The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-09-06

uiShhioo tHS SuIJcCI iOE tuc pIcScuI ny copy
ing from the Cannon Falls Gazette the fol-
lowing editorial correspondence. Mr.. Ham,
ilton does not say nearly as much as he
might in regard to what is going on in and
about Hastings, but what he does say we
can endorse from personal observation
HASTINGS, Aug. l9. '56.
"This town has had an almost miraculous
growth, and its convenient landing, hand
some site, fin country back of it, and easy
access to and from it by roads in every di-
rection, would seem to indicate that it will
grow in the way it has commenced. On ev-
cry side | see buildings going up and mater
rial scattered about to commence others
The EpiscOpalians and Presbyterians are
each putting up fine churches. Two steam
saw mills, and shingle machine, are now in
operation, and Mr.. Knapp, formerly of Red
Wing, is erecting first class saw mill with
60 horse power engine at the lower end of
the town, on the channel of the Mississippi,
known as the Vernilon slough. Immedi-
ately on the South side of the town, on the
Yermilion river, the grist mill, built by Mr.
Graham, and now owned by G. W. Leduc,
Esq, is undergoing improvements by putting
in an overshot in place of wooden reaction
wheel. tfs .a
Son the same stream, about one hundred
rods below Leduc's miii, and still nearer the
town, there is first class Touring mill going
up, which is said to be the largest and best
in the Territory, or probably in Northwest
ern Wisconsin. 1t is being built entirely Of
stone quarried on the spot. Its dimensions
are 35x55 feet, with four floors, and will con-
tain all the latest improvements of the East
ern Touring mills. From the water level up
to the peak of the roof, it l. SO feet high
1t will be driven by pitch back water
wheel Is feet in diameter, and IL feet in
width, and the power is obtained by dam
II feet high, built in the form of an arch a.
cross the stream between rock banks on rock
bottom. think never saw so good place
for dam in my life. 1t is to be 6 feet thick,
of heavy stone, laid in water lime or cement.
1t is intended to putin only fourrun of stones
at the start, but as soon as the wants of the
country demand it, there is room reserved
and the power is sufficient for four addition
al run. examined the mill stones on the
ground. The upper stones or runners are
each over 5000 pounds in weight, and a four
foot face. 1t will take some power to drive
these big fellows. Each run of stones is ex-
pected to average 20 bushels an hour, as be-
ing so heavy they can run on high speed
or high feed without tremor or tlting-
The mill will have two gang of merchant
bolts, 2 reels in gang, one separator and
one buckwhcat bolt. About this mill, what
they cannot construct in stone, they put ir
iron. The castings and wrought iron for the
mill machinery will reach over Is 1000 lbs
The only wooden shafts in it will be those o.
the conveyors, boiling reels and of the water
wheel. Isaw the water wheel shaft, which
The millwrights have just finished turning
1t is white oak stick % feet long, anG
dressed "a inches in diameter, and withou'
a sign of knot in it. would like to see
any of the crack timbered countries South
or East beat that in the way of timber. The
men who are spending their capital in this use
full, and noble because so useful, enterprize
are Ex-Gov. Alex. Ramsey, of St. Paul, and
DR.. Foster, of Hastings, the lattergentlemar
being the active superintendent and plannel
of the mill. There are some Is men now Al
work on the concern, and it is sexpected t.
be in running order on or before the first q
November. Such a mill takes great deal o
grain to keep it going, but the extreme
scope of arabic land back of Hastings, is just
the country to supply, after while, half.a
dozen such mills with all they can do.o