The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-10-04
TERRA INCOGNITA,

TERRA INCOGNITA.
An observation Of The map Of N1innesota,
will reveal large lake about forty miles to
the north and west of Fort Ridgely on the
Minnesota River; but only this fact and the
name (kandiyohi) has been known to any
but Indians and old traders till within the
last few weeks. 1t was believed to be 10
cality in the centre of the great North West
Prairie around which the, buffalo herded,
and the bear and elk and deer and prairie
wolf held joint occupancy while the
goose and the swan and the sandhill crane
made night hideous with their discordant
revelry. AS yet emigration has not reached
point nearer than from forty or fifty miles
from this region-the nearest approaches
being the inhabited towns of Glencoe and
Hutchinson-we say ishabited because there
are places nearer where towns are projected,
but which are not as yet troubled with a
surplus of population. 1t was, in short,
Tyra Iacoqnla--an unknown land and
where nothing was known, of course but
little could be said. e.--... . .fas.04 III
PARTIAL EXPLORATION. br,.
A few weeks since, NJ. c. Baker, Esq, a
well-known citizen Of Minneapolis, Mr.. John
Mcleod, of Glencoe, surveyor and ex-
plorcr, Mr.. Whitefeld, an artist lately come
amongst us, whose love of adventure and
the beauties of nature, and zeal for making
explorations, will make him an invaluable
acquisition to the Territory, followed up the
south fork of the Grow river till they came
to its source in large lake to which they
gave the name of Lillian, and going round
the south shore they waded across the inlet
about four feet deep; and about a mile and
half to the west of Lake Lillian, came to
Kandiyohi lake. Here they spent a day in
making attempts to explore the lake, but on
account of marshes they could make but
slow progress without boat, and their team
escaping in the mean time, leaving them
without provisions, forced them to make
their way to the settlements as fast as pos
sible. b.,
PREPARATIONS FOR FURTHER EXPLORATIONS.
AS soon as these gentlemen had returned,
the narrative of their partial explorations ex7
cited an intense interest in the minds of a
number of persons, who resolved that an
expedition should be Immediately fitted out
with provisions and men enough to explore
the whole region of country in question /;
and for this purpose organized a, company
called the White6eld Exploring Company
of which of Mr.. j. Swanson, of Chisago
Lake, was President. Col. J.. II. Stevens,
G. Hoag, U. Thomas, NJ, c. Baker, and
many others, whose names we do not recol-
lect, were members. By number of these
gentlemen we were solicited to accompany
the expedition, to which we readily con-
scented. .o
In pursuance of this purpose we proceed
ed to Minneapolis on Monday, September
Is, where we found active active prepare
tions on foot for the starting of the expedi-
ton. Our party, consisting of Col. J. Fl.
Stevens, U. Thomas, P. Fraker, p. Metz,
DR.. Anderson and Mr.. Charlton of Mime
apolis, Mr.. Whitefeld Of St. Anthony, Mr..
Swanson of Chisago Lake, Gen. Harms of
Harms City, Messrs. Smith and Schenck of
New Jersey, Mr.. Murray of Philad lphia,
Mr.. Merwin of New York, Mr.. MCGEE Of
Mississippi, and ourself, started from Min
neapolis about one o'clock in the afternoon
with four teams, two saddle horses, and
corn and oats enough for the animals, and
bread, bacon, coffee, sugar, &C., enough
for the men, it, was supposed, to provision
the party for two weeks. We also had a
boat, built expressly for the company, which
we were determined to launch in the great
lake, the extent of which had latterly be-
come so much matter of speculation. 7rsb
We proceeded to Shakopee that evening,
where we arrived after dark, by way of Pet
tJohn's Mill, Rchland and Bloomington.
This was the first time we had ever travelled
over this route, land we were greatly astonish-
eito find the country SO thickly settled and
such fine farms opened almost the whole of
which is the work Of b t two years. A
great portion of the way the road is fenced
on both sides, and elegant farm-houses and
fine barns are built and not few of these
farmers will this year harvest their hundred
acres Of crop. In one or two places where
we were recognized along the route, the in
quiry was eagerly made of the result of the
late elections in Maine and Vermont, 1.-THE
glorious news from Maine had just been re-
ceived in st. PauD and our answer, Of
Twenty THOUSAND q. piece" was received
with undisguised satisfaction.
At Shakopee our party was made comfort
able for the night at the WATSON House by
the accommodating landlord, which place we
left the next morning before daylight, and
proceeded by way Of Louisville to ,gqa
Here we had breakfast prepares at the
Carver Hotel by friend Griffin. He is build
ing a large addition to his house which will
in fact be the main building. Although
Carver has been laid out as town site for
two or three years, it has attained its
growth almost wholly during the pre-
sent season. One of the best steam saw
mills in the Territory is in operation, and
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