Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-08-09
Written for the Times.
RIVER NOTES: OR 1855 VERSUS 1850.

8 WiSoSA, JULy IL, 1850.
What strange thoughts crowd upon the men,
DRY a. look around me and note tho wonderful
changes that few years have produced 1t this
point. Not q sign Of improvement or civilization
was visible here six years ago as, on q beautiful
morning, we passed by this delightful prairie on
our way to st. Paul, the Minnesota of those DAYS.
Every one on board the Yankee was pleased with
the fno prospect before them, after having seen
comparatively nothing upon the river bank, from
Prairie du Chen up, but high bluffs; if we ex-
cept tho LA Crosse prairie, which in fact is but
little seen from the Mississippi. But here beau
tifu plain of several miles in extent, with GEN.
tie slope to the Father of Waters-wild and
altogether uninhabited by Indian or white man.
with profusion of wild flowers scattered over it's
enthusiastically burst upon our view.
And then how enchanting the scenery in the
ground; those beautifully varied bluffs, with
the peculiar formation nearly in the centre of the
amphitheatre-like range, known at this day rs the
"Sugar Loaf rising high above all the others and
projecting so boldly on the plain below.
A general expression of surprise and delight
burst from the crowd as they gazed first upon the
beautiful prairie, and then upon the commanding
bluffs in the distance.
How different the sight beheld to-day, as l
came down the river, just before sunset, with a
front view Of the town, and Huff's mammoth
Hotel looming up in the distance so conspicuously
that it may be seen almost as soon as the Sugar
loaf. For q great distance MP and down the
river we counted buildings by the hundred, nclud
no VIZ or Go
ers were discharging their heavy loads Of freight
and passengers on the large and beautiful landing
such as we do not often see in the east or west.
New Corners were gazing on the scene before them
| with establishment; covered wagons bound for
the interior are being rugged up on shore, well
filed with hardy and intelligent locking pioneers.
Large quantities Of freight lie scattered here and
there on the levee, some for Winona. and a great
portion for Chatfeld, Rochester, and other points
in the country. Every thing is going on with a
"rush," and the stir and general activity is sure
indication Of the vast amount Of business done at
| Winona; and we are impressed with the fact that
she is indeed the greatest town, in business
| point Of view, below St. Paul, and in numbers
too, if we except La Crosse.
| Improvements are going on at an astonishing
rate. Indeed must confess that have not seen
the like before in all my travels in the west.
Probably no place in this upper country has
made such progress as Winona during the past
two years, although we think st. Paul did in 1849
and so. The houses are mostly small, it is true,
but we see many in course of construction that
would do credit to most towns of many years
| growth. Huff's Hotel, which is Just completed,
is fine building, and probably the largest on the
river between st. Paul aud Dubuque.
1t is said some 500 buildings will be put up
this season, and if we were to count them all as
dwellings, or as containing one family of five
persons each, it will give them an increase of
$500 inhabitants for the year. They now have,
We learn, about 1000 against $50 or less than 900
for last winter. At this rate they expect to be
ahead Of St. Paul in a few years; but if the lat
ter contains 10000, as many suppose, we think
Winona must be content with the title of the
second city in Minnesota for some time to come,
to say nothing Of the claims of St. Anthony.
should like to say something Of Waukooto,
Florence, Pepn, Wabasha, Minneiska and other
Aourishing towns between Red Wing and Winona,
but it would occupy too much Of your space.
! L. NJ. FORD.