Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-22
From Hunts Merchants Magazine.
MINNESOTA-THE GROWTH AND PROGRESS
M THE NORTH WEST.

MlNNEHSOIA-IHE GkO w LII AMI I1SOVASI1oO
OF THE NORTHWEST.
The Territory of Minnesota, as organized by an
act of Congress of March Sd, lS49, and now em6ra.
cling ak that vast tract lying between the Mississippi
and the Sioux rivers since coded by the Dakota or
Sioux Indians to the United States, comprises vast
area of about 1866 900 square miles, or LOG, 600 GOO
acres extending from the Mississippi and St. Croix
on the east to the Missouri, the west, and from
the British line latitude 40 deg, the north, to
the Iowa line, on the south, embracing more than
seven degrees of latitude. or running distance,
north and south, of over five hundred miles, com
loan, interspersed with numerous groves and belts
of woodland, well watered by numerous lakes and
rivers, some of them navgable.
Though of recent settlement, it long ago attracted
those adventurous spirits-the trapper and the ira
der-those peculiar geniuses, recognizing no law,
untutored save in their own peculiar craft, as the
dusky Indian who so long regned supreme over this
vast region, yet who have done towards devel-
oping and peoplng our Western wilderness than
any other class. Here, by turns mngling with the
Ojibway, Dakota, Sissiton, sharing the smoke of
their wgwams and joining their counci6res, they
pursue their avocations on the hunting grounds of
their red brethren, return to civilization to tell
strange and wondrous tales of the blooming praries
the crystalline lakes and open woodlands, stretching
far away to the northwest across the great Father of
Waters.
AS early as 1850, Hennepn, jealous Jesuit mis-
sionary of the cross, penetrated these wds followed
by such voyageurs as La Hontan and LIE Suer; and
still later, somewhere within the present century,
Nicollet, Schoolcraft, and Heating explored this
gon But it not till the spring of 1910 that the
influx of white population may be said to have
menced, which, till the present time has been up
ward, onward, and never ceasng. Within that time
its population, then composed entirely of the en-
ployers and attaches Of the fur trade, which was
then the paramount if hot the sole business inter-
est of the country, has reached two hundred thou
A.. A.
energy, the intelligence, and the industry of the
whole Union.
Nor is it to be wondered at that at this moment
this vigorous offshoot of our broad domain contn-
ues to attract the eager speculative eye Of our peo-
pie Possessing climate the most exhilarating,
and peculiarly adapted to the nature of the soil;
free from the enervating malaria arising from the
decomposed mold of the bottoms of southern Illinois
and the West in general; made up of high, rolling
table lands mostly PRAIRIE of whose fertility and
productiveness there remains no longer doubt;
waered by numerous lakes and streams, affordng
in their water power capable of easy improve
ment for all manufacturing purposes; direct steam
communication with the markets of the South and
East; superior lands open for settlement at govern
ment prices; home market for produce, and at
higher prices than be realized any other point
in the West, to subsist the various Indian tribes,
and to supply the forts and government forces in
the interior, we'll the thousands engaged in the
pineries and lumber business of the upper country
with these advantages, and many more beyond the
scope of this short chapter to mention, it is mat
ter of surprise that Minnesota should have outstrip
ped all her sstcrhood in her short race and that her
prodigous strides towards power and position a
member of this great confederacy should stand te-
fore us without paral ell.
Nine ago the rude cabins of few half breeds
marked the spot where now stands the great north
western emporium St. Paul, with its tall spires and
elegant buildings; its commodious warehouses and
busy levees its fleet of barges and steamboats,
Enthroned queen, she sits upon the terraces of
that elevated plateau, and is destined, commercially
speaking, to give laws to much Of that immense re-
gon around her. She is the grand centre Of disri-
button for all the upper country, well as by the
Minnesota River for the rich valley to the southwest
drained by that important tributary; and must
remain, till the interior and southwestern tier of
counties shall have been tapped by railroad, open
ing communication with the Mississippi at point
lower down, as is contemplated. The completion of
the projected line of railroad, uniting the Lake SUI
peror country with the Mississippi at St Paul. with
other interest than that of being the great entire
pot for that section acknowledged by all the richest
mining region in the world, in future employing
thousands, as she must ever remain The principal de-
pot for the supply of the immense agricultural dis
trct to the north and west, must give ST Paul
an important position place Of transhipment.
There are also many other important towns spring
ing into existence on every hand--indced, there is
scarcity lONu slte vi TIC MISSISSIPPI, from the
boundary line of Iowa to the Sank Rapids, more
than one hundred miles above St. Paul. but what is
prospectvely city in the eyes of its hopeful! nhab
itants; and away off in the INTERIOR following the
line of the Minnesota River, which penetraes the
very heart Of the country, known the rich Valley
Of the Minnesota, comprising the choicest lands for
all agricultural purposes-on the widespread lawns
and elevated plateaus ringng the rivers bank, every
available site is occupied and teeming with life and
busy industry. Steamboats, from st. Paul come
swarming with emgranIs; steam mills have been
put up; and good and substantial buildings, some
of them claiming share of elegance vieng with any
to be found in the inland towns of old homes in
the East have been erected. Many of these towns
already boas: some hundreds Of inhabitants and the
real life, busting activity and energy of character
everywhere displayed are sure guarantees of the flu
ture destiny that awaits them. The land grants
given Minnesota by the last session of Congress for
railroad purposes will doubtless give this fair
section more direct outlet to the Mississippi, when
its future products will find ready sale in the grain
markets of the East.
In further proof of what we have said in this short
chapter concerning Minnesota, as more to the point
and with as broad margin of truth as anything we
can say. we give below extract from the remarks
of j. Wesley Bond, touching emigration and the
character of this growing country:
Emigration to the West has heretofore been
nauseousy associated with the idea of low ATTITUDES,
the miasmas of fiat lands, and consequent disease,
and heartsickcning disappointment 1t has, too,
been associated with backwoods institutions, lynch
law, the bowe-knifc, uncertain means of education,
and gospel ministry horseback Minnesota
presents another picture and is truly phenomenon
in the eyes of the migrating world. 1t occupies
high latitude, has quickly drained surface and is
the inviting home of intelligence enterprise, good
laws, schools, and churches. The
high-toned character of the population different
from that usually found upon the frontier-their
obedience to law-the zeal manifested in the cause
of educaton-the disposition universally shown to
make every sacrifice to place the prosperity of the
future State upon basis-the aversion felt to
ali naile