The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-04
The Pioneer Correspondence.
NO. 6.
Notes relating to the Minnesota Vale,
concluded, and something said abOu
the Orphans Home at Saint Paul.

NO. 6.
Notes relating to the Minnesota Valley
concluded, and something said about
the Orphans Home at Saint Paul.
Having given, in previous numbers, some
brief notes of travel up the Minnesota Valley
it may not be amiss to say something general
ly in relation to the whole extent of the route
we passed over. And first the River road, as
1t is called, in contradistinction to what has
hitherto been called the Dodd road, which
keeps back from the River, runs entirely thro
prairie from Fort Smelling to the Blue Eearth
q distance of about eighty-two miles, except
ing four breadths of woods, which aggregate
in the whole about twenty miles; the greatest
extent at any one time being thirteen miles
between Belle Prairie and lie Sueur. For
much the greater portion of the way this
prairie is high and commanding. The number
of ferries at which you cross the Minnesota
is three, at or near the following places, viz
Bloomington, Traverse des Sioux, Kasota-
at the respective distances of 20, &c and II
miles from st. Paul.
At Bloomington ferry you cross from the
north to the south side of the Minnesota at
the Traverse des Sioux, from the south to the
north bank, and at the Kasota from the north
bank to the south. The road all the way we
found superb, excepting through portion Of
the woods, which, however, was not very bad.
This road, however, must in very wet seasons, be
in places very heavy, and when the Minnesota
overAows its banks, which takes place fer a
short period nearly every year, it must be i'm,
passable. When, however, this latter occur
renee takes place, the roads on higher ground
back from the river, being and about to be
constructed, will have to be resorted to.
The views along the road from both sides
of the river are of the most extended and beau
tiful character, and only when in thick woods
are you shut out from them. How beautiful
What an extensive prospect See how the
vista is lost in the hazy blue of the far distant
Minnesota! And then the sweet grassy glades
How cozely they lie on the table lands above
half concealing themselves behind the foliage
See those slopes! Could anything be more
beautifully blended, and yet distinct, than the
shades of color they present! And those
provoking openings; how clean the grass
below them! How much like apple trees the
wood upon them! Surely they are vertically
such, and the manor house is just behind them
Such are some of the EXPLANATIONS uttered OF
felt by the traveller as he passes through this
most beautiful Valley.
But the soil, the soil, what do you say Of
that. 1 pronounce it all excellent, and in some
portions of the Valley gerry fine. From Fort
Smelling to Belle Plaine-merely, however, fol-
purposes of comparison-I should call it good
From Belle PLANE to Kasota, better. From Ka.
sofa to the Blue Earth, best.
But truce to the physical aspect of the Val.
ley. leone now to higher subject, the soil Of
the heart. How did find this soil among those
whom met on the way? found it good.
found it susceptible to the cries of humanity
I found it respondent to the cries of the orphan
The Orphans Home, of this city, 1 did not fail
to speak about to the proprietors of most of the
towns passed through, and in no instance
did they fail to promise, that when the titles
to their city plats were perfected, they would
gladly make donation of land for the object
1 represented to them that the institution was
one that was to be commensurate with the
wants of the whole Territory that it was
intended it should be so large and well en-
dowed, that it could have its doors open to the
destitute orphan from every quarter iu the
Territory; and not only so, but that the child
rem of halfbreeds were also to have the benefit
of its charity. The appeal was sufficient and
1 doubt not that the proprietors of other towns
in the Territory, when they read this, will see
that they too haze duty to perform to this IN
stitution. Let them, then, ponder the matter
we'll, and they cannot but see that the institu
ton, in order to be equal to its leigh, mus
become literally endoaced and what way more
simple than for these towns and for thu
landed proprietors generally throughout tn
Territory, whether of city or country property
to send their deeds and donations to the Urea
surer of the institution, Capt Dana; tn
Trustees being Rev. DR.. j. V. Van 1ngen
Norman w.. Kittson, Capt. n. j. T. Dana
w. E. Hunt, and Capt. J. H. Simpson, all
Saint Paul.
The institution has already received at tn
hands of the people Of st. Paul, about $1,000
in land and money, but this is not near enough
for the objects of the institution. A building
enlarging in proportion to needs must be com
menced; furniture must be obtained; and tn
means of continued existence in supplies o
food, clothing, and the maintenance of a suita
BILE matron, and other personnelle, ought to b