Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-05-01

the yield being always heavy and of superior
quality, weighing several pounds more to tho
bushei than oats produced further south. Corn
is not 80 certain crop, yet, lastseaso1, dry asst
being of the white and yellow species, and fully
maturing before the approach Of Frost which rare
ly happens before the 10th Of 6eptember-gener-
ally later than i occurs much further south.
Potatoes, melons, and vegetables of every de-
scription, as well all esculent roots, grow quick
and sometimes to an enormous size. The yield of
all is great. 1t is the native home of the cram
berry, which is quite an article of commerce.
The market for all agricultural produce is at
present at hand, and the following prices have
generally been sustained since my residence there,
to wit Wheat 81 so, corn ST., oats so cents, po-
tatoes so cents per bushel, though last fall tsus-
ands of bushels were sold at the wharf for the
lower country at Is cents per bushel. OF this
vegetable it is certain no country can produce
better article or in greater abundance. Three
large military posts, the Chippewa, Wnnebago
and Sioux agencies, the heavy outfits 10 the Pine
ries, the large towns and livery stables (the finest
in the Wcst,) the cxhausting amounts required by
| the annual rush of immigrants to tine territory,
will furnish home consumption ut excellent pri-
ces for all the grain and produce our farmers can
raise for years to come.
The peculiar resources of Minnesota are its
vast pineries, copper, mineral, and Indian annui-
ties, the latter amounting to about 100000 an
nually, disbursed over our frontier, and which
! speedily finds its way into the hands Of our
terprising traders.
The people of the Territory, now amounting
to nearly 10000, are principally from New Eng
land, the Middle, and the North Western States.
They intelligent, Industrious, and full of en-
ergy, and, in all the attributes and qualities of
head and heart essential to public private pros
perity, they quite up to the spirit and progress
of the age.
Ample provision has been made for education
~, tho iyfa and
thirty sixth section of the public land in Mime
sofa, and two entire townships, have been conse-
Grated and set apart by Congress for the promo-
ton of education in Minnesota. This munfcent
bequest meets with cordial second and hearty
CO. operation in the spirit and exertOns of our
people. There is no scarcity of school facilities
| in any ncghborhOd, village, town, or city.
There arc at present fine opportunities for set
tiers to secure good farms any where in the Ter
rtory. BY special law of Congress, and appli-
cable only to Minnesota, man can stake off any
| where, in advance OF the public surveyor, his
one hundred and sixty acres. and acquire right
of presumption to it, by which he is enabled to
cure a most valuable tract Of land ut 81 25 per
acre, without risk or hazard.
The proper time to emiSratc to Minnesota is in
the spring, when the settler will have before him
ample time and opportunity to select him farm
and home, AMI to make some progress in i'm
proving before winter.
The Mississippi is usually open to the falls of
St. Anthony from the 4th to the 18th of April
From Louisville or Cincinnati, by the way of Chica-
60 and Galena, the trip to st. Paul will be made
this season in three and half or four days, at a
cost of 800 per passenger.
As this brief article is only intended to answer
the many inquiries daily made concerning the re-
sources, soil, climate ana health of Minnesota it is
necessarily general, and many details Of an inter-
csting character especially the minute description
of the many thriving towns and villages in differ
ent paris of the Territory, must be omitted. |
will, however, add that st. Paul, which is the
capital, has population of more than 1000, fine
churches excellent schools three rst-class hotels,
and generally all the furniture and appointments
of we'll re- ulated city. st. Anthony, about
eight miles above ard upon the same side of the
Mississippi, has apopulat;on Of 5000. This town
is connected by splendid wire suspension bridge
with Minneapolis, the opposite side Of the falls,
both having aggregate population of about 4,
600. Here too, is the University of Minnesota, an
institution amply endowed by grant of two town
ships of land. Both of these towns have display
cd from the beginning, most laudable public
spirit in their support of schools, churches, and
in the erection of fine hotels for the accommOda-
ton of the thousands that annually repair there
for health, pleasure, or business.
a line of boats will run to the foot of the falls
this year. Saltwater is also prosper Gus town at
the head of Lake St. Crox, and has population
of about 200 inhabitants.
Very respectfully yours,
b. b. MEEKER.
| To,;.y;llo ~ N,rol O)J lVsS