The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-08-29

he hc1rasss
YEscenes which more than any otl
- the eye of the husbandman. We sto]
supper at Mr.. Gibson's comfortable house, .
furnished with a good substantial meal. D.
deserves the excellent reputation it has in thil
After supper we drove by starlight to ShakopS
On going up to the door Of the 'Wasson 4
best hotel in the place, instead of meeting as
ed entire strangers we were pleased 10 recognize
host an old friend, formerly a merchant iuz
street, Philadelphia, but who moved out his VI
ly to Minnesota, and is now up to his ears IL
and prosperity. If the Eastern croakers a
Territory could have listened to his account O
poets, or his more poetical description of the
which his children have learned to score the
search of wild flowers, they would shut up t
able little shops, quit the tainted and pollu
phere Of their great cities and find in the Fl
tivity and enterprise of Minnesota that healtI
pinesss they will never otherwise enjoy.
Shakopee is quite a large place. 1t seems
to be rather dull at present, and we noted
buildings going up. Property commands q
and no doubt is an excellent investment. d
tain months it is virtually the head of naviga
Minresota-not that steamboats, do not asceH
Louisville and Carver, but that it is at Shake
gers for St, Peter, &c., take the stages. Thi
great deal of travel, and consequently Of bm
the town. We found the 'Wasson House
that the bust our kind host could offer the
beds on the floor of the parlor.
At Shakopee we met our friend Mr.. OVERT
the principal Real Estate dealer of the town,
of energy and good business talents. He IS
terested in the town, and seems bent on urG
ward.
wing Shakopee at an early hour we dfVa
willie. This town occupies a fine site. 1t p
Rlftt az the best landings on the river; it is at
RAPIDS aud is consequently to the n;
What St.fFaul IS to the Mississippi--the
eation The land lies well, not in monoton
fortaity, but rising in gentle swells that will
beautiful sites for residences. 1t already conta
stores, a saw mill, a grist mill, and quite a nu
very Gnc dwelling houses. 1t needs but "a small
of we'll directed effort to make it a very importa
if not the most important on the river.
Through the trees to the northwest we cd
~glimpses Of Carver, quite q large and hands
It is situated further down the river, and on I'll
side. We regretted that we were not able. d
time, to pay it a visit.
We left Louisville about 10 A. NJ, aud pr
one unbroken ride to Belle Plaine where We I
The great newspaper reputation Of this place
us high anticipat;ons that were doomed not
lied. The town is quite small. We do d
contains altogether two dozen houses. At ii
the site is one of the most beautiful that 4
%ceivetl.- 1t was properly named belle plaine.
is situated in the midst OF woods, is of consi
of great fertility, and affords to the eye a che
We must do the town the justice to add I'll
new, being we believe not more than a year
if all is done for it that has been promi
doubt rise to considerable Importance.
very handsome Hotel being constructed.
dined at was u miserable old barn, and utt
any tplhS except StofllS nay IN.
The road from Belle PLANE to this plad
lies through the Big Woods, and is very
a curious feature of this prairie country
these immense belts Of timber land stree
drols of miles over the Territory, formin
dark forests wherein the deer and other
their own against the advancing current
for years to come. 1t is strange also to-
-. =, has vvNo4c rr.x( Ill. -
dotted fields, carrying one back by the
imagination to the forests of Pennsylyan
in sucl, instances what our forcfathers q
slow march through the wilderness b
the wide savannahs Of Illinois. 1t
hardest bard shin from the rocks of N
swamps Of the Miami, it was the SAM
ton, labor, danger and lily repaid excr
Henderson is poorly situated, in the
Woods and on a low fat Of land,
at any time to overflow from the Min
consists almost altogether Of one lol
are, we were informed about three hun
town. The location of the United Sta
at this point, and gives vitality t" it,
all the BUSHES, Of the town flows from
Hotel is the valley House, a poorlj
in one Of whose beds we passed a mo
immersed in filthy feathers, swcl,eri
room, and bcset by more bed-bugs thd
in henderson. Heaven forbid that DOd1d d
another night in that town !
The land Office is a curious sight. Il is loca
moderate sized frame building, the second story {
by lawyers, and the first by the United States.
tanned several clerks, with all their maps, boz
papers around them Outside of a railing, wbicl
in these clerks, were a number Of pioneers nlakil
applications for Government land; filing their
tory statements; proving up, or undergoing bel
gcatlemanly Receiver, Mr.. c. Graham, an exam
into contested titles where claims had been
ed, De. One felt that they were at last on the I
of Civilizations little further. and we we're in
dian country. Here were the settlers Of the wi
in rough, garb, and with sturdy demcanors securi
Government that land which will yet be the aSr'
wealth nf the future. Here one could literally
Hear the rush of pioneers,
or nations yet t" be; w
The first low wash of waves, where soon
Shall roll a human sea. u
4 little longer and all this will be transferred
West. Fifty years from now ana no" l'.'e can
fopy POPULATION this place will then contain mia
wild. strange scene that now meets my eyes. I
wilderness is actually in transition. Here on !
tie maps Of sections and quarter sections, marKt