Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-06-20

the Union and the world, to this far off
Territory of the North West, few words
may not be uninteresting from one Of
the many fortune-seekers from Trumbull.
From Cleveland westward found my
self in heavily loaded train of cars, and
nearly-eEsry passenger Was an emigrant
to the West. And as we passed through
the vast regions of Michigan and Illinois,
(which certainly offer strong induce
ments to those in search of q western
home, the number did not seem to di-
minish /; and at Chicago, the turning-ofF.
place for Wisconsin bound, the number
diminished 90 little that more cars were
needed from that place to Galena than
before. At the latter place undoubtedly
many stopped or crossed over to Iowa.
but still two large boats, which left that
night for st. Paul. were fairly crowded
to overhowing with passengers.
The river scenery from Galena up, is
by far the most pleasant of any on
the Mississippi. At this season of the
year it is delightful. You are not once
ont of sight of islands. which are all COW
cred with verdure, as are also the banks
and high bluffs of the river. These
bluffs are very high sometimes three
or four hundred feet. The scenery in
the vicinity of lake Pipin surpasses thai
of any other point, and in beauty e1cells
anything l ever saw. The lake is two
or three miles wide, and thirty miles
long, and as we came up, its surface was
as smooth as glass. A great place for
fish, this Lake Pipin. You see them all
around leap out of water, displaying
their full length, sometimes two or three
feet.
Maiden Rock is the most attractive
point in Lake Pipin. 1t is 400 feet high,
and the upper half perpendicular, and
receives its name from an Indian legend.
An Indian maiden was desired by her
parents to marry brave of the tribe,
and her wedding day was set. She low
ed a daring white hunter, and resisted
the desire of her parents. Finding her
resistance was of no avail, as the In
dams were encamped in the vicinity Of
of this rock, she climbed to the top, and
in loud voice commenced to reproach
her parents below. Seeing her deter
mination, they entreated her, and told
her she might marry whom she chose.
but it was all Of no avail. She sung her
death dirge, and leaped from the fearful
height.
Well, in due time we arrived at st.
Paul, which beats all, so far, in its
growth having now about 5000 in
habitants. 1t is a very pretty place
slightly, healthy, with good hotels, land
good prices, of course, and rapidly inn
proving in size and beauty.
This place (St Anthony,) is situated
IA miles by river, and 9 miles by road
sbeve st. Paul. Between the two places
are some of the incest farms I have ever
seen. There is to be great city here
at St. Anthony Falls there is no avoid
ing it. This is the only really practical
place for railroad bridge over the "Fath-
er of Waters" and to say that there will
eventually be railroad from here to the
Pacific is just as probable as to say there
will be one at all. And then the water
power here, would build a city any
where in America. Already is nearly
one-half the channel of the river in one
place occupied by gigantic saw mill
running eight or ten saws night and day.
And Touring mills, &C., are now draw
ing their power from these Falls. In =
word, the water power is incalculable-
can be used all along for two or three
miles. On the opposite side of the river
the town building is called Minneapolis,
and is beautifully located for a large
place. Eventually the whole neighbor-
hood of the Falls will be one big city
Already wire suspension bridge spans
the river-the first bridge ever built over
the Mississippi. twas partly destroyed
by wind this spring, but will be repair
ed again in few weeks.
/ have not seen so much of the coun-
try here as 1 hope to ere long, but 1 have
seen enough to convince me that this j.
ga great. country" 1 unhesitatingly
say that there isas good soil for farming
here as there is in America, that there
is more woodland than in any of the
Western prairie states, and that there ID
lumber enough up country " to wear
out several generations of the pinery
boys" in the getting Of it. l suppose,
also, that the climate is as pleasant in
the winter, (the cold being steady, as
in Northern Ohio with its changes. !
was much surprised at the rapid advance
which has been made here in socie-
ty-at the schools and churches, and
newspapers, (sure indication of fine So
ciety, there being IS or IA in the Ter
ritory, and others projected-5 of them
daily. The people here are mostly east
ern born-a great many lumbermen from
Maine and New Hampshire. The soci-
ETY. is much better in that respect than
il is in Wisconsin, Illinois or Iowa.