Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-09-10
The Far West--an Interesting
Letter.

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general reader. We give below an
extract from a private >letter. writ
ten BY prominent citizen of Nash
vile, engaged in the mercantile bust
ness, who is sightseeing in the re.
gions Of which be writes. Looking
at things with practical, business
eye. he presents the prominent char
,acteristics in an unusually interest
ing manner.
ST.. PAUL, Minnesota, Aug. l, 1857.
SiDceleaving st. Louis,
| have not seen single face that |
ever saw before.
l shall not undertake descrip-
ton OF this country, its progress aud
prospects; that would require vol
ume. Suffice it, that the Upper
Mississippi is the most beautiful aud
placid of rivers, and this is the love-
liest region under the sun. am
new 10 latitude 10 deg, north, the
weather corresponds With October in
Tennessee, except that the DAYS are
fourteen hours. long, and that ! can
read fine print until s at night With
out the aid Of artificial light. The
power of the sun is strong, when ex-
posed to its rays, but in the shade
and during the night the tempera-
ture is perfectly delicious. | have
occupied some portion of my time
in looking round the country in the
neigbborhood; spent one day at st.
Anthony, s miles distant, where "a
mong other things worthy of note,
| saw a Saw Mill running 8 sash and
two circular saws, together With 8
single and hath machine. The pro-
duets of this Mill last year sold for
S25, 900. In the pond above this
Mill. embracing that part of the riv-
er east OF the island) | think there
ale 40 superficial acres covered With
pine longs, RATED from distance Of
100 miles. The lumber business Of
this place amounts to million dol
lars annually, none Of which goes to
the country below. St. Anthony
and Minneapolis contain 5000 inhab-
itants and are rapidly increasing.
Yesterday rode twelve miles east
of this though region elevated pro-
bably 1000 feet above the level of
the Mississippi liver During the last
five miles OF my ride, | was constant
~ in view Of beautiful lakes. At one
OF those, eulled White Bear Lake. |
spent an hour or two, it is three
miles wide, with lovely little gem
of I'D island in its centre covered
with sugar trees. 1t. greatest depth
is 80 feet : at the depth OF % fee.
the bottom is visible. | did not fish
but saw fisherman bring in %
pounds OF trout aud sunfish, the re-
suit Of two hours sport. The sun-
fish or yellow perch weigh about a
pound each.
The Winter early wheat is just be-
'ing-harvested. Spring wheat appears
in all stages from head in the boot
to turning yellow. The oat harvest
lie three weeks off Corn is much
farther advanced than other crops
would indicate, being now iu tassel
and looking sery luxuriant. The
soil generally, is rich. dark, sandy
loam, forcing vegetation 10 warm
weather with a rapidity unknown in
the South.
st. Paul contains 10000 iDhab-.
itants-eity aud country property
higher than 10 Nashville and David
son county. There is more work be.
ing done here now, Oh streets and
buildings than in Nashville during
the last five years. The laborers are
nearly all worthless, living in wretch
ed huts which, if assigned to the
slaves Of the South, would Cause a
"shriek" that could be heard from
Maine to Mason and Dixon's line.
City Taxes on an assessment oil
ten and a half millions of dollars are
two per cent. Wood sells from 81 |
to 50 per cord-no coal known with
in 400 miles. The nearest Railroad |
running is 400 miles south Of this, |
yet we have New York papers Of the |
18th; not four days old. The Full
Ter House, the Hotel at which am
sojourniDg, puts our NASHVILLE hotels
to shame The daily arrivals equal
those OF week in Nashville. The |
amusements consist Of two Conven.
tions to form a State Constitution
three theatres, one circus, besides a |
number of smaller shows. There |