The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-03-28
SAINT PAUL. MINNESOTA TERRITORY SATURDAY, MARCH 28 1851
Winter Life in Minnesota.
Correspondence of the Ohio Statesman.)
ST.. PAUL, Feb. IA, 1857.

Winter Life in Minnesota.
Correspondence of the Ohio statesman.)
ST.. PAUL, Feb. IA, 1857.
Col. MEDARY, DEAR SIR AS there will
probably be heavy emigration to this Ter.
ritory in the spring and summer coming,
propose to inform your readers (many oi
them my old friends) relative to the PORTION
of the Territory in. which had pitched my
tent.
have made claim and built comforta.
bic cabin on quarter section of Government
land adjoining the new town of Cambridge
which place is situated on the east side oi
Rum River, forty-five miles in direct line
north Of st. Paul. have acquired right to
enter and pay for this land before it comes
into market by thus doing. Eight of us
have, since the first Of December, occupied a
cabin thirteen feet square on the inside, and
we all have made ''claims." We have COM
Portable hay beds the ground, 1--WE can't
afford a floor yeti. We do our own cooking,
and do it .6roaon too. We have venison and
other game in abundance, and the sight of
our table is enough to make hungry man
glad. AS far as we know we are twelve
miles from the nearest family where fema' e
graces the home. Yet, before another sea-
son passes, We expect more than hundred
families will be residing within five miles of
US. Part of the houses are already built for
their homes by their fathers, sons and broth
ers, who have braved the rigors of the VIM
ter to get a valuable farm at government
price, and have thus secured what will be an
independence in q few years.
The emigration here for two or three years
has been in shoals. Notwithstanding the
cold winters as compared with those Of the
Eastern and Middle States, thousands of
men have come here since the close of navi-
CATION to secure homes On the rich soil, and
in the healthy climate of Minnesota. AL
though the thermometer has indicated from
200 to 400 below zero, yet l have never suf-
lered less from cold during any winter of my
life than this. The atmosphere is very dry,
the rain seldom or never falls from October
until about April and the chilly sensation of
cold from moist air is not felt.
The soil in this vicinity is dark, sandy
loan, and produces corn, potatoes, ,oats, wheat,
&C., quickly and abundantly.
The vast numbering region commences but
four miles north Of us, and Rum River is
celebrated for the vast quantity of pine which
is fOated down into the y ississippi. Our
vicinity to the pinery affords us the finest
market for produce that the Territory affords.
Besides, We are on the high road from St.
Paul to the great mineral regions and the
thriving towns of Lake Superior; and when
the proposed railroad between St. Paul and
Superior is completed, we will have choice
Of their markets. parties are now out
making preliminary surveys No business
ON fbo nj Noff 1,ap
farming. Natura! meadows supply grass and
hay for every use. Hay of the best quality
can be had for the cutting of it. Cranber-
ries in boundless quantities, and the most
delicious wild plums and wild strawberries
furnish fruit. The numberless clear little
lakes furnish abundant fish. ..
There is an abundance of wood for fuel
and fencing, and our vicinity to the pine gives
us the advantage of cheap building material.
Thus it seems to me that we are at point
exceedingly desirable. The lands are not
yet in market, and can be secured only by the
actual settler. would therefore advise any
of my friends who intend coming West to
settle, to come here. @ @
Fl ALI the lands up to within some ten or
fifteen miles south of us, between the Missis-
sippl and the St. Croix are entered, and are
either occupied, or in the hands Of specula-
tors 1t is so with much of the desirable
lands west of the Mississippi and south of
the Minnesota. do not think there is a
better place than Minnesota for the man
with or without capital to make money
The face of the country is very pretty. 1t
is generally rolling, and is for the most part,
covered with a scattering growth of black
or burr oak, and as you are riding, you are
almost deluded into the belief that you are
passing through some old orchard, the ap-
pearance is so similar. !srf I'll IN ro ~
There7a are many settlers here from Canada
and the extreme Southern States, as well as
from the Eastern States, and all agree, with
whom 1 have conversed, that the climate,
notwithstanding the extreme cold winter, is
delightful. ssoIs es ehoHaaau Iea .o -fas
q 1t is, hard for the new conner to. choose
where to settle, there is SO much similarity
and he is generally governed by local advan-
tages. f1 1854 .73afo ".i io 51if H h32
Mechanics arc in great demand every
where. Brick makers, stone masons, stone
cutters, carpenters, &C., will be in great de-
mand up the Mississippi and Minnesota riv-
ers during the next season. Esgas "oia
1 ought, perhaps, to mention Traverse des
Sioux, ST. Peter, Shakopee, on the Minneso-
TIA; st. Anthony, Minneapolis, and Anoka
on the Mississippi, as well as this place are
in want Of mechanics. I speak of these places
because have visited them, and presume
such. is the want. of other fourishing towns
along these rivers. ~. f,.,-.. f...a.-..r.-- 81.
,Anoka is situated at the confluence of the
Rum and Mississippi rivers, and has mag
nificent water power. Six or seven mills and
factories are in operation there now. 1t is
owned in great part by the brothers Wood
bury, one Of them formerly from your city.
1t is but twenty-seven miles from St. Paul.
They are liberal gentlemen, and offer good
inducements to settlers. hBa a7rs
q, The Governor yesterday signed bill MAX
ing the County of Isanti, of which our town,
Cambridge, is made the county seat. A
Territorial Road from Saltwater, leading to
the pinery, touches at this point. yo7l if1lis
tits past midnight, so must close. Fl; u
Very traly yours,
rec ss,-,gg s,,a,,,i,otg VIM. F. WHEELER.
The Washington Union gives Pierce a