Minnesota weekly times., 1857-03-21
Emigration Westward.

The tide of emigration has already begun to
set westward for the season. Through our ex-
changes and correspondence we learn that New
England will send larger deputatious of her sons
and daughters to the promised land than in any
previous season, and New York and Pennsylva-
MIA exhibit strong symptoms of the Western fe.
yer. Ohio, too, which but a few years ago was
on the verge of civilization, is now reckoned as
one of the old States, and the Cincinnati Gazette
informs US that large numbers OF its citizens have
started for different portions of the Northwest,
chiefly Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska. Other
States will send q full quota to the general mi-
gratory army, and it will be further reinforced
by thousands from the old world. The arrivals
during the winter months show considerable
increase in foreign immigration over the CORES.
ponding months of two or three previous years,
and the next quarter will doubtless exhibit still
stronger tendency in the same direction. A very
large proportion of this immigration is and will
be from Germany, the main bo,iy of whom inva-
riably seek the Northwest as their home. Let
them come in any number. There is no class of
immigrants to whom it offers more hospitablc
welcome, or who make more valuable citizens.
Considering the astonishing rapidity with which
the Northwest is being peopled, one wonders that
the supply of immigrants does not fail. During
the year 1856 Illinois received from a hundred
and fifty to two hundred thousand: Iowa some
thing moro than Illinois; Wisconsin perhaps a
hundred thousand Minnesota, say q hundred
and twenty-five thousand, and Nebraska several
thousand, to say nothing of those who stopped in
Michigan aud Indiana or found their way to Mis-
souri,. ..... .4.u.r.... s
Altogether, six or seven hundred thousand peo-
pie have settled in the Northwest in single year.
For the year 1857 the number will not certainly
be less, and will probably be twenty-five per
cent. more. Population will continue to dow in.
to Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa ut about the usu.
al rate, but we anticipate a tremendous rush to
Minnesota during the season. The settlement of
this young and aourlshing Territory is without a
parallel IN the history of the country. In the
brief period of ten years it has acquired popu-
laton of not less than two hundred thousand,
and everything contributes to render its settle
ment more rapid hereafter. Minnesota is q heal
thy and vigorous expansion of the great North.
west, and TO add to the strong attractions of an
abundance of good land at government price, a
healthy climate and a very superior population,
it is now about to be linked to the general system
of railroads, and to assume the dignity Of State
without single drawback upon its prospects for
the future. Nebraska, too, will receive larger
accession to its population than ever before in a
single season, in anticipation of railroad connec-
ton with the Missouri through Iowa. We might
safely calculate upon an increase of thirty or for
ty thousand in Kansas if the slavery question
were settled to the satisfaction of the public, and
even in the present state of uncertainty the add.
tion will be large.
If we had not become 80 accustomed to consid-
er this grand expansion of western empire as q
matter Of course, the announcement that nearly
million of people would be added to the popu-
laton of the Northwest in single year would
appear wildly incredible. As it is, however, it
will excite SURPRISE though it is certainly cal
culsted to inspire feelings Of qualification that
such multitude of freemen will have found bet
ter homes for themselves, and thus added largely
to the substantial prosperity of the nation.-Chi.
cago Press. tar ~