The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-13
0QAerklp Minnfsotlan.
MONDAY MORNING, DEC. 8, 1856.
Extent and Resources of the North
West.

Extent and Resources Of the North.
West.
William Bross, Esq, editor of the Chicago
Democratic Press, in speaking Of this ssubec'
at the great Railway Celebration in Mon
treal. on Wednesday, the 18th ult., cInbod-
led in his speech many interesting facts and
statistics. fro (which we publish the follow
ing extracts: "Permit me, in this conncc-
ton, to motto, briefly the extent and rapidi-
ty of settlement and the resources of the
magnificent country of which Chicago is the
commercial centre, and which you have bound
to your city by iron bands by thecompletion
of the Grand Trunk Railway. Let any one
study carefully the map of the Northwest,
and he will find within the bounds of the
United States lying between Lake Michigan
and the Rocky Mountains, and within the
reach of the trade of the Lakes South, say
the latitude of Alton, 1000 square miles of
territory-enough to form fourteen States as
large as Ohio. 1t is very easy to repeat
these figures. but let US make some compari-
sons in order that we may may form SOME
inst and definite conception of their nagnl-
tude. All the States east of the Mississippi,
except Wisconsin, Illinois and Florida con-
tain only about 100 000 square miles. Again,
England, Ireland, Wal and Scotland, con-
stituting the British Empire, leading as her
position is in the civilization, wealth and
power of the world, contain only $4,000
square miles, and yet they have population
of 26,O0O.000. Turkey, Austria and France
contain in the aggregate 2Gl.O 900 square
miles, and sustain populatiOnof S4,0Uo:OOu.
The climate Of the region under the consd-
Grafton is exactly fitted to produce hardy
and enterprising people. Its mineral depos-
its of iron, lead, copper and coal are unsnr-
passed in extent and richness, and unbroken
by mountains, its agricultural resources are
exhaustess and truly amazing. 1t is said
by competent authority that every acre will
maintain its man bat giving ten to each:
within the next half dozen centuries. ii peace
and prosperity crown the land, it is destined
10 contain $50 900, ,00O of people. Such is
tie vast and magnificent country with which
YOU have become socially and commercially
onnected at all times and in all seasons by
The Grand Trunk. the Great Western, and
the Michigan Central Railways.
The rapidity with which the borders OF the
immense reglon-for at least tivescvenths OF
it is still the home of the panther, the buc-
falo and the savage-is one of the most as
tonishing wonder. Of the age. Within half
the lifetime of many who hear me, there
were not ten thousand white inhabitants in
all this territory their number now will
Twenty years ago Chicago was small town
at the southern end of Lake Michigan, and
at night the howl Of the prairie wolf might
be heard from all its dwellings now it is
city of more than hundred thousand inhabi
tants. Twenty years ago Chicago imported
nearly all her pork, beef and -four; this
wear she will export 20000000 bushels of
grain. and her beef both in quantity and
quality, leads the markets of the world.
Five years ago the State of Illinois had CONF
pleted q3 miles of railways now she has
more than :, 400. At that time there was
but one railway, 40 miles long, entering Chi
cago; there are now ten trunk and
great number of branch lines. and counting
in most cases but single State beyond our
own there are now more than three thousand
miles of railway centering in the city, and on
these more than hundred trains Of cars ar
rive and depart daily. The earnings of these
roads last year reached the enormous sum
Of SD, 100000, and this year they will
amount to from II to 20000O0O of dollars.
What is matter Of special pride is that some
of these lines are among the best paying
roads in the Union. But the country is in
creasing, if possible, much faster than Chi
cago its commercial metropolis. Only some
seYen or eight years ago Minnesota was or
ganized into Territory, and her white in
habitants were told by a few hundreds: now
she has at least 13O, 900, and will knock at
the door Of Congress at the next session for
admission as sovereign state.