The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-07-14
Correspondence of the Boston Atlas
Letter from st. Paul.
ST. PAuL, {Minnesota Territory
June Is. 1855.

much that had read Of the beauty of the scene
ry or the Upper Mississippi. the extraordinary
fertility OF the soil of the Territory. its many
beautiful lakes, thriving towns. and partic,i-
larly thisyoung giant city of the North West.
was realized. Yet l was disposed to doubt.
like many others much OF what was predicted
OF the future. as to the growth of the place. and
| increase in the price of lands adjacent to. and
real estate in this city. / considered prices
had reached by speculation the culminatipr
| point, and that reaction and fall Of priccs
| would follow. The facts in this letter will
| show L1y error in judgment so far though am
! more inclined to think check to the rapid rise
OF prices must soon come.
The territory Of Minnesota contains 6,G0O
square miles. and li,s north 43 deg. 80 min.
north latitunc, extending TO the northern beun-
dairy of the United States 1t embraces a por-
tion OF the north western shore of Lake Supe
| rior, and. as the map shows. possesses an un
paralelled number OF lakes and ponds OF clear
water which are well stocked with fish. 1t is
also we'll watered by four large rivers. and in
Vulnerable tributary and small streams. Its
surface is OF the most varied and beautiful char
acter. Ranges of mountains or bluffs from
800 to 500 feet high line the shores of the prin-
cipal rivers. heir smooth. slopiug sides covered
with grass and trees, the latter sometimes
densely packed in groves. but generally grow
ing sngly or in small groups. and betg mostly
oaks. naples, aud other hard woods the foliage
is pleasing TO the eye. The bluffs have occa-
sionally the lime rock out cropping in forms
which appear like old rained castles or extern
sive fOrtresses. The whole landscape resembles
highly cultivated country. and in natural
beauty may be compared iavorahly with the
scenery OF the Rhine, the Elbe and the Danube.
Back from the rivers, the country is a constant
succession Of rolling prairie and levels. which
sometimes extend along the rivers, and present,
even in their primitive state. a scene Of truly
pastoral beauty. But my limits will not Nper-
init me to dwell on a description which would
require the whole Of your co unns, and will
refer your readers 10 Colton's map of the Ter
ritory. just pablished. 1t is we'll established
that the soil is very favorable to wheat and
other grains and also that potatoes and gar
den vegetables are very prolific. Potatoes
yield commonly 800 bushels to the acre. and
were sold in St. Paul this pring at ST. per
bushei Corn yields so to 100 pushcls per acre.
The wild grass amply supplies food for stock
which is raised to great profit here. Wood is
worth So cord. standing SIS in ST. Paul. and
So to S4 on the Mississippi river.
Most of the fruits of the New England States
have been found to thrive .includging the grape
But what is the most remarkable about this
favored land is the climate, which for health
rivals and even exceeds California. Many are
resorting here from the different States, their
health impaired by sudden changes of temper
ature, which Minnesota is free FROM give on
the subject an extract from recent Pamphlet
q ess Of Minnesota Territory" and its truth is
attcsted by many friends have residing here.
The climate of Minnesota is free from the sud-
den variations o! temperature TO which most
other latitudes are subjected. In winter, owing
to the stiffness Of the air and the absence OF
moisture from the atmosphere, the cold is less
perceptible. than in moderate climates. where
the wind is high and the air raw and damp
Snow remains OH the ground until the thaWs
of spring. but never falls to great depth. as
in the New England aud middle States. Naviga-
tion of the river is generally suspended by the
25th of ofNOvcmber. and resumed 10y the first OF
April-in the mean time the smooth surfaces
of the lakes and streams become icy hghwa ays
oftravel. and the Mis- issippi opposite st. Paul
presents the appearance OF gay and crowded
thoroughfare. Ice is cut for summer use pure
and clear as crystal. and liz cubical masses,
whose sides average thirty inches. In spring
no late frosts occur, the whole country is
clothed as by magic, in robes Ct the greenest
vendure, and II thousand varieties OF wild fow-
ers enamel the hill side and prairies. The
summer months are exceeding pleasant. The
days are warm and bright, with gentle breeze
at all times, and the nights cool and pleasant. |
In midsummer there is usually day or two of
intesely hot weather, Oh accOut of a meredian
sun beaming through clear, brilliant atmos-
phere. Thunder storms arc frequent, occur
ring mostly at night
Autumn in Minnesota is the most charming
season of the year. A sOt breeze rests on ev-
cry object, mellowing the distant landscape, |
dreamy in the lingering sunshine OF the dying
year. ThI ough the day the air is warm and
dry at night it is COOL and bracng. Little
rain falls. and early trosts are unknown"
! find by observation vegetables ripen here
as early as in Ohio, and Consequently two or
three weeks earlier than IN Massachusetts,
Wild strawberries were picked this year the
22d of May. Hovey's seedlings rpened about
a fortnight since, and now sell in st. Paul
for 20 cents per quart. Green peas currants and
goo: cherries have matured on the farm of Mr..
a. ID. Foster, st. Anthony. The season this
year is an uncommonly dry one, though in the
soil and fresh and grean looking vegetation. it
is not percept. bic to strangers eye, and is
only seen in the very low stage OF water OF the
rivers and small lakes. There has not been up
to this time rainy day since October last /:
no spring rains since the sudden disappearance |
of the snow, except a few showers. Vegeta |
ton. from the refreshing dews and the natural |
moisture of the soil. has not yet suffered. and |
did not share the fatal effects of last years |
drought in the other States. Yet much loss |
is being experienced from the low stage Of VA |
ter in the rivers which prevents the lumber /
coming to mark +. and impedes the navigation |
of tie boats. More thar 1900 houses would |
have been built this season in st. Paul and |
towns but for this unusual spring.
The emigration hitbcr has doubled this year |
and.besides re ular line of 6 large mail steam
ers from Galena, andsome 80 or 40 others on |
the Mississippi employed this season in bring |
ing emigrants, large number are coming with |
teams from the neishborng States. For three |
weeks past at La Crosse, on the Mississippi an |
average OF 30 teams have crossed the ferry |
daily bound for this territory with large mum
bers of cattle. A wagon contains generally
the wife and children, with their household
goods, coops of poultry and pigs lashei behind.
while the husband with his grown sons (if he
have any drive the team aud cattle,x~These /
also the Germans. NOrwegians, /
Swedes, and other foreigners who come up the |
river mostly SETTLE or technically speaking. |
~squat" upon the unsuryeyed and unoccupied |
lands.in order to getthem by pre- cmption when |
surveyed by Government at Sl.25 per acrc-
Others purchase farms near, or town lots in st.
Paul at large advance on original cost
There is yet to the north of this city land al
ready surveyed that can be. entered Oct ought
at Government prices. but none of good quail
ity within 80 m les. -.
he prices Of land from 1 to 10 miles from
the city rangefrom4 I to s 10 an acre. according
to quality and distance, and l9 TO 20 miles, Q
to 81 Without the city limits the choice land