The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1855-11-29
Tb@ CSuatvy Assusen she MIunesotn
aMa MIsstssippt Rivers.

N uryast extent Of eosniry lyiox between
the Mtnnesota and Mississippi rivers but little
has been written. ard bat liAtle is known. The.
popaIsf impression has been that thebuik d tr
fertile lands Of the Territay lare 10 he ibard
in ths river valleys. and that back Of these there
is no induccnen, for exploration or settlement.
From reports con,inually reaching us we are
satisfied that this is great error. 1t is true
that all our valleys-the Upper Mississippi. the
Minnesota. the Cannon river. the Hombro. and
the Root river-are among the most beautiful
in the world. Broad expanss Of prairie. roll
ing, AMI dotted with openings seemingly planted
BY hand 80 uniform and regular Is their growth;
with soil Of great depth and richness and
ribboned at convenient intervals with clear and
rapid brooks and streams, which tumbls over
waterfalls, and contribute 10 the health, no less
than to the rapid development Of the sections
which they beautify ;-th=e valleys thus FASH
ioncd and adorned, wond, in Themselves. make
Minnesota fourishing and populous beyond any
other portion Of the West.
The remaining portions oi the Territory are
not, as is generally supposcd.eitbcr uncoInely or
barren. On the contrary, if We rely upon the
statements Of intelligent men, the high tabcl
lands which lie between our beautiful valleys,
comprise qualities which must ultimately make
them our prominent reliance for agricultural
purposes. This is peculiarly true Of the section
lying between the Minnesota and Mississippi
rivers. A friend who lately took trip some
thirty miles back from Chaska, on the Mime
sofa. has given us glowing accounts Of the SEC
ton through which he passed, In that distance
he aw every variety Of country beautiful roll
ing prairies oak and maple openings, and Tor
csts covered with the largest aud finest growth
Of timber to he found in the West The soil,
which he took occasion 10 examine al intervals,
averaged from three to four feet in depth, and
could not, as he expressed it, "hayc been bet
tered by Professor Mapcs himself
some twenty-five miles from Chaska, he was
surprised at the sight Of large neat-looking
scttltiiicnt, 10 winch tnc Utilc bi blcncF uus
been given II is located in the centre of a
charming prairie, and skirt~l around by high
lands and forests Coal in considerable abun-
dance. had been found there, apd our friend saw
laborer throwing out with spade floating
particles, from "a cellar which he was digging
The settlement was commenced last spring by a
single family, and now every quarter section
within spac Of ten miles square is claimed
by actual settlers On his return, he met he
tween seventy and eighty men. with teams and
packs going into that vicinity, for purposes Of
settlement So rapidly and quietly is Minsso-
ia filling up in every direction
The description given Us by this gentleman,
We are assured. may be applied with equal truth
To the great body Of conntry lying between the
Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. II is II sec.
ton Of vast extent, large enough to form whole
states Of the New England si1e, and blcssel
with n soil strong and fertile enough to support
the denacst population.