Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-07-03
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1855.
Editorial Correspondence.
THE UP COMMUNICATIONS By THE WAY
NO. 1.
ST. ANTHONY, June 10, 1856.


THE UP COUNTRY-DOTTINGs By THE WAY
NO. 1.
ST. ANTHONY, June 10, 1855.
To speak inpartially Of any place, it is ne
cessary that the writer should have no pecuni
ary interest in that place, but he should be
guided solely by his own judgment, formed af'
ter q careful observation and investigation. As
the writer owns no land in the Territory, ex.
cent i may be, a small lot in Oakland Gene
,ery. which is not yet paid for, he considers
himself pretty we'll qualified to daguerreotype
the various embryo towns and cities on the East
side of the Mississippi river through which he
passed on his late tout to he loot OF the rapids
lust below the mouth of Sauk River, and the
head Of navigation on the upper MISSISSIPPI
He may err in his Judgment bu: 1t cannot be
said he has been influenced by pecu.,lary mo-
tives, the object being not to praise this po'n'
or that one, Dut to give the truth as near pos
sible so that persons at home and abroad may
be enabled to Judge Of this portion OF our Ter
ritorv, lust as it is, and not what exaggeration
has led many to believe it to be.
We left ST. Paul on the morning of the day
of the date of our letter, and in company with
COL c. and Maj. o. and lady, (this country is
famous for titles We're soon on the eminence IN
St. Anthony st. which overlooks St. Paul, and
which in time must become valuable as place
for private residences and rural retreats. The
day was fine and the country was clothed In Its
most charming suit, the trees gracefully noddlng
to us as we passed and the gentle prairie flow
ers smiling US a welcome. Our vehicle rolled
smoothly along over the beautiful natural road
till we had left the city and its hum about mile
behind us, when the eye fell upon gracefully
rolling prairie, which stretches its well propor-
toned body far away on either side, and is fl
nally lost amid the dark woods which skirt Its
outlines On the right under good cultivation,
one mile and half from st. Paul, is the farm
of Ex-Governor Ramsey. 1t commences on the
bluff and runs back considerable distance, ex-
= hibiting careful attention, and thriving crops.
The Ex-Governor appears to be as successful
with his farm as with politics, and with both we
wish him an abundant harvest. This land Is
worth from SlOOto Sl25 per acre, and we ques-
ton if it could be purchased for even that price.
Uncultivated land near by, is valued at S5O
per acre, which three years ago was sold Tor
$40 per acre. We do not by any means con-
slider this the richest soil in the Territory, al
though it exceeds in richness the land of most
of the Eastern States, but it is good land, and
with cultivation, will produce good crops Jus,
above this farm was pointed out to US the fork
of two roads one Of which runs through the low.
er part of the city and the other out Of St. An
thony street and intersect at this point. But q
few years will elapse before the road will be
laid out and ready to travel, and then this pla.
teau must become prominent point of interes
to the denizcns Of the pent-up city.
Three and a half miles from the city is the
farm of a German whose name we did no
learn, but who deserves special notice for his
industry and taste. He came to this Territory
only few years ago, and having purchased hi
present land with gold brought from Germany
he set himself vigorously to work, assisted b.
his daughters who aided him as faithfully in th'
field, as the best of men, and now, in little les
than three years, he is in possession of farm
valued at not less than from $40, 900 to $l5,
900. His farm exhibits high order Of cult
vation, and its nearness to the city will tend t.
increase its value each year. The farm of MI
Larpen,eur, just above, perhaps is more promi
nent than any other which can be seen on tn
road from St. Paul to ST. Anthony. Its broa
acres of wheat, potatoes and corn, at once at
tract the eye Of the passer-by, and non
can view it without wish that 1t wer
his. Mr.. Larpenteur is one Of our earliest set
tiers, and his selection for his farm attests hi
foresight in the growth and prosperity Of 81
Paul That large, queer-looking house, witt
the roof running down to the first story, ant
which is really burlesque on good farm
house, is owned by the Messrs hopkins, VIII
have but recently commenced farming The!
are improving the land very fast, and doubles
in year will rank among the most thrifty far
mers In the County. Some strange stories ar
told ot the origin Of this farm, but as they d
not fall legitlmately within the scope Of this let
ter, we will leave them for some future occa
sion.
Close by the roadside, standing emphatical
ly out door, with no trees to shut out the sur
we passed school house. The little urch;n
were busily engaged with their books, bu, W
could not help plying them, for there was moth
ing attractive about the premises, but ever
thing Of forbidding nature. Why is it tn,
school-houses are made so desolate and 20 pri.
on-hkes Will the youthful mind be as apt
drink from the fountains of knowledge, benin
prison bars as amid the beauties of nature2 3
no means. Why not then adorn the groun