The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-04-14

Fifteen years ago we passed up the Mississlp-
pi river. after experiencing great delay and diff
fculty in chartering boat fl r that purpose at
St. Louis. A few log houses on rugged, un-
couth hill side, then marked the site OF Keokus.
A gold mine i'm the rear OF it would have been
little temptation for rs to have located in so
unpromising village. Fort Madison was
clean looking town with few good houses.
Burlington the late Capital, was the most -four
ishing as the largest tOwn in the State, and pre-
scented several fine buildings. Muscatine was
small place and very unprepossessing. A few
houses in the rear of a dump of cotton wood
trees. with the unfinished and gigantic Le
Claire House towering above them. constituted
Davenport. then, as now, the most beautiful
town on the Upper Mi sissippi. Galena was
fourishing lead shipping point. and presented
business-like appearance. though occupying
an awful site to contemplate. Dubuque the
most northern town. except the ancient French
settlement of Prairie du CHEN, was small
though thriving place with basis of lead for
Its prosperity. S. Paul was nowhere! Not
marx to distinguish it. nor to attract attention
to The spot upon which young city has since
sprung up, supporting four daily papers and
upon whose levee upwards of forty-three IL ou.
sand passengers have been landed within the
year.
These are few of the changes that pass be-
fore the kaleidoscope of the mind at a single
VIC" up ouu uOWI tue SIcut MiSStSSlpD river.
When we cast our mental vision over the inte-
rior. in the towns that have sprung up and ths
thckly settled prairies, the change is equally
apparent We see progress written upon every
thing around us, and while we look upon .e
prosperity which marks our eautful Iowa, we
wonder that so many are contented to toll
among the rocks and stumps of the exhausted
soil OF Eastern States. to worry the earth into
the production of sufficient b:eadstuffs to fur
nlsh them scanty subsistence Or why men
at the East give their time and means to en-
Payments, by the steady prosecution OF which
| they exc out bare livelihood. when so broad
a theatre presents itself at the West for the al
most unlimited extension o. their avocations.
! The channels OF communication being OPEN
ed we may this season anticipate heavy access
sion to our population. Thousands visited our
state last year who will return this wear to
make it their abode, and other thousands are
. coming to secure hOmesteads before bringing
| their families to the West We are in recent
of letters that tell us to prepare for this access
sion to our population. One received and this
moment perused. say, 60 You may look for large
additions TO your state population from the
| New England states this season. The fame Of
Davenport has reached us frCm aiar aud the
eyes OF many are turned thitherward With eager
anticipation" One hundred and fifty persons
have all eady been landed here by ii single
train. all bound for the broad and now snow
cove: cd prairies of Iowa. a person who looks
upon them now will see our praries much az
they appear ed fifteen years ago but come few
weeks later in the season and You will see
rich. dark loan turned up to the warm rays of
the sun, that will make you long to become the
cultivatOr Of such sOil.-Dor. Ca..