Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-07-03
Sf(inllesota Glmes,
SATURDAY. JUNE so. 1855.
Editorial Correspondence. -s777-7 - -
THE UP COMMUNICATIONS By THE WAY
NO.
RICE CREEK, June 81, 1856.


ST.. ANrHoNY.-Belore proceeding on our
journey, we propose to speak of our much ne
elected sister city, St. Anthony, and the land in
its immediate neighborhood The city is finely
located and as place Of resort for pleasure
seekers it has but few equals in the Territory.
1t does not possess that busness-like appear
ance which is visible at St. Paul, hut it has a
subducd yet steady movement characteristic of
an older yet much more denscly populated
place. We do not by any means consider this
us initiating against it, but rather in It's favor,
for is far better to move along surely and stea-
div, than like the rocket, 10 shoot up brilliant
ly and then CULVER and die behind the monu-
ments it has erected to lis foolishneSs. St An
thony is on as COOL basis as any city or town
in Minnesota, and our reasons for thinking So
are, that ii has an excellent water power, and
is populated by an industrious, moral people
1t resembles more New England village than
Il city of few years growth, and so il strikes
the eye OF almost every stranger, but this is no
injury TO tit tends rather to give j, stability
There is as much diversity Of architecture in
this city as there is diversity of opinion and va
riety of signs, and yet each house possesses an
air OF neatness and comfort really refreshing
TO those who are obliged to be cooped up in
rooms six by nine, for want of better ones to
live in. The main business of St. Anthony is
manufacturing, and a large proportion of the
inhabitants are engaged either directly or ind-
rectiy in this department. There are some
good stores here, but few public buildings of
any note, and very little taste displayed in the
erection of private residences. We are some-
what surprised that this should be So for the
very location Of the city should induce the citi-
zens TO adorn it with beautiful public and pri-
rate buildings, butt takes time for these things,
and St Anthony is yet in her infancy. The
moment you strike the main road leading into
the city, marked difference from the main
road in St. Paul is perceptible. 1t is low and
sandy, while our own is high and smooth As
you go back into the city the roads are much
higher and much smoother, and the face of the
country presents much more pleasing appear
ance. The country adjacent 10 the city is but
very little settled, arising from the fact that it is
held by spectators, and the soil is much light.
er and we should judge much less productive
than on the West side of the river. There are
a few good farms on the banks Of the Nissis.
slpp, above the city, or the East side of the
river, principally owned by Frenchmen, and
with this exception, but little can be said of the
country back of St. Anthony. The great and
fatal mistake, In our opinion, and one which
has retarded the growth of the city, was the
bringing the land into market before actual set
tiers took possession. AS soon as it fell in.o
the hands of spectators, actual settlers were
driven to other points, and the result is, that
while most of the land on the East side of the
river lies in its primitive state waiting for some
green horn to come and occupy it at an cxhor-
bitant prices, the land on the West side is groan-
ing with over-burthencd crops Wherever the
bony finger of the Spectator points, there mil
dew follows, and hence those who lay out town
sites and build airy castles in the air, should
look well to it that the back country is settled
with a worthy and industrious class of farm.
erS.
On the left Of the road, some four or five
miles from ST. Anthony, is large and COM
modious house, formerly the country seat of
Hon. Henry M. Rice. The location is very
fine, and with few thousand dollars it could
be made delightful place. The country thus
far possesses no features Of interest-benc
mostly oak openings with light soil. Just
beyond the residence alluded to, is the finest
farm between St. Anthony and Rice Creek,
belonging 10 a. M. Fridley. 1t is astonishing
what Government money will do, but he who
has 1t, can branch out and make even the des-
ert to bloom. twill be remembered that Sher-
III Fridley is the man who charged $500 for
hanging an Indian. We wonder if the ghost
of the poor fellow will not breath sirocco blast
over the hangman's fields and blast them forey
er. He ought TO, and if he does not, we feel
very sure that the Almighty sooner or later will
BY the way, has any thing been done about that
County matter, Or has it been hushed up?-
Where's Justice?
We arrived at place called Rice Creek.
about miles from ST. Anthony about noon
liz pidNS tdheS It's IEiilic from Il small stream
which runs through it and the stream derives
its name from the Wild Rice which grows on
It's banks, and was formerly gathered in great
quantities 10y the Indians. There is an excel
lent saw mill here, owned by Messrs Ramsey,
Cook, Champlin and Nininger. Beside this,
there are 10 houses, including three dwellings,
two hotels and one store. A grst mill is soon
to be erected. and other Improvements are in
contemplation. The place was formerly own.
ed by Mr.. Banfll, who sold the mill, houses,
and 700 acres of land last year, for S27, 900!
The Rice Creek House, kept by Mr.. David
Jordon, is good place to stop at, as what you
get to eat here is wholesome and good There
is another hotel in the place, but as we did not
test its merits, we cannot speak of its accommo-
dations. We can't say tina, we are an admirer
Of the country about Rice Creek, although we
did not penetrate it far. The character Of the
soil does not materially differ from that we mass