Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-05-01
From the Louisville journal.
Minnesota.

-sE From the louisville journal.
Minnesota.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:-The frequent inquiries made
of me by letter and otherwise from friends in Ken
lucky, respecting this new and interesting coun-
try have suggested the propriety Of spreading be-
fore your numerous readers this brief sketch, the
result of my observations and experience since
nv settlement in the Territory, now nearly six
wears ago. This Territory is bounded, as is well
known, north by the British line, east by Wiscon
sin and Lake Superior, south. by Iowa, and west
by the Missouri and White Earth rivers By ref
erence to the map of the Northwest, it will be
seen that Minnesota is the great watershed of the
three principal rivers Of North America, each RI
sing within the limits OF the Territory, and each
naUiqable from its borders to one of the three CULTS
of the continent. First, the Red river of the
North, draining the northern basin of the CONT
nent to the Gulf or Hudson's Bay; secondly, the
St. Lawrence, beginning with the st. Louis river
that empties into Lake Superior, and thence by
the course of the great lakes to the gulf of the
same name, where its waters mngle with the At
lantic, and lastly, the Mississippi, whose waters,
rising in Lake tasca, in the northern part of the
Territory, and, in its meanders, flowing nearly a
thousand miles exclusively within Minnesota,
finally delivers its vast tribute Of waters into the
Gulf of Mexico, after bearing upon its bosom to
the great highway of nations the commerce of an
hundred cities, and the produce of more than
twenty sovereign States and Territories. This last
named great commercial artery has also, within
| the limits of Minnesota, two large and navigable
tributaries, one flowing from the northwest and
the other from the northeast. to common centre,
to- wit: the st. Peters and the ST. Croix, the form
er Joining the Great Father Of Waters about six
miles below the Falls of St. Anthony, and the
other about twenty-five miles below the same
point.
Thus it plainly appears that no State in the
Union, certainly no western or interior State, II
we except the single State of Illinois, has as great
| Ia g. and .vfa mol
communication as Minnesota. Nature seems, in
the physical geography of this Territory, to have
designed it for n prominent and prosperous
reer in the future commercial dcstines OF the
Northwest. Undoubtedly one of the most impor-
tant commercial points on the contincnt-though
it may take few short years to disclose the fact
is the magnificent harbor at the mouth of the st.
Louis river, in Minnesota, which is the extreme
western point of Lake Superior. In its forma-
tian and location, nature appears to have fully
anticipated the high political destiny and CONNER
cal wants of that vast region OF country extend
ing from the point in question to the Rocky Noun
ta;ns including most of Wisconsin, all of Mime
sota Upper Iowa, and Nebraska. This harbor is
about six miles long by one and quarter wide,
and is protected from the storms of the mighty
lake of which it is the head, by peninsula Of
the same length to the neck or inlet. 1t has an
average depth of about twenty feet. Behind this
immense reef Or peninsula, whole fleets of COM
merce can, and undoubtedly uiH, in future years,
ride in perfect security. 1t is at the head of a
chain of inland seas or great lakes, and naviga-
bic rivers, extending continuously in one direc-
ton to the Atlantic, and is only about thirteen
hundred and fifty miles, in an opposite direction.
from Puget's Sound, on the Pacific. 1t is about
one hundred and eighty miles from the navigable
waters of the Red River, flowing north through
British America, about fifty from the navigable
waters of the Mississippi ADORE, and about one
hundred and twenty from the same navigable Wa
Al LII, &c c. ALL t.
Buffalo, the great point of departure for all the
trade and travel for the West and Northwest, as
Chicago: and can be reached as soon by steam
boats and ships after the Doth Of May next, when
the ship canal at the Falls of St. Mary will be
finished. 1t is obvious to the plaincst mind, that
a mighty change and revolution in the commerce
and intercourse of the Northwest awaits the con-
tcmplatcd connection of this harbor with the nav
igable waters Of the Mississippi above and below
the Falls Of st. Anthony. IL Om thence emigrants
will take their departure to their respective desti-
nations-u the Missssl pi, the St. Peters, the ST
Crox, westward in the direction of the Big Bend
of the Missouri, AMI beyond, towards the Rocky
Mountains country we'll watered, wooded
and Astounding in fine lands. From thence, too
goods will be distributed in every direction. and
with an unimpeded and descending navigation tn
the head Of the Upper Rapids at Davenport, in
Iowa, thus stunning those immOyeable barriers to
the commerce. and population of the Northwest,
of more than thousand miles, and all at the ex-
pensc Of the traveller and consumer.
The climate of Minnesota is excellent; by those
whose health has required them to mark the diff
ference Of places in this respect and whose means
of observation have been greatest, it has been
pronounced the finest on the continent. The seal
sons of the year are strongly and beautifully dis
tingu:shed, and their vcissitudcs ever welcome
and grateful. The winters are not remarkable
for excessive SHOWS, neither are the summers for
heavy rains; but, compared with other sections of
our country, there is usuallya scarcity of both.
the average SHOWS during the cold months not ex-
cccdng foot in depth, whilst the rains fall prin-
cpally in the spring and the month of June, after
which they are rare and light. 1t is principally
during this latter month, too, that the Territory
is visited with tEunder-s storms at once sublime and
terrific, and what decpens their terror, is the re-
markabe fact that they usually approach during
the night, disclosing a scene-
ssHor.ble all sides around,
As one great furnace fam'd.''
They are generally from the South and South
west March and April are the surly season. The
summer months are even and hot. The sun is then
powerful and oppressive, especially in July and
August, but ever followed bv breezy and beauti-
full nights, perfectly harmless the most delicate
human frame, however much exposed, and whose
starry light is almost sufficient to read by. The
autumn months of Minnesota arc match.esS-dry,
still, serene. The clear, blue sky, like coy maid
en-, seems then to rccede a heaven or two higher,
as if abashed with its own transcendent beauty,
or apprehensive for its own surprising purity
No Italian skies were so robcd with such rich
and varied drapery as the autumn sun here wears
in his retirement to his ocean bed.
The winter, as all may readily suppose, is Sc
vere-sometimes intensely cold--but his advance
is so gradual and he holds his sccptrc with such
firm and steady grasp iclten enthroned, that his
reign is much less to be dreaded and not so pre-
judica! to health as in this tickle latitude. 1t is
indeed a season welcomed by all for its social ga
ty, and relaxing amusements. Social, dancing,
and seighing parties then the order of our
long nights, and no people in the world know bet
ter how to enjoy these guileless recreations than
Minnesotians. Religious societies, literary clubs,
and lecture rooms are also then in full blast and
receive their full share Of the popular favor and
encouragement.
In Minnesota, winter is even a money making
season for our farmers, class of people who
generally in other sections 'lic up'' during this
Indictment period, or go into regular winter quar-
tiers, and Consume spend what they earned the
preceding summer. In this Territory, however
it is otherwise, and, having gathered and dispos-
of 81. bovx fvo,, H., g. -. ~.