calm, scientific enthusiasm upon tho
surprising gifts nature has conferred this wonderful
Valley. To him Capt. GEEE of Galena early settler,
replied briefly and then President FILLMORE, who had
already taken his seat in the carriage leave called
back and said few modest and dignifed words. Judge
PARKER Albany then called out and warmly thanked
our hospabe entertainers or the pleasure they had given
u all. and also thanked the Railroad Company whose
more than imperial munifcence had brought thousand
people from 80 grea. distance behold and enjoy these
scenes Of o.ming natural wealth well as this cordial
kindness Of our friends. Then the procession Of
coaches and wagons went back to the boats where We
found crowd assembled the leyee impatient T. hea-
from their distinguished visitors. NJ. FILLMORE first al
dressed them thanking them for he hearncs vi their
reeeriion ndmirng their cOuntry and rejoicing as all