The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-11-27

The sun shone brightly after the rain. and
poured over mount and vale and stream flood
, mellow light, as our steamer came in sight
,f st. Paul. The first view OF this city, with
the dew and freshness Of youth upon il, was
truly enchanting II il finely located upon the
east bank Of the Mississippi, and although thu
hoases are scattered over nearly two miles ol
bluff and plain, it appeared from oor boat like
an old aud compact town.
As we remained in st. Paul Tor eight days
including two Sabbaths, we had on excellent
opportunity Of becoming acquainted with il
inhabitants. its resources and its prospects,
Our statements, therefore may be relied upon
although considerable allowance must be made
ior the quick pulsations which tho invigorstins
climate Of Minnesota imparts alike to bedy
and TO mind.
The Territory Of Minnesota was organized
10 ls4s, and the original city Of st. Paul was
laid out in the same year. Previous TO this II
was simply an Indian trading post. with low
Canadian French voyageurs and trappers living
on the bluff, where amid their cabins stood u
small Roman Catholic Church, built Of tama-
rae logs. The organization OF the Territory
and the selcc,ien el st. Paul ~ tho seat Of
government in the winter of l64S and lS49 At
once increased the population to several hun
dreds, and from that day to this the city has
grown with steady growth until It's popula-
ton at present ID somewhat over ten thousand
souls.
Although there is large number Of small
and inferior houses IN the town, there Is an un,
usual proportion Of comfortable and excellent
dwellings, and many elegant mansions in the
city proper and on the surrounding bluffs, iDdi-
cate the wealth and taste OF their proprietors.
At first, nearly all the stores were OF frame and
were hastily erected, but substantial warchous-
@ and stores Of brick and stone arc rapidly
taking the place Of these temporary structures.
Several Of the churches would be credit to
any city, particularly the First and Second
Presbyterian, the German Catholic and the
new Methodist churches. The Roman Cstho
lie bishop il erecting cathedral some two hun.
dred eet in length, and Of corresponding pro-
portions and beauty, upon one OF the two
squares which were donated 10 him for eccles-
sstical purposes. by one Of his parishioncrs at
the first settlement Of the city.
Several OF be hotels are large and excellent.
particularly the Winslow Housc, aud the
A American, but the Fuller House is the " st.
Nicholas Of st. Paul, an immense hotel, US
large ~ the Monongahela House in Pittsburgh.
which was opened with great state On the 25th
Of September. Persons who think Of the West
only rs u wilderness, will be surprised when we
mention that the furniture alone Of this hotel
cost nearly fifty thousand dollars The public
schools OF st, Paul are said to be very excel
lent, while. through the liberality OF Mr.
Baldwin OF Philadelphia, Pa, and the active
and efficient agency Of Rev. Mr.. Ncill. the
Presbyterian n. 81 minister, an admirable
female seminary has been established. By the
efforts mainly OF the same untiring and success.
fnl advocate Of Christian education, noble
stone cdifice four stories In height has been
erected for the preparatory school of future
college. The City Councils have appropriated
$40, 900 towards grading and paving the priD-
cipal streets and thorougbfares, and great hills
Of sand and gravel are being transferred In the
carts OF hundreds ot Irish to other places. which
require filing up Meanwhile buildings and
improvements Of all kinds are in rapid progress,
and in walking over the city and its suburbs,
hundreds OF new houses can he counted without
While WI were there, workmen
were busily engaged in excayating the iounda-
tious for the PIERS Of bridge across the Miss
issippi. thus uniting the preseot city with the
bluff on the other side, where il is supposed n
large population will ere long be gathered
We mention these facts in order TO dispcl the
common idea IN The older States, That the new
cities OF the West are mere collections Of shan
ties and cabins, whereas, western cities, even
though but lew years Old, often contain more
good buildings, than eastern towns ol the same
size and population. The reasons are very ap
n I
parent In the first place. the desire 10 gather
around their families az many OF The comforts
and reiiaenens OF iIle rs possibie, IS very gene
iai and as the gaiDa ei ssccessfal business are
Often larger, they are more frequently able 70
crafty this desire while, IN The second place
owing TO the high rate of rents large and sub
stan,lal buildings yield their owners greatar
profits than similar oncs Ia the East
Although large amount oi business isIonc
at the other towns on the Mississippi, 1T. Paul
Il the natural metropolis Of the Territory. and
with every succeeding year must con,inae 10
p,oye lts uscepeancy In still more striking
manner. Virtually at the bead ef nayigat,oo
ou the Mississippi, lalthouyh this distinction
really belongs 70 Saint Ap,honyj with numer-
Gus heavy capitalists. vast amount OF busi-
pe-s energy. aud . country back Of il stretch
ing westward To the Rocky Mountains, and
northward FIVE hundred miles to the PetnbiBa
settlement, she must. by her very position, the
natural processes oi trade. and the ordinary
OF business meD, become pow
erful commercial oeulre. There Is this remark.
able f,ature about property 10 ~, Paul, that
while II appears high 10 Eastern nen, II 10 10
reality not higher than in many country tovns
in Pennsylvania, and not 10 hxh a. Ia niany
ot the inflated river towns below ~. From