American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-07-05
western correspsndence ofSAe Lancaster GsIette.l
st. Paul, Minnesota, June s5, $50.

[western correspondence ofthe lancaster SaHeue-l
st. Pauls Minnesota, June 20, $50. s
,DsAR Mac The few days which have I
elapsed since my last letter have enabled /,
me to form, from actual observation, more
extended and Comprehensive view Of this
beautiful Territory and its resourses. s.---]S
Since then have Travelled over the larger
portion Of its cultivated regions contiguous
with this city and bordering on the ad- :
joining counties, and lay before you my
notes Of observation up TO the present writ t
ing. II
The Territory comprises an area oil 1867
600 square miles. the greater portion OF
(which is admirably diversified by wood le
land and prairie. beautifully watered by {
innumerable lakes. varying in extent from 4
the most diminuiive, TO lakes many miles
in circumference There is scarcely a
farm Of any considerable size in the Terri
tory but what borders on one of these
lakes of pure, cool aud sweet spring water,
fertilizing and beautifying its surface
These lakes are invariably surrounded by |
fac bluffs, covered with growth OF tim
Der, and affording building spots fit for po-
ct. painter or philosopher. Here the far
mer can "sit under his own vine and fig
tree, I" and look at a landscape beautiful be-
yond comparison, Here the sportsman
lean sit beneath the shade of his own man
sion and shoot innumerable quantities of
wild duck'and deer, at any moment repast |
on fine fresh fish. or take pleasure excur-
sion on his own lovely lake. These lakes,
most generally, have a beautiful gravel
bottom, which can easily be seen through
the crystal like water. Without them,
Minnesota would be barren, desert waste
with them, she IS beautiful and attrac-
tive. and il is difficult TO conceive Of more
lovely spots, for private residences, thnn
on the banks of these quiet lakes half hid
den among the trees and bushes.
The climate is wonderfully conducive to
the Improvement Of the physical constitu-
! ton, and as healthfulness is '4he one great
object" among persons selecting "homes
in the West, )" Minnesota in this particular,
is pre- eminently desirable. The winter,
generally supposed long and tedious. am
reliably informed, is the most charming
season Of the year. Shows, not deep, but
sufficient for good sleighing, and no rain
or sleet. The weather clear and bracing,
but seldom intensely cold. and then the
system seems toned up to it, so that with
| the mercury below zero, outdoor employ
ments are not uncomfortable. From all
! = that can learn respecting the climate, l
= am led 10 believe that there Is an unusui
: amount OF magnetismin the Upper Mssis
D sippi atmosphere, which adds TO vitality,
strengthens and rejuvinates. Former res
: idents Of the Southern and Middle States
: express themselvesp pleased with the change.
$ The winters, from all accounts. arc pre-
:, ferable to the same season in Ohio, from
II the fact that the weather is regular and
i dry, and not, rs in some section, one day
: sleet, another snow, another sunshine, a
e mother rain, and so on through all the win
P ter months. @~
Q Agriculturaly considered, the advan-
T. tages Of Minnesota are Of the most impor-
: tant character. The adaptation Of soil and
D climate to the successful cultivation of all
!, the cereals and leguminous plants has been
d most thoroughly and practically demon
y straed within the past few years. Owing
'e to the protection il receives from the con-
~ slant coating of snow in the winter, the
III wheat crop is n sure one, and the yield
l. quite large, being In many instances, as
10 am reliably informed, as much as forty
l- bushels 10 tho acre Oats are very pro.
y dnctive, and often exceed fifty bushels pc,
Of acre, and superior in quality to any raised
e, in the States. Certain kinds of corn, be
ii ing adopted to the soil and climate, fully
III mature in due season and yield from seven
h ty.6ve to one hundred and twenty-five
ie bushels per acre1-while other species al
~ most totally fail. The new crnp, notwith
a. standing the season thus far has heen re-
o. markably dry, looks equally as well as thu
IN has been unusually favorable, MS in Ohio
y Indiana and Illinois. | am convinced tha
II the soil Of Minnesota will stand droutl
IS much better than either Of the States abov,
mentioned, Notwithstanding they contaii
I'd within their borders soil unsurpassed il
d. productiyeness, yet the peculiar characte
I'M Of this soil better adapts it to dry weather
nt Potatoes, turnips. cabbage, pumpkins, mel
sl- ons and all kinds of vegetables grow to a
re immense size, and mature very rapidly
as The common yield of potatoes is from fou
w. to FIVE hundred bushels per acre, whic
y grow to an extraordinary size and are {
ny superior flavor
u.s. The soil is generally a black, sandy loan
I'm Of great depth, and rich in all the requisite
lty for producing the most uxuriant CROP
he and from its loose, sandy nature, is easy {
ILL., cultivation, and will yield bountifully for
're long number of years without any srtif
Ike cial manuring. The face Of the country
ms much more diversified with prairie an
ul- woodland than either Indiana, Illinois
we Iowa, and is also more abundant in pu,
30 water, lake and running streams.
recently made a trip to the fourishiu
'ce little city OF Saltwater, situated on Lal
The st. Croix, where the General Land Off
md is located, also the TERRITORIAL Penitel
ted tiary, arude stone building surrounded
the o stone wall some sixteen or seventeen fe
cry high. The building is situated on a RI
'dy vine and fronts the Lake--is in rather {
Or out of-the-way place. and to. the credit
IKE the morals Of the Territory be it said, Sc
dom contains any inmates. The mo
81. striking feature in tho enterprise of tn
oil placeis its extensive trade inlumber. Oh
md mill, erected at a cost Of $4,000 or "a
IAN 600, saws, with one gang" fifty thou
r - 4. n n - -. 4.