The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-18
For the Pioneer.
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coNcLupfD.


try is- covered with isolated circular ponds. ]
with gravel beds, yaryin from fifty yards to
d mile in diameter. and from one to twenty
feet deep. At least One fourth of the countr.s
is occupied with them Some of the larger
are fringed with timber, and have numerous
boulders on their borders. s.s.a.....4
Passing over twenty miles Of gently rolling
p airie, interspersed with numerous ponds. we
reach the Des Moines river, which has a swift
current and is from to ten feet in depth, and
FROM 20 to 120 feet wide. Timber, principally
Of oak, ash, and hickory, is abundant on its
banks, and, as the soil is good, it offers many
attractions to the settler. Ten miles further,
over much the same character of country, We
cross the boundary line between Iowa and
Minnesota, and enter region of | rger lakes.
1t this vicinity are Spirit; Okamanpidan, and
Omanhu lakes. These are large and beauti-
full sheets Of water, from six to ten miles long,
and from one to five broad, full of delicious
fish, and bordered with timber. Around Lake
Okamanpidan is the largest boy of timber,
between the Missouri and the Minnesota, on
our route.
In the wet season this division will be diff
ficult for heavily loaded wagons, as much of
it will be covered with water; but in the sum-
mer, or during the frosts Of winter, it will be
passible without any work. .,-..,..s..zs
From the boundary line to the end of this
division. at the Chaniushkah river, the coun-
try is rolling prairie, with timber generally
near. There are many ponds, connected by
marshes. which, to make the road passable at
all seasons, will require embankments, and
small culverts or bridges.
The Chaniushkah is one of the numerous
branches of the Mankato or Blue Earth riv-
er. Where we crossed, it is small stream,
fcrdable, with gravelly bottoms, and timber in
abundance on its banks.
Numerous boulders, varying in size from a
pebble to mass of 80 cubic yards, are scat
tered over the prairie and around the borders
of the lakes. They are not sufficiently
numerous, however, to interfere with the cul-
tivatiou of the soil, which is ricn, and offers
many inducements to the emigrant, particular
ly in the vicinity of the Okamanpidan and
Omanhu lakes, and upon the Des Moines and
Chaniuskah rivers.
This division is 81 miles and 1906 yards in
length, and the estimated cost of construction
is 1874 SO per mile. n-
Fourth Division.
Leaving the Chaniushkah, we passed over
nine miles of high rolling prairies, gravelly,
and interspersed with numerous circular shall
low ponds. Here We crossed Peach river,
which is little stream, taking its source in q
small lake of the same name, and after mean
dering the prairie for fifteen miles, making q
very slight indentation on its surface, it emp
ties into the WattOnwan. From Peach river
we pass over a rich level prairie country, in-
tersperced with disconnected ponds, Tor twelve
miles, when we reach the Wattonwan river.
This stream is well wooded, and, at our cross
ing, was forty feet wide and three deep. Be-
fore crossing this stream, we ran line along
its southern bank, and crossing the Mankat0
river near its junction with the Wattonwan,
we followed along its eastern bank, over u
dry, level prairie, until we reached the hills
| bordering the Lesneur river. In descending
these we had great difficulty in preserving our
maximum grade OF 5 deg; and also, after
crossing this stream the approach to the Min
nesota river was very rugged. We therefore
determined to return, and endeavor more
practicable route on the western side of the
Mankato. Going back twenty-five miles, and
crossing the Wattonwan o few miles above
its mouth, we followed along the western side
Of the Mankato, over level prairie, intersper-
sed with numerous ponds and marches, to the
first bench of the Minnesota river. The de-
scent to the second bench one hundred fee:
below. is easy, requiring very little side cut.
! ting; thence over dry and rocky country,
thinly studded with scrubby oak for three
miles, to the Mankato, which we crossed near
! its mouth; and thence over low bottom for
mile, to the village of Mankato, where this
division terminates.
As this last route proved to be the shortest
and least expensive, we adopted it.
After passing over 28O miles of prairie un-
occupied by single white settler, we were
agreeably surprised to indl at the mouth OF
the Mankato fourishing settlement of 200
intelligent and energetic countrymen. Their
village, styled "Mankato City," is on the cas-
tern bank of the Minnesota at the Great
Bend; and, being in the heart of rich agri-
cultural region and on river navigabe for
steamboats, three or four months in the year, it
possesses all the elements OF future prospect
| ty and Importance. A few Sioux Indians still
fingered about their ancient village, but the
mass of their tribe had gone to their new
home further up the Minnesota.
| The Mankato and its numerous tributaries
being generally well timbered, and flowing
through o country unsurpassed in the salubri-
ty of its climate, and the productiveness of its
soil, offers great attractions to the enterprising
farmer.
This division is Al miles and LAO yards in
length. The estimated cost Of construction is
1928 80 per mile.
Fifth Division. ..
Leaving the village Of Mankato,we followed
along the second bottom of the Minnesota riv
er, over dry, level prairie for eleven miles, tt
Babcock's mill. These bottoms are from one
to three miles wide, and about so feet above
the river. Along the bases of the bluffs the
soil is very rich, but towards the river q xtra
tum of sandstone mixed with lime lies very
near the surface, which, although very favora
bic for road, is but little suited to agricultu