The daily Minnesota pioneer., 1855-04-17

also made an6thef nap 4btafAg the State
of{eXA. theSeded par tHfTerritory of
Nm 6ta, iEludhaf tho Indiaa Reservations
@bthQ tho 47thsd6g. Of north attitude, and
mSsts a theTRne regioas az WiscseRip.
~As'*e passed Over bdta linifted portion Of
this region, our map is of course a colnpila-
ton. We took Nicollets map as the basis,
as 9al al subsequent researches have esta aBi!sAdi
tho accuracy Of his, observations aud the fdel,
|'ity OF his descriptions. 4 - (" ~'~A- = - =
E&&fte=haTe also coiiated froin-thhe best sour
Fsati that is known i4 reSar ia the position
and Size of many lakesshot laia down BY N fe-
eiseAgehe extent ard chsraeteree the weeasr
forests, marches, prairies and streams, with
the villages aha aIte~ns that Ehave~ feccntly
sprung into existence, as also the -roads-that7
are already Constructed and those That are
being built or proposed. - - N.rr
By glance at our map. the intelligent eIp-,
igrant will be able te select either prairie On
a-timbpr country tor his future home without
tue. trouble of expensive and hborious perso-
nal examination. ~ g-5r-
The geological, mineralogical, and botanical
characteristics OF the country have been
thoroughly examined by DR.. Owen and his
able assistants, and admirably treated in his
elaborate report. AZ. 30 .a-~s
Ifhe .healthfulness of the climate and produc-
tiveness of the soil OF Minnesota are not sur
passed by the most favored regions Of our
/ country. The southern and western portions
are perhaps too thinly timbered to be densely
populated until a system of dtching and
! hedging shall be adopted, or until the inhabt
/. itants themselves shall Dot these magnifcen
prairies with grores-a less difficult task than
clearing the forest, winch is usually the labor
! of a lifetime. -a. .-@.- r
Locust trees are admirably adapted to this
/ purpose, as in six or eight years enough timber
for ordinary farming purposes could be grown.
4 Although this region is far north OF the
, more densely populated portion of the United
4 States, yet the cold is not SO intense, nor the
climate so changeable, as that Of Massachu-
! sets. During the summer the heat is ample
in Intensity and duration to perfect all the
cereal grains, and ihe long SHOWS OF winter
protect the wheat from the freezing out so
common to the valley of the Ohio.
Having promised these few general remarks
/ with regard to the climate and productions of
! Minnesota. will now proceed TO describe
more particularly the character of the coun.
try along the route of the proposed military
road. -. r.. .... ..-. :--. ...r.
First Di,aisiom. '---
| Having explored the country between the
| Big Sioux .and Floyds creek for twenty miles
to the nOrthward and ascertaining the only
practicable route to be BY the Valleys of Hog
Weed and Floyds creeks we commenced the
survey, j une goth, at the mouth Of the Big
Sioux, and, crossing the Missouri bluffs, loo
! feet in height we descended into the valley
| of Hog-weed creek Following along its
bottoms for thirteen miles, and crossing the
creek three times to avoid the hills, we lett it
and traversed very rolling prairie between it
and Floytl's creek for seventeen miles further,
and then descended into its bottoms, which we
followed along its western side for sixteen
miles and crossed it. This division terminates
here, and is 46 miles and $40 yards in length.
! The estimated cost Of construction is $lO4,OU
per mile. ... ..
In following up the valleys Of these creeks,
we crossed numerous gullies varying from four
to ten feet in depth; but, as they rarely ex-
ceeded ten feet in width, we readily made
temporary bridges of willows and grass to
pass our cattle and wagons over. The bot
! toms, varying from a few feet to several miles
in width, are Of, rich alluvial soil and covered
with high grass, but almost entirely destitute
| of timber. The test route for railway from
I the Missouri river is to. depart from SeIgeants
bluff or, it is now called, Bluff City, and fol-
low up the, valley of Floyds creek for about
/ fifty miles. Here the character of the, coun-
try changes, and leaving the "Potato Hill"
region, there will be no difficulty In locating
, the road in any desirable direction. Although
have made no estimates for u railway, not
being called upon to do so 10y my instructions,
still | hazard nothing in stating that, as far as
the surface Of the country is concerned, there
will he no serious obstacle in connecting the
| fbo pf oh vrit
1 the Mississippi at or near St. Paul. In the
4 event of not discovering suitable pass through
| the mountains along the route surveyed by
Governor Stevens, this will be the most d.
rect and practicable route from the Northwest
| to the Pacific. st..eiro5 IL -. tnss
After leaving. the Missouri, there are no
very desirable locations for farms along this
divisions; and, possessing neither Minerals nor
timber, it will be long before the more favored
regions of the North and West will be- sd
filed with population as to bring this country
into demand. 80,
1sa'ti1s ~ Second Ditis,on = ~ q A-&t.
| This division beginning at Floyd's creek,
! and terminating at the crossing of the Little
Sioux, passes over rich undulating prairies,
entirely destitute of timber, but covered with
high grass, afording the most lnxriant pastu-
rage. Here, q few years since, was the great
buffalo range. A few herds arc yet to be-
seen, with many elk and deer, which enliven
the otherwise monotonous landscape. '.2
| Trayersing forty miles OF prairie, we arrived
at the river Oceyedan, beautiful little stream
with pebbly bed, and fordable except during
| freshets The bottoms, mile broad, are
exceedingly fertilei and covered with grass
seven feet high. Excellent hsh abound in this
stream; and were timber abundant, this coun-
try, from the fertility of the soil, the pure and
bracipg atmosphere and beautiful scenery,
| would be one of the most desirable places for
settlement in iowa. 1t.'sv A.t7..Sat AGRA