Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-05-10
Setter from tbe Msst.
Correspondence of the Bradford Rcporterl

paper from SILAs NOBLE, of Dixon, concerning
Southeastern Minnesota, permit me to give
your readers somewhat of an idea of the Mid
die and Northern part of the Territory, as al
so the Minnesota or St. Peters river country
have travelled through large portion of
Southeastern Minnesota. That part of the
| Territory and the Minnesota or ST. Peters ri
yer country, is probably the best part of it.
The whole Territory is dotted with clear lakes
from one mile to fifty miles long, abounding in
fish, such as bass, pickerel, perch, &c. The
small streams running into the Mississippi, are
full Of trout The country and the vicinity of
st. Paul to the North and East, is poor quail
ty of land, made up for the most part of burr
oak openings and tamarac swamps. The land
extending up as far as Lake Superior, is gen.
orally rough and wooded. There is also some
very poor county north of st. Anthony, of the
same pature as that north of st. Paul | have
never been up the Mississippi but a short dis
tancc above st. Anthony, but the country bor-
dering the river is represented to be fine one
being mostly wooded land on the north side,
and prairie and timber on the south side
There are some fourishing towns in this sec
ton, among which are st. Cloud and Sank Ra-
pids the latter is noted for large power,
second only to ST. Anthony Falls To the
west of St. Paul the country is prairie and a
suficiency of timber, with fine lakes high banks,
here ana there. Among which is Lake Min.
netonka (Minnetonka is the Sioux or Dacotah
for great watcr) This Lake is about fifty
miles long, and is from three to five miles wide.
A large settlement occupying the south side
and half of the north side. A belt of heavy
maple timber one mile in width surrounds it.
The country along the Minnesota or St. Peters
river is good but consider it, (having ira
yelled along the river as high mp as Fort Ridge
ly, some two hundred and fifty miles from its
mouth) an excellent country. 1t has 10 search
ty of timber, which cannot be said of South
eastern Minnesota. would not say of Min
nesota as some of its admirers do, that it is the
best country on the face of the earth, because
L don't know to certainty, having never as
yet Travelled over the different countries on the
globe but believe it to be great deal bet
ter country than those who never saw it, sup
pose it is. Any one desirous of coming West
from your vicinity need not be afraid of freez-
ing in Minnesota nor need they be afraid of
starving for although the summers are short
ter than the summers here, or in your country,
YIox, 4, %hor roflo orc1
thing, has fine black sand running through
it. This is the case more particularly as high
up as ST. Paul In short, the soil varies from
the Iowa line, from black loam, like that of
Illinois, to sandy leam as we go north. So
that with the hot summers, ana soil adapted
to the latitude, Nature has made Minnesota SO
that men can live there and surround them
selves with most of the productions and luxu-
ries of the more Southern clmes. Everything
can be raised there with the exception of peach
es that can be raised in Illinois, and they are
of very rare occurrence in the north part of
this State. The climate is good-it is more
stable than that here, or with you. From the
time Spring sets in, to the first of June, the
weather is comfortable; the nights are cool,
then it becomes warmer, and SO increases up
to the middle of July, when it is hot, and SO
continues night and day to the first of Septem-
Der. The temperature going from the Iowa
line up viii be found to keep pace with the
soil, growing warmer as the soil grows sander.
The winters are cold, but not severe. Mercu-
ry falls to thirty degrees below zero, averag-
ing it for the entire territory. Sometimes (as
last winter) it falls down to forty below. The
air is stll in this cold weather, and the sun is
generally shining. The human frame is braccd
up. Every one has keen appetite. These
cold days are the best days in the year for
health. One needs to wrap mp well, however
The scenery through the territory is fine. The
roads are good most of the year. The ground
does not heave in the spring. Winds, with
the exception of wind about the fourth Of
July, do not prevail. Still, will not say as
some do, that the climate will cure all the dis
eases of mankind and regenerate old age, for
| don't know. / do know, however, that in
dividuals in whom / have great confidence,
have said they thought the climate had cured
them, when they were about to despair; they
may have been mistaken, the change of pur-
suits might have done it.
1t is estimated that forty thousand people
went to Minnesota last season. AS many will
probably go this season. Large towns will
have to be built up Persons of small means
| oo, 40 ,roII tboro Somn of tho wealthieSt mon