The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-01-03

not vel IN market, anu Is tneeiOre out OF the
reach Of speculators None but actual settlers
can purchase these lands OF Government, and at
present, they can select timber, prairie and wa
ter TO their liking. For the benefit Of people
abroad, let me shy, that actual settlers, by sim
ply filing in the land Office declaration Of their
intention To claim a certain quarter section
each, can hold the same without paying for il,
until the land comes into market. which may he
one or two years hence.
Ash have already written more than in.
tended, will. IL agreeable to you, give your rea-
ders, in letter number two, sketch Of several
towns in Northern Iowa, which we visited on
our return. Yours, truly.
GuEs.
Special Correspondence Of the Pioneer and Democra,
HERKiMKR Co, n. Y, Nov. &c, 1855.
Not having heard from It. Paul. since my
departure few weeks since, presume that
winter has fallen upon you in earnest and that
you are eifectually shut out from active com
munication with the Eastern world until Spring.
As months, therefore, must transpire before |
shall be among Minnesotians again, perhaps an
occasional experiment in the way Of unpremeii-
lated and familiar correspondence may not come
amiss. Should you think III to publish my let
tiers, trust that your readers win regard them
as kindly as il they were addressed to each Of
them personally, and not criticise them, rs they
would an essay or studied attempt at compost
ton. shall endesvor to refrain as much MS
possible from giving offence to any one. have
no other object than to occupy leisure time in
an honest effort to afford some slight degree Of
Entertainment to The excellent and entcrprising
citizens Of st. Paul l have been thinking
much Of late on the subject Of Railroads, How
wonderfully are they superseding every other
means Of transit and conveyance lakes, rivers,
canals and plank roads, are all brcsl to yield
to the magical specd and gigantic power Of the
railway--no other agency can cope successfully
with this
have been led into this course Of thought by
rejecting upon the position and prospects OF
the new towns at the heado Lake Superior aud
their relative destiny compared with St Paul
There will doubtless be Hourishing city some
day at the head of that magnificent lake. That
this prospective city, however, will ever overSha-
dow or even seriously rival ST. Paul, there need
not he the least degree ofapprchcnsion The fact
Of its being at the head Of navigation alone, and
without other and more important eonsidcra-
tons, may make II distinguished por, town,
but never great. wealthy, and populous city,
other CAUSES must cooperate, or il growth
in future win b. far from satisfying the exalted
expectations 81 thoe sons Of Enterprise. by
whom the town Of Superior was founded.
Tins much has ben said with no illibcral view
Of dctracting from the real claims Of superior,
or Of boasting up unreasnably. the finer posi-
ton aud prospective importance Of St PanI.--
True, Superior is at the head ID navigation on
lake Superior, and for this reason has been c'tn
pared by extensive land holders 70 Chicago nj
the head Of lake Michigan. But here thu an
alopy ceases Every -nsibt man knows. that
| n II were not for the numerous Railroais,which
laden with the iDeyhautibIe treasures Of an i'm
mene region. fnd their outlet 10 that city Chi
cago would now he scarcely larger or more I'M
portant as business point than il was twenty
years ago. We know, moreover, that II OIL
tlese railroads which now pour their unbound
ed wealth into the lap ofChicago. had made an,
other point their terminus, that point AMI mo-
Chicago. would Income the gnat depot 81 TN
West.
Sops people entertain the superficial Ids
land very flimsy |, ia. tool that all the fregh
for Minnesota and -. Paul will, in the cours
Of few years. come to Us by the way 81 LAX
Superior. do not believe IL. and have goc'
reasons fur my unbeiief 7 90 further and no'
make the assertion. which trust sone d yoal
ra.lers viii bear in mind and call me TO an az
count hereafter, should II prove visionary am
lincorr-ct. The day win COM, and Is no, MANI
years distant. when the railway 10 be built h.
J tween ~, Paul and suI'~i@, viii carry TO III
Lake infinitely more fright than il will br'"s
} tbereform. This win soupd Wild aDd whirns'
cal, no Doubt. TO the superior Dn-''ut the!
may live tn regard it in different lieh, thar
that of ridieuIe! The high hops d suPrio'
are based upon the presumption that all tn
J supplies from ,be Fast mnst COM by hat rou''
. and all cur surplus praiuee h. transported o.
s,eamboats through tls Lakes TO Bu1al" -
shoald this take place, then supri@ will Il
. tbe great city, aud II Paul ,r it, -a'eiii'' 10
it win not take place Even i the lAkf" YER
open tbe year round, they would not b. abb I"
compete successfully With o railway 'rt~ef
Chicago and -, Paul But the Navigation /"
the LAKES viii always b. snspepSed hr al las
half the year The dviaDce, too, BY tfe Lake
from Buffalo To suprior would h. D'nrly tyr"
~ grea, a. by tho railr'ad From Bdh-'o u
: Madison i. only about .i1 huDdry'' sUi htl
mibS; in thr-e yeans--certaniy IN four Nal
soa and ST. Paul vii h. anitssl forrTer'--i hfi
! thu TIM between Bahalo AMI - Paul VII h
thirtysiI hears by the Rsiirc~d by 'hr AXE
the tim siTl - frtFn oae 10 ,hrss weeks accord