The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-01
Correspondence Of the Gra.
MINNESOTA T'ERRITORY-LN INTER.
ESTTNG FACTS.

MINNESOTA TERRITORY-L INTER.
ESTING FACTS.
ST. ANTHONY, MIN. TER,
March %, 1856.
To the Editor of the National Era:
Having a leisure moment, am tempted to
add word respecting our Territory. The Re-
publican party here organized, partially, last
fall. They elected strong and able minority
to the Legislature, whose straightforward and
judicious action, during the Legislature just
closed, has left favorable impression on the
community. 1t is significant fact that the
great majority of the Democratic party repudi
ate the Kansas and Nebraska act, as well as
the present Administration. Resolutions in its
support received but a meagre vote, though
strongly urged by the Governor and other Uni
ted States il cumbents. The impression is quite
prevalent that Minnesota henceforth will be
strongly Republican in politics.
Our Territory is now in the full tide of ad-
vancement and prosperity. We have already
reached very respectable position. Our pop
ulation year since was estimated at $4,000.
From the census of last June, and from the
most reliable information to be obtained, it can
not now be less than $4,000, it is believed-an
increase in one year Of $4,000, or more than
1913 per cent. Thousands and tens of thousands
of letters from our settlers have been sent, bear
ing a knowledge of facts and favorable impress
sons of our Territory, to friends in every Sec
ton of our country. From the East and from
the West, we hear of large numbers coming.
The emigration the present season will doubt
less exceed that of any former year. And now
is emphatically the favorable time. The land
(but an inconsiderable quantity is not in mar
ket, and the most desirable points and fertile
soils are waiting for an occupant at $l.25 per
acre. Many sections of the Territory are con-
siderably settled, and enjoy now the advantages
of good roads, good schools, churches, good
neighborhoods, and nearly all the comforts and
luxuries to be had in the old States. Want
of easy communication in winter with the world
outside, and the little cultivated fruit to be had,
are perhaps the deprivations most felt but
these we shall have in due time. Among the
many inducements for actual settlers to make
Minnesota their future home, is the fact that
large portion of the Territory, all the better
sections, will unquestionably be nearly all pre-
empted by the actual settler before it comes
into market leaving but poor gleanings for the
Spectator. This fact is very important, espe-
cially as regards our future, both individually
and as Territory and will be in marked con-
trast with most of the Western States, and es-
pecially Illinois and Northern Iowa, where i'm.
mense tracts of the choice lands have been
and are now being pastered over and bound
up with the spectators warrants--the leech that
thrives on the toll, privations, and blood, of the
pioneers scatters their settlements and stays the
hand of public and private improvement. Here
the settler living on his broad acres will be sur
rounded by solid and compact settlement,
whose improvements mutually advance each
others interests, and who will build roads and
bridges, construct railroads, establish schools,
found churches, enjoy the society and all the
rich benefits which flow from combined labor
and wealth, in a densely populated community.
All seem to enjoy very uncommon degree
of health. We have had no epidemics, neither
are we subject to malarious diseases. We have
many settlers from Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, &C.,
who there were broken down in health, with
fever and ague, heavy doctors bills to pay, lit
tie strength, and no disposition to labor, who
here are enjoying strength, vigor, and energy,
they had never before experienced. This is the
substance of the language of many that have
talked with, and have not learned of one in
stance of different experience. Some Of the
best physicians, of longest practice here, con-
firm these statements, and also say they have
known of no case of consumption which has
first developed itself here; also state that they
have seen. in their practice, many persons who
on reaching the Territory, had decided con-
sumptive symptoms, in all the varied forms of
bronchial affections, &c, and in every instance
an entire recovery followed a residence here of
a few weeks or months, with only the exception
of cases where the lungs were partially con-
sumed, and restoration impossible-in which
case the lungs seemed unable to bear our stim-
ulating atmosphere, and the disease but has
tened on the more quickly.
We are abundantly supplied with excellent
pure water, from numerous lakes, springs, and
running streams, many of which contain trout,
pickerel, pike, and other fish. Our water power
Is unsurpassed, and we have the confident pre-
diction, from practical, cautious men, that Min
nesota will be the great manufacturing State of
the Northwest. Our pineries are very extensive
on the Upper Mississippi and St. Croix, and
their branches. 1t is represented as being in
exhaustible. From the first, the lumber bust
ness has been one of our leading interests. The
| value OF the logs that will come down this sea-
son Is estimated at from twenty-five to twenty
i've million dollars. A very considerable por-
| ton is now manufactured in the Territory.
Our wood, in large portion of the Territory,
is ample and abundant; and in all sections is
found more liberal supply than in the prairie
States of Iowa, Illinois, &c. Our fur trade, and
the trade with the Indians are both extensive,
but am unable to give any reliable statistics.
The copper mines of Lake Superior rank as the
best in the world. Large settlements are al.