The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-09-06
From the South Side Petersburg, va.,) Democrat.
A Petersburxerss View q st. Paul.
ST.. PAUL, Min, Aug. 1.

| ao. ST.. PAUL, Min, Aug. IL.
Though almost yet too new to this regior
to give you any very imposing opinion of it
nevertheless what have seen of the place
impresses me very fayorably. tits city
whose growth has been wonderful, for only
a few short years since, and the site of this
new city was bowling wilderness-the
hunting grounds Of the wild Indian, and its
lands worth the minimum government price
OF one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre
Then the river that laves its shores bore up
on it's turbid bosom only the Indians light
canoe, and now here stands city boasting
OF ten thousand inhabitants, and clearly de.
tined prospect of fifty per cent. increase an
nually!
! Even here in St. Paul the holders of town
lots ask such prices for them as would put to
blush the property holders of Wall street,
New York. For lots that at present should
think would be high at eight hundred dol
lars, they very cody ask you ten thousand
for ! and even tell you that they think it is
no favor on your part to buy it at that price
as it will be sure to double it's value in an
other year.
The prairie lands on the west bank of the
Mississippi are the most beautiful and mo:
fertile ever beheld. The soil is of dark,
rich loan, to the depth of eight or ten feet,
and its producing qualities cannot be excelled
or exhausted. And truly, here indeed the
farmer can sit under his own vine and fig
tree, with none to modest him or make him
afraid.
The river, too, is crowded with activity OF
mercantile life, and millions of dollars al e
carried on its surface in the shape of RATS,
the timber of which is the most valuable and
certainly the most beautiful of any in the U.
States. The climate here in the spring, sum-
mer and autumn, is truly delightful and
healthy beyond any hope that could enter
the heart of man. It is a land of beauty and
ofgrandeur, "Where looks the cottage out on
a domain palace cannot boast Of" With
such 2 rich country laying back, capable Of
producing all that is req ired for the comfort
of man, and with abundant means for ship
ping to market, the business of the city must
of necessity be large as we'll as in a sound
and healthy condition. Also, as the resour-
ces of the Territory are being developed,
which day by day are fast coming to lighs
under the direction of skillful and scientific
men, new avenues Of trade will be opened,
and those now in being largely increased;
and | doubt not but that few years will
see st. Paul a second Chicago.
These hasty remarks on views suddenly
picked up by stranger, may seem highly
colored cpd somewhat overweight to you
denizens Of older places who are content with
an number destiny, SO that some of you,
with self-suffcient knowing shake of the
head, may doubt that these Golden Dreams
will ever be realized in place like ST. Paul.
But ust come out here, look at the charac-
ter of its soil, its climate and its energetic,
enterprizing and highly intelligent people, it's
immense strength in its infancy, and you can
doubt no longer that its maturity will be one
of unparalleled prosperity and greatness
When my business will permit, 1 shall take
pleasure in forwarding my views upon St.
Paul to your Old Dominion readers again,
and | confidently expect my more matured
opinions of this Gar West" will but corrob-
crate these, my early Impressions.
A. 7. W.