The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-06-29

Notes OF Travel up the Valley Of the Min.
neSOta continued.

June Fl. At LIE Seur, road gets on high roll
ing prairie, or second bench from the river, up
on which it continues all the way to Traverse
des Sioux Ferry. distance of miles. This
prairie very rich one, quite thickly dotted
with claim houses, and presenting all along
most extensive and varied views. The road
AS it has invariably been on the prairies-
is superb. The Big Woods can be seen on the
left as they have been all along from the vicin-
ity OF Shakopee. Seven miles from LIE Seur,
cross by ferry to the north bank of the Min
nesota. One mile and a half more brings US
to the town Of Traverse des Sioux, most beau
tifully situated, as all the other towns on the
river we have seen, on high, commanding
preirie, which admits of the most extensive
views in every direction. Traverse contains
from forty to fifty houses, and must have
population of between 800 and 400 souls
1t is larger place than had supposed. Ma
ny Of the houses framed and large. Having
nothing to detain US, and, anxious to reach
Kasota in season, we made no tarry at this
place. One and half miles beyond Traverse
on the same high prairie, find the city of St.
Peter, also situated on the river. Already it
contains some twenty to thirty houses, and is
evidently an ambitious, go-ahead town. No
ticed the Winslow House, very neat stone
structure Of good size, looming up, the most
conspicuous building in the place. Its walls
are now entirely up, and preparations appeared
to be mixing for putting on the roof This
town has the advantage of afording a good
building stone, and apparently in abundance.
Regret that here, as at Traverse, we had not
time to make enquiries of country back
Have no doubt, however, from what we did
see, that these places must continue to 60 for
ward. One mile and halt from Traverse
come to Babcock's ferry, by which we crossed
to the south bank of the Minnesota, mile
more bringing US to Kasota, Babcock's city,
where his saw mill is situated:
Kasota, also beautifully situated on prairie
and affording fine and picturesque views of
distant scenery. 1t is the outlet of the Big
Woods back, ard must do large share of the
traffic which will arise from the opening and
settling of that rich region of country. AL
ready the latter is fast filling up, and Lake
Washington, FIVE miles from the town, is the
favorite resort. 1t is about this lake Bah
cock gets his fine specimens of black walnut,
many OF which are now lying near his mill in
huge logs. The Of them measured IA feet in
circumference, and the Others were not much
inferior in girth. His mill al present, is doing
but little or nothing, for want of water-the
condition of nearly all the mills in the Terri
tory this season. Kasota, at present, contains
but about half dozen houses, but doubtless
will soon spring ahead as the other towns have
DONE Found at this place the Chankaska, on
which Babcock's mill is situated, will require
bridge, some So feet high and $50 feet long.
One of the trestle order will answer. Babcock
represents the number of teams constantly
passing from Farribault's and along the road
up and down, so many that fear it would not
be credited by my readers, and SO they must
90 up and ascertain for themselves. Certain it
is that between Atwood's and Kasota coun-
ted So Staid at Babcock's all night. Has
commodious house, and when entirely parti-
toned off and completed, will afford very conf
Portable accommodations. JH.s.