The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-25
RESOURCES AND PROSPECTS OF MINNESOTA.


The Minnesota Advertiser of the 9th inst. contains
a full report of very able speech delivered by G..
C. Andrews, esq, formerly of this city, at the dedi
cation of the Everett schoolhouse at st. Cloud in
that Territory, on the fourth of July. The concu-
ding portion of the speech, which relates to the re-
sources and prospects of Minnesota, which give
below will be read with deep interest:
ii any further reasons were needed why obi
gated people to cherish the public school with zeal
it is that lot is cast in region where Nature has pro-
fsely bestowed her gifts. In the Olympic games in
der to render an ordinary exhibition Of skill agreeable the
greatest feat reserved for the closing So, Ma
did not reveal to the American settler her most at
tractivc seats tlhe sterile and retarding regions
cultivated First rocky and mountainous will
derncss then soil fertile, but still wilderness
then plain luxurian but naked then plain blest with
the luxuiance with saubrious atmosphere
surface smooth and vertant lawn and adorned with
groyesa stately and delightful planted by magic hands
for the Consider moment the vast resources Of
Minnesota Within the limits of the prescribed State
boundary You will have domain more than twice
large the great State of Ohio, and six times large
as Holland when she was the mistress Of the sea. In
your great rivers you will have navigation in the ag
grcgate Of nearly two thousand miles, and harbors
the great inland of Superior. The vast pncries
which extend TO the far north will supply lumber for the
entire valley of the Mississippi. And cxhaustess
copper mines even have influence on the
merce of the world If you would test the fertility and
pr0utCtINeneSS Oh Oh
Territory in autumn. Survey the rich valley Of the Root
river and the uxurant eXanse where the Blue Earth
and its copous tributaries spread out like gorgeous
fam Nay traverse the entire southern part of the Ter
ritory and the broad valley Of the Minnesota and you
will find region not only unsurpassed In fertility, but
able to cope with agricultural community in its genial
and cultivated civilization Visit the land watcred by
the beautiful St Coix long the fyotc resort Of the
Indians Let the mind take in the upper valley of the
Mississippi dotted with harvest fields and villages
the alluvia valleys of the Bots des Sioux, and the
Red River of the North the truly magnificent and fer
te1ndulations which surround the Otter Tail Lake Go
forth while the wild fruits still hang ripe the trees
and the air is vocal with the songs Of birds thousand
beautiful lakes glitter like diamonds the extended land
scpe; thousand crystal streams, capable of turning
heavy machinery, wind in every direction Ascend those
romantic highlands where side tho great feeder of
Hudsons lny starts ont from little spring, and the
other side the majestic Mississippi is ill. How
varied and picturesque how full OF hope and promise, is
the uniolled to your Siew 1t Is then that the
mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into
singing, and all the trees Of the field shall clap their
hands.
'iSuch fellow-citizens is inadequate v,y Of our re-
Such is the natural la,..,,scape And now If
discard eltdestrucve yallies if we seek to rise by
our own merits, and not by pulling others down if we
succeed ii adopting wise institutions if we seek per-
manent rather than transient prosperity if estab
lsh constitution which shall carry the flag and keep
step to the music of the Union If we nurture a aut!e
State pridca pride that will be ashamed of ignorance
and crime, and proud not OF few instances of splendid
wealth talents but of the general welfe-th here
will be found attractions for all who seek the serene enjoy
ments of enlightened life Minnesota shall furnish
and inviting field for the development of those resources
which speed on the triumphant course of empire Here in
dnsty shall wend its way to aucnce Here the arts may
attain still greater achievements Here shall
reap its accustomed opuence Here knowledge shall inn
bue ingenious youth with aspirations for worthy man
hood. Here science may start affcsh on her familiar
walks and compass at length the outer realms space
Here the press with its thousand tongues shall vndcae
the supremacy of Truth Here philanthropy may its
noble benefacons~ Here civilization may win au-
rels in rcdeemng the remnants of forlon race from
the bondage of ignorance Here law shall illustrate the
supreme will of the people by securing the perfection of
liberty in the perfection OF restraint Here patriotism
shall be that exalted principle which embraces the entire
Union in the bonds of atena fellowship and aspcs to
a common and immortal glory!