New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-13
EOYGH NOTES or TRIP TO REL
RIVER.
From The sah, Pau .Adrer,iser.

The REGION 10 which the surroundings OF Ottcr-tah
Lake introduce the Westward traveller Is eASilhg NOR
public attention at this moment than any other as.l'o
If country in Minnesota. The marvellous peau'y vi
This region has been the theme OF more IMAM one tla'
der il lends glow Of poetry even 10 the du prose
Of tfcial reports and conqueIs even owen io eI.u,
.ia.m Six years ago tbis d.lgha,u, eou1a' noets
ysion II Law aiar off beyond the horizon OF mems
sciiylee-a plesan useless, AMI ntapgble ecstaey
dream. 1t has come nearer sihce' ils lone eicoP
az sojitnde i. ended The throb and pulse and tremor
Human industry marks its eventtul awakening Inc
,nilrcad engineer the mailed knight HeaVen-ap-
rinted to break its spell OF thousand years, mas
strode in triumph through the bewhdeiipg maZes OF
H. rcbspted hall and struck the exocizng shield ana
feld and wood and lake AID river have sprung nom
their statuesque repose and from the unseaed ups Oh
it's nyrind beauties, the murmur flows again Oh that
deep voice struck still long ages since by the magic
ward. A..
the Otter Tail Lake Region is ON the eve OF oeihg
ortred TO settlement. 1t has fallen within the
liam ed circle Of Railroad development. The route
f the Mnneeota ard Pacific Railroad lies through IL;
We have given our readers everything thai we could
cather fro III reliable resources relative 10 the Pnysca
CHARACTERISTICS and topography Of this section Of MIN
resota We have before described the country
trnytr.ed by Mr. Borden in his first trip westward
from Crow Wing TO Red River, his route, at that time,
lying What moth OF Wet from the northern emu
~ Otter Tal Lake. In second trip, he ascendedthe
Crow Wing and Leaf Rivers, and making three very
narrow cottages between Leaf Lake ana Otter Tau
Lake: descerded the latter to its outlet ard follow
ing the remarkable stream OF which II Is she sorce
from Crow Wing aud five from the head OF Otter Ian
Lake. The particulars Of this journey which was
reformed in batteau from Crow Wing, we collect
fou, Mr.. Bordens rough notes. They will be found
nterstrg TO those who interested in the hydrogra-
phica features of tis unexpored country, ana VIII DC
useful to those who conteraa ate setting there.
The Crow Wing is broad, shallow sire am, With an
average width OF $50 feet It's course is gently wind
inc flowing over smooth bed Of sand, occasionally
broken by rapids Its banks are high and less liable
To over flow than those of the Mississippi River En-
terLg Leaf River hrty-hve miles above crow VIM,
he found il very crooked stream, deep and narrow
bundled feet wide perhaps, and ascended WIN dill
Guilty against the rapid current Pine woods ciothe It's
banks which possess, in other respects, lew oil the
features which allure settlement TO the adjacent dls-
tricts. Leaf Lake. the source OF this stream, and
which opeps the door to the Otter Tail Lake region 49,
in fact small discovered chain Of lakes, three IN
number separated by harlow poitages, whose aggrc,
gate width Is rot more than two miles. The soil around
hese lakes is Of extraordinary fertility and the scene
| ~ justifes even the raptures Ut Pope. =,
But there is 10 poetic appropriateness IN Tue mel
dents of the place. No one could nave predic'ed
scene ike this from the anaogies Of physical geogra-
| INV a huge stoImcresied Titan range-its noun
| lain uatrix torn with volcanic throes, should have
| given birth TO two such mighty streams as those
which parting from this RIDGE bind all zones In their
opuosite currents No such monumental grandeurs as
ns,k the rise of classic rivers Indicate that here the
traveller .tacds upon the summit Of the water shed OF
the cortineLt quiet, softly undulating landscape,
set in a smooth horizon, sombered with dark green
groves toned to calm almost religious in the deep
stre.s of its clustered lakes such is the scene that
| eliminates that magnificent Photographed system
| which is one Of the wonders Of the world.
| Yet there is q poetic subhmity IN the situation
which utoxcates the imagination, and the sun sets,
after all on nothing grsIder than when setting on
these placid lakes gds the discovered links OF that
wondfous chain VI wafer communication that connects
the Gulf OF Mexico with Hudsons Bay AID tbs dis
tant tropics with the far frozen North. The ancient
4 Greeks would have built here a shrine 10 the twin
riyer gods born Of the genest Of all Maids, and
| rayth diyinzed 10y the Homeric muse would have
Taught the Attic fancy to here the sublime symbol
Of opposite destinies, departing from the same origin
and nDgling at last, these do, in common eterni-
~ Of wsteis. Instead of temples and fables, how
ever, TOWN. sirE WAS suRvEYrD! A town site,
Sir the Yankees spostrophe 10 nature the mos. po-
etica because the most practical of poetry. He is
not coa.eut with Gdmrng beauty Of landscape,
bg. he must possess Il, and possessing il. he dedi
Gates his lie 70 it. But he il not selfish, and j.
wiling to divide his happiness with the world SO
be surveys into lots for convenience Of distribution.
This not always the history Of tow n-stes but Il the
history Of Ii af City, which il situated on pottsge
between two Of theSe pretty lakes while through il
runs The Id Re RipeT s-.he probable path II the
Pacific Railroad. AID eHterpTsipg settlement OF Bos.
ton Insn have a?r-opra.ed the spot, and intend max
rg town .he-e. Bt d1s.lrg enorg :bsse charur