New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-28
MINNESOTA.
FROM ST. PAUL TO ST. PETER, UP THE
MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY.
Cer.po,dsue. Of Tn. n. Y. Tribune.

Cer..po.d~uee Of Tn. y. Y. Tribune
GALLYA, Dec. s, 1856.
Having seen little and heard much more about the
beauty and fertility Of the Minnesota River valley,
had made up my mind early in the Autumn to pay IL
visit: but from one cause or another, could not get
off until the middle of October when, having packed
NV carpetbag, l found myself on bright tuesday
morning ready for a start in that direction
Although tie specified time was a. M, the stage
which, BY the way, was covered waSon-dld not
get of until after o'clock, when we left ST. Paul by
very rough road, which gradually became worse until
we were about half mile this side OF Fort Smelling,
where the bridge small creek was worn out or
carried away. and we were compelled to get out and
scramble through the mud in the beet manner We
could and we were scarcely warm in our seats when
we were called upon to jump out again, or stay IN at
the risk of our necks the driver was about to de-
scend the bluff opposite the Fort by very rough and
very steep road. OF coure we preferred being our
own locomotives and started on the run to the ferry
boat which was awaiting our approach, and soon
landed us on the other side Of the Mississippi. Then
we had TO walk again up the bluff which stands the
Fort in a very commanding position, until we attained
the nights above, when jumped into our old wagon
which trundled over what was pretty good road
scross the prairie TO Gbsons, seventeen miles from o.
Paul where parook Of very excellent dinner al
moderate Price DelnE Only tnIty
About four miles from GibsOns we crossed the Min
uesota River and then proceeded over sandy prale
10 Shakopee Here We changed horses, ana cnanseo
wagons too and whatever improvement there ImSnt
have been in the former arrangement there certainty
was none in the latter for although our mrs. convey
ance was rough and uncomfortable enough 10 tau;ly
the II ost dyspeptic OF the company the msehine we
were row turned into Wa most decidedly the worse OF
the two, being absolutely an old lumber wagon, WIN
opt eitl or cover or spIings. If had cause for
grun bling before, leave it for the reader to imagine
whether there was not little more OF the same sot
now. a.,
a sandy country with here aud there good spot,
while occasionally crossed considerable tracts OF
stony land, which reminded me OF old connecticut III
fact the land between Shakopee AID Sand Prairie IS
Of very undesirable character, although II Is much
better when you get farther from the river There '
nothing in the way of town at Sand Pfalrle al pres
cnt, but believe some very sanguine individual taks
of starting one on and presume he will ignore the
present name and chrisen It Eden or Goshen, when
would, perhaps, be in keeping with its neghbor, Jor-
dan, town we passed through somewhere between
Shakopee and Sand Prairie although am compelled
to confess my ignorance respecting this said Jordan,
for although strained my organs OF vision TO the Ut
nest and explored-optically, mean-to the very
limits of the horizon, saw neither spires nor towers OF
this AOurishDg town. Perhaps it was shrouded from
sight by small grove of scattered oaks, on the out
skirt OF which deserted small log-cabin. No mat
ter two three cities will doubtless grow up here
pepper in a very surprising manner, and III very
short time
We'll, we passed over Sand Prairie, and the appear
ance of things did not improve very much, until we
had left it ten miles behind, when We came TO Belle
Prairie another town with cs scattered houses
and very long and very Darrow building or raherthe
sbell of luildiDg called for want of more appro-
pirate name, hotel Here were to stop for the
night; and, although the accommodations In every
reslect were of wIetchedy Indifferent character yet
we were glad to get something TO eat as we were ell
dreadfully hungry. For be ii known to you, gentle
reader that this Minnesota is terrible place for eat
ngi every bodys appetite is perfectly rayenous and
We are not particular a. 10 the articles We get
10 supply its cravings and this perhaps under all CIV
\cumstanoes is very fortunate thing. Well We got
our supper and after talking little politics as 1t was
election day in the Territory laughing about ride,
&C.. We we're shown up stairs TO our sleeping apart.
ments which certainly the funniest of the kind
think, ever met with have 10 time, however, to
20 into particulars.
We were routed out early the next morning, and it
WAS quite surprising to see how many human beings
could be slowed away the upper floor OF building
~ by 10. was astonished to zee them running on
the summons TO breakfast Ike drove OF rats out OF
tumble.down building. Had the inside Of the house
been pdsered, should have have had second edi-
ton of the Black Hole of Calcutta No wonder they
are in no hurry TO finish the houses in Minnesota:
We had breakfast, such Us il was, IN which fat
pork and tough beef PLAYED conspicuous parts. How.
ever, had good potatoes yes, frst-rate potatoes
in fact, get large, wbite meay potatoes all over
Minnesota, and abundance Of them, morning, noon
and night for which | feel duly grateful, a without
The landlord has al aIesian well dug or rather be-
L. dug cose to h house. as water is very hard to be
got just about here 1t has reached depth OF 100
feet and still water, al all events, no good waer
Tkis well costs him So per foot and the soil through
which passes consists Of rst sandy losmi second
sar d. third gravel and fourth clay.
We, very siter leaving Belle Prairie, got into
the Big Woods, and continued passing through them
for several miles, when to the ferry at Hen
deison. This place is new, of course and there are
quite number OF buildings here. We passed through
stopping only TO get piece OF PIE and som alter eav
rg this place. which is at presen. literally III the WOODS
We came out upon very lsrge tract OF meadow'land
through which rode for three or four miles, when
crossed ferry and found ourselves IN lie Seur
This is small struggling pace, o. rather here are two
places close together-Upper and Lowet lie Seur-but
neither of them presents any signs OF rapid growth
Here we changed horses, and dinedi and ony that
animal food appeared 20 be very scsrce Judging from
the extremely small specimens thereof brought on the
table, we had olerably good dinner.
TIE land around lie Seur is hig h and rolling while
trees appear 10 be pretty literally scattered around
ard altogether il appears 10 be rather desirable
country. This improves as We proceed up the river
and about five miles above lie Se1r we crossed another
ferry, and found ourselves in Lower Traverse, 4 new
town so called, containing two storehouses and q
shsniy perhsps two. i confess don't think much
Of this town SITE hall OF IL Is on land overf0 we'd In
the time of high water While tee other portion consists
Of high and broken bluffs. Leaving this place, about
mile further Oh We came 10 Traverse des ouI, an
old Irdsn trading poet ara now qlite large village