The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-01-17
From the Dubuque Express and Herald.
Minnesota VS.. Kansas. a,.

va '"C Coten CouAdy3 Huaihiy uHOCCuple'
and open to immigration, so inviting and ricl
in resources as Eastern Kansas" Now,
have not word to say in opposition to th
statements afterwards made in reference t.
Kansas have no doubt they are true, bu
Minnesota can lay claim to all the advanta
ges in favor of Kansas, and something more
or am greatly mistaken. shall say moth
ing about the hints respecting gold and silver
mines, etc., which Kansas may have, for Min
nesota may have them too; or if she has
not she may be far better without them.
shall proceed to those parts which the writer
presumes to be actual facts
lst. "Kansas is the best timbered prairie
region of all the West, as well as the best
watered"
To this say that where Kansas has one
acre of timber, Minnesota has ten; and as
for water, there is no trac: Of lard on the
whole continent so we'll supplied with water
as Minnesota, either in the shape of clear
gravelly streams, or bright, sparkling lakes,
which by thousands gem her surface Can
Kansas boast of one where Minnesota can
show five hundred?
2d. "Wild grapes Of delicious flavor
| and OF an average size grow in very great
| abundance"
Grapes can scarcely be more plentiful
or of a finer flavor, than those that are found
in Minnesota.
Sd. owe have large and yellow plum
growing wild, very plentifully."
In Minnesota plums, both red and yellow
are exceedingly abundant, and of finer flavor
and larger-size than have ever found any
where else.
4th. "The pecan nut is found along the
Osage."
l am unable to say whether this nut is
found in Minnesota but rather think it is
not.
5th. "We have also walnuts, hickory nuts,
and very large and excellent acorn which
makes good eating for men as we'll as hogs
| they grow half as large as an egg.'
Minnesota has all of these. AS to the size
OF the acorn when compared to an egg can
not speak positively, as the author neglected
to inform us how large the eggs in Kansas
are, or whether he meant pigeons or a
goose's egg.
9th. We have in this Territory all vari-
eties OF oak. Black walnut also is plenty
Basswood is abundant. Many varieties oi
the elm and sycamore are also to be found in
abundance"
All this with perfect truth can be said OF
Minnesota. Black walnuts especially are
large and abundant, and the butternut also
abounds.
7th. "The mulberry, which next to the
cedar, makes the finest posts i'm the world
for board fences, is here to be had"
l cannot say whether mulberry is plentiful
or not in Minnesota, but I know she has
an abundance of something much better,
namely large and tall tamaracs, which make
better posts than any mulberries ever met
with.
9Th. Indians get an abundance of sugar
every year from the sugar maple"
1 cannot say anything about the Indians
but | know that white folks get any quantity
of maple sugar in Minnesota.
9th. "Stone coal has been found at two
or three places on Willow Springs-also on
| the Middle Ottawa
So it has in various places on the Minneso.
ia river, on Buffalo Creek, from wells sunk at
Glencoe and other places. Whether it is
better or worse than the specimens found in
Kansas deponent saith not.
10th. Limestone fit for building. and
limestone yielding an excellent quality OF
lime, is to be had in any quantity
There is no lack of either in Minnesota,
and | should like to see finer building stone
than that used in the new hotel and Uniyer-
salist church just erected at St. Anthony.
1lth. " A coarse grained sandstone fit for
building is also found.'
Do. do. in Minnesota.
18th. /" know of good grindstones for
sharpening edge tools, and a stone equal to
the French burr stone has been discovered ,,
l have heard of such in Minnesota. but
have not seen them. r..
18th. " Good clay for brickmaking is said
to exist here" 5.
Wherever have been in Minnesota. the
best of brick clay is abundant, and any one
who visits St. Anthony or Minneapolis NAV
see what a beautiful cream-colorcd brick is
made there.
So much for the Tribune's correspondent
and if these said privileges and advantages
make Kansas /" the most desirable country
on the face of the earth," then saw that
Minnesota is far more desirable than the
most desirable country on the face of the
earth ; for she boasts of many things which
| cannot, believe, be found in Kansas. I
will state few Of these: sl.ea9 ed
1st.-Her surface is perfectly dotted with
lakes, all pure and full of fish and water
fowl in great variety and astonishing abun-
dance. Icould relate facts respecting the
quantity of fish and wild fowl that would
not be credited by the most credulous Of nv
readers so l forbear. The advantage Of
these lakes to farmers cannot be overrated.
| 2d-I believe that Minnesota has less Door
land than any other territory or state of sim
| liar extent in the Union.
3d.-The scenery of Minnesota. both on
the Mississippi and the interior on her thou
sand lakes, exceeds that of any other west
ern State or Territory. In fact, how can a
| rrH ,<vrv~x L Il - \