The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-12-15

SATURDAY MORNING., DECEMbEh Q, io0'
ReeS from the Upper Mississippi to Lake SUI
self
We have already noted the fact, that the
enterprising proprietors of the new town OF
st. Cloud, situated on the Mississippi some
seventy miles above us, had caused road
to be surveyed from that point to Kettle
River, where it intersects the Point Douglas
and st. Louis River military road.
The following is the report of Mr.. Curtis,
the Engineer of the survey:
REPORT.
Msssrs G. F. Broa, J. P. wilson, J. c. Moazon:
GENTLEMEN Having been employed by
you to make preliminary survey and exam
nation of the country lying between the Mis-
sissippi river and Superior, by way of Mile
present you the following as the result Of my
examinations.
Our party started from st. Cloud and Sank
Rapids October Oath, and took our course
north, twenty degrees east. We found for
the first thirty miles one Of the most beauti-
full prairies lying east of the Mississippi
The land is rich and none can be better adap-
ted to agricultural purposes than that lying
in this vicinity. About thirty miles from
St. Cloud we crossed Skunk River, a small
stream, which can be easily bridged-being
not over 80 feet and having high banks. We
followed I'D the north side of this stream a
short distance and found hard dry soil, and
very rich. From this stream to the Big
Woods-three miles, the land is the same as
on the south side of the stream, and covered
with growth Of bur oak and hazel. The
Big Woods is one of the most extensive pine
ries have seen in Minnesota. The timber
is all good saving timber, and the soil rather
dry and sandy for five or six miles; but on
approaching Mile Lac we find hard wood
timber and rich farming country.
We touched the lake at the northwest side
and found it one of the most beautiful lakes
in Minnesota, as well as the largest-the
whole boundary of which lies within the Ter
ritory. 1t is somewhat larger than the maps
give us an idea OF, being from thirty to thir-
ty-five miles in length-the maps givingit as
eighteen or twenty. The water is excellent
drinking, being very clear and cold. As to
fish, there is no end to quantity, and the quail
Gy cannot be surpassed. Our party consid-
cred this, with wild rice, which grows in
great abundance at the outlet of the lake,
one of the greatest luxuries of the season.
The north and west shore is lined with a
fine growth of sugar maple. and white wal
ALPHABETICALLY maple-and the soil very
rich. This ridge of maple extends from the
east side to the extreme west, and runs back
from the lake from one to three-quarters of
a mile in width and in some places even to
the Mississippi river. The Indians formerly
made a large business of sugar making, and
in the spring this was one Of their chief ar
rticles of trade.
At the northwest corner of the lake is
pleasantly located the city of Mile Lac, sit
uated on ridge bordering the lake and hay
ing a fine harbor.
November Sd, we sta ted from the lake
for Superior, and came through three miles
of maple, birch and pine-principally maple;
and the ground generally level. The next
seven miles is a birch growth but the land
high and dry, with the exception of two
small tamarack swamps, which could easily
have been avoided. We camped on the bank
of Snake River, two miles from its source
From Snake river we started into a tam
araek swamp one hundred and fifty rods in
length, of hard bottom and easily drained.
Then came mile or two of high, open and
rolling, and for the most part covered with a
birch growth. After this another tamarack
swamp one hundred and twenty-five rods
long, but having hard bottom, as the dirt
under fallen trees plainly indicated. This is
the distance of ten miles of Snake river The
following six miles is good farming coun-
try, covered with a good growth of maple
and mixed hard timber. We then came into
eleven miles of good pine lands and in fact
from here to Kettle river-fourteen miles
the land is high, dry and sandy, covered with
81 T1o1 de- ofK 4k<l
river are covered for some distance each way
cut and easily driven down the river, as the
river is quite deep and we'll calculated for
numbering. The stream is about one hun
bred feet wide, with high banks and can be
very easily bridged. From this stream, three
miles, we came through a good growth of
Norway pine, then short distance of pitch
pine, to "Simpson's trail"-the land being
high and rather rolling
In the examinations l have made have
had two great objects in view, viz: the best
location for road which will facilitate emf
grafton from the east into the vast extent of
country lying in Western Minnesota, and to
locate the road through kind of country
which shall offer the best INDUCEMENTS to
settlers migrating West.
It is well known that there is vast ex-
tent of country in Minnesota, and especially
that portion lying west of the Mississippi for
between one and two hundred miles, remain
ing as yet unsettled and land, too, as we'll
adapted to farming purposes as any country
in the West. AS this fact becomes better
known by those DESTROYS of settling in
farming country, the desire becomes stronger
to migrate.
The cheapest and most pleasant route is
the next question raised.
Let us take Buffalo as the starting point.
The emigration from Pennsylvania, New
York, and the New England States, would
all center at Buffalo. Take the cheapest man.
ner OF transportation-steam- you have
for fare, twelve dollars head, to Chicago.
There you have reshipment to Dunleith-
fare five dollars then reshipment to St.
Paul, distance of three hundred and fifty
miles-fare seven dollars making from Buff
falo to st. Paul twenty-four dollars, and
distance of eighty miles to St. Cloud, the
centre of the great farming country, to 90 by
other conveyance.
Now start from Buffalo at the same time,
and you land at Superior without any reship
ment-fare fifteen dollars-at the same time
you would reach Chicago by the lower route,
and the same distance to 60 into the farming
regions saving, by way of Superior, nine
dollars in fare, and four days in time, and the
trouble of two or three reshipments.
From the above facts it seems evident to
me that this must be the great thoroughfare
through which the tide Of emigration must
How and the time cannot he far distant