Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-07-26
COrTtspOhdtuct o. tht Ttmts.
RIVER NOTES; OR 1856 VERSUS 1850.
HASTINGS.

HASTINGS
HASTINGS, July 10, 1856.
| No place probably in Minnesota has grown ur
and assumed such u prominent position in sc
short time as Hastings, from the fact that il
has been mostly built up and brought into notice
within the last eighteen months. The site is an
excellent one, with good landing, at any stage
of the river.
On the vermillion, which empties into tn,
Father of Waters at this point, there is an ex'
tensive water power. One grist-mil has been ir
operation this stream for some time, and an.
other is in course of erection by DR.. Foster and
Gov. Ramsey. There are also several steam saw
mills in the vicinity.
Stone of an excellent quality abounds on every
hand, of which pretty free use has already been
made for building purposes, thereby giving the
town substantial appearance not to be seen else
where on the river.
Being so near St. Paul, Hastings did not make
as great progress for year or two after its first
settlement, as some other towns but, when the
extensive tract of country in the vicinity of the
Cannon and Straight rivers became settled, and
it became necessary to find an outlet upon the
Mississippi, this was found to be not only the
nearest but also by far the most accessible of
any point on the river.
Unlike any other town below the Falls, this
place is not separated by high bluffs from the
country that supports it, The prairie extends
even into the ''city limits" and as II matter of
course fine road with little or no labor is
afforded to this place from the country at all
4
portance, one, in our opinion, shat will make
Hastings IA large town ut no distant day, if no
railroad shall be built to her future disadvau-
tage. Already a large tt de is carried on with
the country southwest of this for u dstanc, Of
iftv miles.
The town is much larger than its appearance
from the river would iu licate, owing To the fact
that great number of trees, after the fashion
OF the oak opening, Is scattered here and there
over the site. On looking around Il little we
found buildings going up at rapid rate, and
town lots going up in value accordingly.
Among the objects of interest in thus vicinity
we noticed beautiful and pjcrnres1u. little lake,
upon the banks of which is the fine residence Of
our friend. DR.. Thomas Foster, formerly of St.
Paul, and one OF the pioneers OF Histings.
W. 6. Le Due, Esq, also citizen Of st. Paul
in 1850, is one of the proprie:orS of the town,
aud if we mistake not is accommodating the
''dolars and Dimes rather faster than when
practcins law at the Territorial capital where
there are several others of the same profession.
Rev +. W. Cressey, ana L. f. Parker, Esq,
whom we numbered among our acquainta noes at
st. Paul, some years ago, own splendid farms
near this place. The former, in connection with
agricultural pursuits, breaches regularly to the
good people of Hastings and vicinity, while the
latter settles their disputes according to law.
We have met several others who are from st.
Paul, but have not time to name them now.-
They all appear to be doing well and are
growing up in usefulness and affluence, with this
rapidly growing town.
l.. NJ. FORD.