Minnesota weekly times., 1856-11-15


bane of navisators and pilots-Now We meet and
pass RATS Of timber, logs and lumber, that can
be measured by the acre floating down from the
vast pineries that exist at the sources OF the
ssFather of Waters'' which supply St. Louis and
all the country below TO New Orleans.
Anon glides by the swift canoe of the veritable
denizen Of the forest with his paint and feathers,
his bells and amulets.
No person unless he has sailed upon this river,
can appreciate the novelty of the journey. Such
an indiscriminate mingling of all shades of char
acter tastes and grades of society, occurs probab-
ly nowhere else in America. On your left at the
table, sits fastdiOus Southerner; at your right,
a veritable Nose full of whiskey and swagger
opposite is the scholarly Rev. Doctor, President
of the northern Divinity School in New England
while by his side perfectly at home making free
with said Doctor is Mrs. Stoves notorious Legree.
-Yonder is a squatter and his buxom wife and
rosy children all in hi n excitement of being
about to take up a clearing, full of the import
ance of being bona fde land holder, while he
chats familiarly with the man under the Kossuth
hat, who now millionaire was four years ago,
poor adventurer like himself with all his earthly
goods in worn out black carpet-sack. Beside
that river boy, in sailor garb stands a man con-
versing with him, whose collapsed coat sleeve in.
dicates the loss of an arm. He is inferior in ap-
pearance but is none other than Parker IL. French
the United States, now with colony about to
settle at Grow Wing.
We arrived at Saint Paul after three days
journey, having laid aground upon Beef Slough
about "a hours. As we came in view of this
wonderful city, which is 400 miles remove from
the nearest railroad or telegraph, every eye was
strained to catch the first glimpse of the great
metropolis of the North West. The first sight Of
the city is when about three miles distant, while
your boat heads nearly northwest, but when
within two miles of the levee, the river by sud-
den bend swings your boat so that you approach
the city stemmng the current, while heading about
South West and the city presents itself at the
right on the North East bank of the river. l.i
Some writers describe St. Paul as being upon
an almost inaccessible bank of 100 or 200 feet
in height. This is untrue. The river banks of
the city are quite irregular the two levees almost
on the level of the lowest of the three benches
that constitute the city. But they are separated
by high bluff that is on level with the second
bench, and which must be $50 or 200 feet above
the river. This high bank is of solid limestone
a mile in length in the centre of the city and d.
vides the upper from the lower landing. st. Paul
is superb in location and in appearance as seen
from the river, | had expected to have met large
village-a respectable city y-but was utterly un-
prepared for the view before me. Here where
not rood of land was held as private property
seven years ago. found myself upon landing,
in the midst of hustle and confusion of the brisk
est business ever met unless in some of the large
commercial cities of the East. The hotels we're
not only spacious but really magnificent especially
the Winslow and the Fuller House. The Winslow
is conducted by MIR. Duel formerly of Saratoga,
N. Y, a gentleman who is sfavorably known in the
North West and acquiring a superior reputation
as furnishing Home as is a home for the lonely
weary traveller.
Churches in the West are often small forlorn
buildings while billiard saloons are snowy, splen-
did, gorgeous. In st. Paul it is reversed. Church
architecture is of superior order, and learned
1t is very certain that in this respect the Presby-
teriad and Episcopal would do credit to New York
up town temples.
The citizens are all life, all energy. Speculs-
ton is rife everywhere-even ladies and school
boys are entering lands and buying corner lots.
The wild lands around the city for distance of
six or eight miles, sell readily at 81 90 or $l,5O
per acre, and while butter is SO cts. per pound,
and other produce held at the same ratio, they
are are worth it; A superior class of emigrants
have filled the Northwest. This city may chal-
lenge the entire West to produce another city of
its population, equal refinement, intelligence and
morality. The fact that the Music Dealers have
this season sold 100 costly piano-fortes, not only
evidences the wealth. but the taste of the citizens
of city of 10000 inhabitants.
Through the influence and energy of the Rev.
DR.. Neill Of the lst Church formerly of Phila-
delpha; two College edi6ces have been completed,
one,for gentlemen, the other for ladies. The form
er is located upon a bluff commanding the finest
prospect of the cty this institution in session.
but a visit on the Baldwin Female College was
most satisfactory.-Fourt teachers manage the In.
stituton, and constitute atalented board as can
be found in the United States. Mrs. Hannah
Smith is the Principal, a lady of uncommon ener-
gy of large experience and high reputation whose.
.nstitution(the Auburn Female College, was burnt
last winter. We found in her employ Miss Martha
Wheelock whom we knew in days of yore, as
one of the most learned and accomplished teach
is a lady from Washington, Dc, of great energy
and talent.
This we had not expected to have found in
city in a wilderness: one of the most recherche
Boarding Schools oe the country.
Leaveing this we'll conducted institution that
would do honor to Boston or New York, we were
soon on the road to Ft. Snellng-seven miles
brought US to the precptous banks of the river,
down which We descended by road cut out of
the side of the dizzy cliffs. A swing ferry took
us across theMississipp ,and steep road up to the
orous, We rode to the st. Louis and had dinner.
After a very Indifferent repast we proceeded over
gently rolling prairie until we arrival at the
celebrated falls Of Minnehaha. There was the
house of the Arrow Maker. There young girlish
and unsophisticated Minnehaha, bright laughing
water, sported, danced and gamboled until the
Love God sent Hiawatha in his wonderful moe
casins searching for his lovely bride. Four miles
farther on is Minneapolis, opposite st. Anthony,
the most beautiful of the cities of Upper Missis-
sppi. But commercially it can never rival St.
Paul, althougha lovely location as residence
its wire bridge 100 rods above the falls, connects
it with st. Anthony, which glories in 5000 inhab-
itants. At the highest point is a mammoth stone
hotel built by Mr.. Winslow of St. Paul. Night
approaching we drove rapidly back to the Wins
low having rode 20 miles, and having taken in
the greatest variety of scenery ever did in six
hours, and for an equal number of dollars.
Of the Falls of st. Anthony can say but lit
tie, for there is but little of them especially COM
pared to Niagara. The visitor is disappointed
in viewing these falls. An irregular cataract
divided by small island :umbles and wrestles
with scattered rocks and saw logs, and then flows
layghingly away as much as to say-no: much of
q tumble after all. The climate is severe but
pleasant. For successive days the mercury con-
geals yet so dry and still is the air thst the ef-
fects of this intense cold are exhilirating. The
snow falls about Is inches and remains without
drifting all winter-sleighing is splendid.
No Fever and Ague ever attacks the residents
OF Minnesota while consumptives are said to be
affected favorably by the climate. But to the
uninitiated would say that the half is not yet
told ou, so 60 and visit for yourself.
Our vuE.
MI Merican woman roropslv roscued