Smyrna times., 1857-06-10
Correspondence of the Smyrna Times.
Sr. PAU. NJ. T.. Nav 25lh. 1851.

Sr. PAUL, NJ. t., May 25th, 1857.
Mr.. Editor Your correspondent being now
in the "great west" where the thoughts o.
hundreds are continually reverting, wishes To-
trouble you with few lines that will perhaps
contain something of interest TO the readers OF
your paper-and especially to those who may
think of launching their barks in the grea
swelling stream of migration, which is flowing
in from all sections.
Being soMewhat retiring in my disposition
among strangers, and not one of the "pltchng
in =" kind am accused by the MinnesotIans OF
being Old Fngyish; aud they, probably, do not
concur with me in my opinions respecting their
Territory, which has been of such pecunary
advantage to nearly all that nave come into ii.
The ma iority Of strangers are of the same opIn
lou as myself. but they (the MinneSotians) still
hold out the idea that the chances for obtaining
much gain are not yet near exhausted. They
" blow" so hard and loud about il, their notes
reach the ears of vast number Of the southern
as we'll as eastern people, aud the consequence
is, the hotels from Chicago, westward are
crowded with rea-estate specuatorsandmo money
saners, of which Minnesota, and PARTICULAR!
this place, has more than It's share. will
make a statement and submit it to the Times
for the in pect on Of its readers. They can
then Judge whether or not am merely conjec.
turing. Ia the first place, the country is des
titute of farmers,--the acknowledged bone and
sinew of any pace,-as nearly every man Is
engaged in making u and per cent. loans
or in selling paper-towns or quarter sections.
Secondly. Products are not sufficient TO support
more than one-half Of their inhab lta nts,--say
nothing of horses, cows and pigs. Hence con
siderable importations are necessary. For
gra in they send into Illinois, and or beef, pork
and beans, into Iowa. This soil being pecul-
arly adapted to the growth of potatoes, enough
are raised here for home consumption, in gar
dens and spots about. OF course no little ex,
pense is attendant, and by the time such i'm
ported articles reach this place, they figure
rather highly. | will give you a list Of pr'ces
as quoted in to-day's paper Oats, 81 30; corn.
1925; wheat, from 81. 10 10 $l.2): potatoes,
Sl.25; and other things in lik" proportion.
It's very natural for any one to conclude that
this Territory containing nearly one hundred
thousand souls, cannot live much longer on gas,
corner-lots and quarter-seclions. There will
be a crash, and that, too, before long, is the
opinion of many. Regardless of this, though,
property is selling rather briskly. Town lots
bring from 800 to $500 front foot on any
business street. Mr.. ]. J. Henry, of Delaware,
has been buying somewhat extensively at these
prices. DR.. Hayward, who is also of Delaware
is speculatng quite largely IN this vicinity
lie let out at contract, last week, building
that should cost from twelve 70 IiI:en thousand
dollars in the city of St. Paul, which, by tbs
way, is one OF the fastest cities west of Chi
cago. Seven years ago, few log cabins stu
ated over the Bluffs, constituted all of what il
now called st. Paul One of these cabins wal
, used as a Catholic Church, and was called st
Paul's Church,-from whence the name Of tn,
city is derived. II now contains seven churche
that any city would be proud of; three frat
class hotels that would rank as such anywher
east besides several substantial and spaciou
d warehouses, fine stores, dwellings, &c.
, Considerable excitement prevails at presen
throughout the Territory, in regard to the cleo
tion, which comes off early in June, tor tn
purpose of selecting delegates to form Stat
e Constitution. The stir is pretty great in th
d Republican ranks, but the Democrats have br
j. little to say. being sanguine of SUCCESS
l. they have always been the predominant part
Of So far as can learn there is but little at issu
a. and things will no doubt pass off quietly I'M
sr the hands of the Democracy, I. XII ~, ,
/ 9hi.sssW asst U4r,.A Yours, &c, s,