New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-27
CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune.
HENDERSON, Sibley c

notice of the valley Of the Minnesota River. As
resident of that region, and as one fully identified
with its prosperity, propose TO bring to the notice
of your readers tract of country which has ben
truly STYLED the garden of Minnesota. Following
the river road from 81. Paul up, after passing
Shekape, town % miles from So. Paul, the
traveller is never out Of sight of the big woods, the
largest body Of timber in Minnesota; and for 10
miles this read lie altogether in the woods. Near
the edge of this body Of timber, lies the place from
which date my letter East and southeast oi rs,
for 30 miles, lies an unbroken forest, in which every
eligible location is already taken TO the west lies
body of prairie that for fertility cannot be surpass
ed The road running Yves: from this place passes.
for the first four and half miles, through light tim
Der and brushy openings Upon the open prairie
the road branches eff 10 Fort Ridgely, west 20
miles, and to Glencoe, northwest % miles. Both
these roads lie ia sight of timber, and IN travelling
the whole length of either 40 difference can be per-
ceived III the quality OF the prairie. The whole may
safely be marked as number one.
For the TWO aforementioned points, Henderson IS
the most convenient landing place. The great want
Of the country at present il good roads. The set
tier soon gets Up a cabin sufficient for his family;
if prudent, he brings with him stock OF clothing
and means 10 buy provisions, bnt the reads over
which he must haul his stuff to his new home are,
III a rainy seasCn, apt to be execrable few long
slougbs, which it is impossible TO get around, e
fectuay spoil the road for loaded teams, and for the
present act as an embargo upon transportation in
wet weather With the exception If these, our
prairie roads after the turf worn of, are ~ good
az if they were panked. These sloughs, though
nuisance to teamsers IN their unmproved state, are
nevertheless of great to the farmer inasmuch as
he looks entirely TO them for his supply OF nay.
They as We'll as the creek bottoms, are generally
covered with long wild grass of the finest quslIty
which is considered by many scarcely inferior to
timothy. These natural meadows are se proiIIsely
scattered through the woods and over the pralrles,
that there is scarcely quarter section that Is not
provided with good moving land at the very start.
They have TO the eye of the stranger rather dis
couragng look; but never knew farmer OF two
years residence to complain of them. traveller
who ascends the Minnesota River upon steamboat,
and looks at the tall, grass upon the river
bottoms, may possibly think he has seen specimen
of our best wild grasses. In this he is mistaken;
they grow upon higher ground. To find them, he
must 20 at least mile back from the river, and
thence follow up the creeks and brooks. These
frequently meander through meadows covered with
wild red-top and blue JOINT sufficiently extensive In
many instances, to winter hundred head OF cattle.
The best emgrant, in my opinion il newly
married man. Bachelors get along in rather
scuIvy fashion, and travelling expenses and provision
bills fall heavily upon those who come into new
country with large families OF young children. Per
haps ii is useless to state that help is scarce almost
impossible TO be had, both male and female. Ii Is
difficult to find competent girls who will work IN
public house al So per week. An offer of 81 -
per day does not readily bring tn your door a man
who will assist you in getting III your crops. The
vounp man is ant to be intent making claim for
himself and the young woman prefers staying ut
home. and earning as much or more III her allotted
place upon the farm than her wages as Il hlrellDg
would amount to.
have often been amused at new corners who 60
into we'll settled neighborhOOd and inquire whether
a claim cannot be had close by, having timber,
prairie and water. They seem entirely to overlook
the fact that this is frscass claim, and is natur-
ally the perquisite Of the pioneer My usual reply
to these gentry, that such claims can be mad by
going beyond settlements and becoming pioneers
themselves, seems rather to damp their courage.
have known men with flmilies TO quit the country
find return home because they could not md frst-
class claim iii well-settled nelgnb0rhOOd already
provided with good stores good society, and we'll
organized school district If you have not the sour
ace to strike out into the wilderness, buy out the
pioneers wellearDed location, 10y paying him in hard
cash for having done that which you shrink from
DONG yourself.
Ii is difficult TO give statistics with regard to
crops Grain is high at present, in consequence VI
long Winter. Corn and oats now readily bring 81 %
per bushel; potatoes have ranged this Spring from
81 IL 50 per bushel Seed corn lie very difficult to
procure. | would advise farmers 10 bring with
Them enough of good yellow flint for their own plant
ing. consider it the best corn for this country.
MANY object to il for feeding whole, as being too
hard. For NY own part. i would willingly use
handm if no other was TO be had, for the sake of
growing description Of grain that was sure to
ripen in oil seasons. We are liable here to very
short season. Farmers are now repantlng where
their has failed through a backward Spring and
cold rains and should we have killing frost on the
18Th or 18th Of September. both of which have oc-
Cured in the last six years cannot but think that
these late paintings, if of the large kind Of corn,
will have poor chance for ripenng. Still, good
crops have been repeatedly raised OF the yellow
dent. speak only of sureness. The farmer who
sows or plants any kind of grain, must expect, while
il is III the milk to stand by his field, gun IN hand
or else make up his mind 10 allow the backbirds 10
gather onehali OF his crop. In the present scarcity
Oi farms this pes. is severely felt, and may be- con
sdereG as enhancing the price vi grain fully % per
cent.
A wcrl as TO society. A residence Of nearly seven
years upon tie frontier has painfully convinced HE OF
the fact that the rstclsss citizen rarely enstates. IL
hi 5 been sore disappointment Ia NE. Let others
moderate their expectations lie; tbe man who
tli,ks of emigra ting West come with the determlua
ton TO be first-ciass citizen himself. Do not ex
peet TO find society already formed to your hand.
For this you must constantly work, and sometimes
fight Those counter influence. which AT home you
saw give way before public sentiment, here aspire
in some instances to the position of that Very public
sentiment, ROwdysm lie more apt TO dictate than -
succumb.
We have had this Spring good season of steam
boat navigation. The Minnesota still affords good
stage Of water, and, 10 Judge from TIE continual
rains, may be expected to remain up Elk weeks
longer. Then comes steamboat navigation as far
as the Rapids, fifty miles from SAINT Paul and keel
ats for very snlall steamboats, from the Rapids