The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-09-08
Minnesota.


the Chippewas and Sioux are being convert.
ed into farms and village plots with aston
ishing rapidity. The territory Of Minnesota
was organized only six years ago the Sd day
of March last-the day OH which Mr.. Polk
vacated the presidential chair-when it had
on it's LOG, 900 900 acres but $3.50 persons,
aside from the red men, and now it has over
$4,000. From St. Paul, the streams of Sax
on life. contrary to the course of the natural
streams, flow to the northward and westward;
and they are swelling like the "father of
waters in June, when he receives his munif-
icent tributes from the wilderness around
Lake Itasca, and the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains. We have Just been up
few miles to the northwestward, to see
what is Immediately beyond the capital. At
the Falls of st. Anthony, eight miles distant,
is city Of fifteen hundred people and op-
where only three stood eighteen months ago.
bridge $50 feet long, and as well constructed
as any which we have ever seen.
Hennepin was ahead of us in seeing the
falls, but not, we venture to say, in degree
of surprise. He was no more surprised at
finding Epids so large than we were to find
them so small. In boyhood we learned to
regard the Falls of St. Anthony as young
Niagara, nearly full grown, and had not fair
ly dispelled the illusion when we went there
this afternoon. But they are very much of
humbug, and were they not needed for saw
and grist mills, we should petition to have
them discontinued at once. Why, the falls
have a descent of only IL feet on one side,
and lS2 on the other! Pawtucket Falls, in
the Merrlmac, opposite Lowell, before the
advent of mill dams, and when salmon, shad
and alewives had the freedom of the stream,
were much more attractive; and Minne-ha
ha Falls miles from st. Paul, and l mile
from Fort Smelling, are far more beautiful
True the Minne-ha-h ha is but cascade, not
more than Is feet wide where it goes over
the rock, and, in low water, less than foot
in depth but the water falls 40 or 90 feet
and is so frightened in the plunge as to turn
very pale, being as white as snow. In spite
Of the praise given the st. Anthony Falls by
their discoverer and other explorers of the
great valley, together with the makers Of
Biographies in our school boy days, except
for their historical associations, they are not
worth, as a sight, the three dollars and half
which we paid for the use of one horse four
hours, in order to see them. The country
is extremely beautiful and innumerable
stacks Of we'll cured wheat and the fields Of
thrifty corn greet the eye.
We are persuaded that rambe over this
whole territory would heighten ones love Of
hiscountry. Aside from its tamarac swamps,
it has comparatively but little waste land ;
its streams are numerous and mostly we'll
wooded and clear; its lakes are as beautiful
sheets as the west presents; its prairies are
nearly as rich as those of Indiana and
Illinois; and its climate, except in the ex-
treme north, is as favorable for the produc-
tion of the cereals as Wisconsin, or any part
of New England. Then it should be borne
in mind that it is nearly four times the size
of Ohio, and in the palmy days of Sparta
and Athens would of itself alone, have made
nice little republic. Its glory is soon to
come, if political gamblers do not bring on
an early blight.
Our visit to Minnesota has made favor
able imnreSsion as it regards the healthiness