The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-09-30
MONDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER a5 1854
SOuth-Eastern Mlnue sofa,

iting and thoroughly exploring this beautiful
and fertile portion of our Territory. but as yet
our duties at home have never allowed us to
get further South than the valley of Cannon
river. We have also found that the settlers
many of whom are just as able to WELD pen
as any editor in the Territory-have generally
neglected to do their duty to themselves and
their country, in respect to communicating to
the press descriptions of the country and
accounts concerning it's settlement.
But the South Eastern Minnesotians have
now an editor of their own. who appears thor
Oughly acquainted with the country around
him, and we hope often to transfer to our col
umns articles of the following character from
the Winona Argus:
ed by the Blue Earth. Mississippi and Mineso
ia rivers-the two latter magnificent naviga-
BILE streams-whilst the Cedar, Wapsipinicon
Little Iowa, Root, Whitewater, Embarrass or
ZOmbro. Cannon Vcrmillion, La Scur md 9TH
er rivers oflcss note, all rise within its borders
and flow some in one, and some in other dir
cctOns. In short, we challenge the world for
country more abundantly supplied with wa
ter for the various uses of the farmer, manufac-
turer and boatman. or the quality of the wa
ter gushing from the countless springs which
contribute to fill the green banks of SO many
beautiful rivers. the bare mention of the fact.
that most OF the brooks run swiftly away over
moss covered beds, and are filled with that
most delicious fish, the specklcd or mountain
trout, is thought to form a sufficient comment
Yet, though we have our countless SPRING.
thousands of pure, cold limpd brooks. and so
many miniature finland seas" no slough of
stagnant water can be seen. On the contrary.
there lakes are almost universally filed with
living water. being in most instances mere
enlargments of the streams. Their beds are
usually firm and hard, whilst their woodland
banks produce most luXuriant growths of wild
shrubbery and flOwcrets Ofmany cOlOrs, oders
and kinds. So that instead of forming an OBJ
lection to the country. many Ofthe most health
iul, enchanting and poctry-inspiring spots in
the Territory are found in the immediate Vi
cinity of these little lakes.
One other fact which certainly contributes
materially to render Minnesota more desirable
to the farmer than is even the far-famcd .suck-
cr State. is that our prairie here, the centre of
which is more than seven miles from good tim
Der; whilst in Illinois and other prairie States
the lack of timber at convenient distances. rem
der many OF their richest prayieS almost total
ly worthless. Nor should our prairies-tbe
soil of which, in almost every instance, is a
very rich, sandy loam-be objected to on ac-
count of their seemingly over sandy character
On the contrary. the cmigrant should remcn-
Der that this is but one of the wise provisions
of Nature. giving us a warm and sandy soil
and thus adapting it to the shortness of our
crOp-grOwing season.
In many OF those regions, dcnOmi mated "prai-
ric countries much pains taking is necessary
and much time consumed in making selections
of prairie, timber, water. &c. But in Mime
sofa, generally, particularly here in the south
east portion, all the cmigrant has to do, is to
call halt at one of the countless springs and
small prairics-such as he may deem most eli
gible and sightly-take his oxen from the wa
gOn, put them to bis pillow, go to breaking. put
in his seed. at libitum erect buildings. enclose
his field whilst his crop is growing. and then
and thcn-look into the old family mirror and
behold for the first time, perhaps, a free and in
dependent sovereign.
The editor is also in cxtacics with his town
and the beautiful prairie Gold Wabasha's) upon
which it is located. Here is description of it,
with a big fish storyincludcd:
The surface of this handsome prairie, upon
which our embryo city stands is slightly rol-
rolling or gently undulating, and has nerer
been hnOtrn to OrerfiOU; and its soil, though
quite sandy, is. nevertheless, surprisingly pro
ductivc. Several of our farmers, whose farms
are in the immediate vicinity OF town. will I'M
dOubtedly produce this season, of corn 50, of
wheat 35. of oats 50, and of potatoes 400 bush
els per acre.
Immediately in the rear of town, is lovely
lake. about two miles long by half mile in
width, supplied with cold spring water, rising
up from its bed, or gushing forth from the sides
OF the bluffs near by. 1t is one of the most
handsome sheets of water in the terrtory-bc-
in raInn nj ha,,
banks. Its outlet. which is about rod wide,
runs off rapidly and emptics into the river some
three miles belOw-thus affOrding the valua
bic advantage of cold, swift-running brook.
mcanderng diagonally across the prairie
Could you, dear reader, but sail out upon the
placid bosom of this lovely little lake. on one
of those most bright and delightful nights pc
culiar to Minnesota autumn, and enjoy its
ccOl inviSOrating breeze. you could but unite
with us in opinions Gifts surprising beauty
But aside from its beauty, it is valuable for its
millions of choicest fish. Some astonishing but
true, fish stories; are connected with this lake.
We will. however, relate but one. which we
know to be true. viz: That year ago last
winter, Rev. III. S. Hamilton, and his son,
caught, from this lake, in a few hours time,
near two horse wagon load of fish. of so fine
a size and kind that he took several barrels of
them to his friends in Dubuque. in Iowa. who
pronounced them the most delicious fish they
had ever tasted.
Unlike many of the towns along the Missis-
sippi, the main channel hugs close to eur
shOre-our harbor is natures complete and
perfect work, whilst our wharf or lcvee, for
near three miles, present as gradual, dry and
smooth Il grade as could be desired--nO clear
ing out, no dredging. no pIe-driving, no exca-
waiting nor filling up either upon streets or le-
wee, no wharf. nor wharf-boat to build.
Such is WinOna, a two year-old'' town, the
County seat of WinOna County, and in which
the L. S. Land Office for the .WinOna Land
District is located and now about to be open
Cd With all the advantages of so favorable a
position upon the river. with population al
ready Amounting to several hundred souls and
backed as it is. by country of unsurpassed fer
tiity and beauty, who can doubt but that a
large town must very soon and great city
eventually grow up here
The Church lately demolished had service
yesterday in a building on Jefferson street orr
gnalIy built for their use. but now in posses
sion of the Baptsts. Very solemn and mourn