Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-06-14
From the Pittsburgh Commercial Journal.
SAINT PETER.

A friend Just returned from q visit to the West,
gives us the following description of this new
town, centrally located in a valley of unsurpass-
ed fertility and beauty, the very garden of Min-
nesota, and destined in all probability to become
at no distant day, the Capital of the Lake State:
ss1his beautifully located and dourishing new
city, is situate on the Minnesota river, seventy
five miles from St. Paul by land; and one hun
died and twenty-five miles by the river. 1t is
near the geographical center of the future State.
1t contains now about four hundred inhabitants,
AMI is net yet two years old. Ii has large and
conmodious hotel, steam and grist mill, and
another being erected, with two upright and one
circular saw, shingle and planning machine, we'll
conducted paper called the st. Peters, Courier,
five stores and several more being erected, also
large warehouses, good livery and various me-
chanic shops. The west side OF tie river, on which
side lis the town, is a beautiful and eminentiy
productive prairie for lively thirty miles,
while on the opposite and Immediately adjoining
is large body of the best timber in the North
west, in inexhaustible quantities. The combina-
ton of timber, water and prairie, with all the
necessary building material is found there. The
railroad from Winona to ST. Peter is only about
one hundred and ten miles in length, and its ulti-
mate completion is fixed fact; thus connecting
the Minnesota valley with the Mississippi below
Lake Pepin, and forming direct conn ection be-
tween st. Peter, Winona, LaCrOSse, Milwaukee
and Chicago. Also, the railroad up the Desmoine
in Iowa, is pointing directly to st. Peter. The
Government road from st. Paul to the Missouri
river, forms direct line between ST. Paul and
st. Peter, by road, with good bridges across
the streams and well graded. From fifty to one
hundred thousand dollars worth of permanent
Improvements will be made there this summer
The prOprietors men of liberal views, and
large means, and propose to give lot to any
person who will erect a good dwelling or business
house and carry on business, trade or profess
sion. The county contains about three thousand
five hundred inhabitants and st. Peter is ordina-
rlly the head of navigation for steamboats, on the
Minnesota river, and good line of packets is
kept running during the navigablc season. A
large amount of capital is also concentrating
there. The latitude of st. Peter is about deg.
south of ST. Paul. Lots are worth from one
hundred to 1000 dollars, and especial favor given
III prices to actual settlers. 1t is worth trip
there to see the fertility and general beauty Of
the Minnesota valley. St. Peter is twenty miles
below the Winnebago Agency, forty-fve miles
below Fort Ridgley, and ifty-ive miles below
the Sioux Indian Agency.
ST. Peter is no paper town, got up for sale, it
is the most inviting spot to be found in the North
west, and must from its geographical position be
the great commercial city of the Minnesota val
ley"
AS many of our citizens contemplate at no dis
tant day, to make the West their future home,
we doubt not they will read with pleasure the
above description of a beautiful embryo city.