The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-12-29

in this place:
SUPERIOR, Nov. 81, 1855.
am engaged on the U. S. military road
from Superior to the upper Mississippi river.
start to- morrow for St. Anthony, to COM
mence OH the other end and come this way
as far as Mill Lack Lake, where we will re-
main until spring, and during the winter
survey off town on the lake shore. There
will be teams coming up during the winter
with lumber and supplies, preparatory to
building in the spring. We expect to have
600 settlers here by next winter; this will
appear strange to you, but at St. Cloud the
first survey was made year ago, and now
there are 800 in the county.
Boarding is S7 per week, or Sl8 per day /;
flour $l6 and pork $S6 per barrel; batter 80
cents per pound. | will not close this let
ter till | arrive at st. Anthony.
Nov 22d-We started to-day at II o'clock.
Our company consisted of Messrs. Brott &
Wilson, land speculators, of St. Anthony,
Mr.. Rice, delegate to congress from Mime
sofa, three French voyageurs Mr.. Curtis, ci-
vii engineer, and Mr.. Holmes and myself,
assistants Each man carries pack, con-
sistng of one Mackinaw blanket, three days
provisions, one pint cup, one quart camp
kettle Ito make tea in), or an axe. | have
in mine some clothes in addition-weight,
about 80 pounds in all. The snow is about
20 inches deep here, but the weather is not
very cold. We travelled IL miles to day, and
camped on the mineral range, 1900 feet above
1 the lake.
Nov. 23d.-Travelled miles before day
light, and met the railroad surveyors about
8 o'clock this morning We made % miles
to day one of our men got into camp about
10 o'clock at night, and was completely e1-
hausted.
| 24th-We travelled IL miles this A. NJ =,
and took dinner between two creeks, one
running north and the other south, both rap
Il id streams This p. M. the country is very
hilly and barren. with here and there a scrub
by pine. After travelling 8 miles, we came
to Bishops, lumberman's camp, on the
upper St. Croix, GO miles from Superior, and
100 from St. Paul.
25th.-ro day being Sunday and three of
our party not getting in last night, we re-
noon, tired and hungry enough, having gone
without supper or breakfast.
Z 26th.-We walked IL miles, and stopped
at trading post here we found two teams
going down the river in the morning, and
) concluded to wait for and ride with them.
i 27th-Our route was through very hilly
country to- day, with but little timber it is
called pine barrenS.
29th.-We were on the road by four this
, morning, and by noon had travelled % miles
and as our teams stopped there, we had tc
shoulder our packs and try it again on foot
:, We walked IL miles and came to the town
of Taylor's Falls. This is the most hilly
} country ever saw; it is constant success
sion of hills, some of them $50 feet high.
: Nov. 30th.-Yesterday we employed {
t team TO take us as far as Saltwater; here
we stayed over night, and took the stage this
morning, passing through St. Paul, and arri
f wing at st. Anthony in the afternoon. ex
+ pect to remain here a few days, and then g
n up the river to commence the survey. Write
me the news and send some papers. have
heard nothing but rumor that Chase wa
n elected. My respects to all.
Yours affectionately, MELVIN BARLOW.