The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-09-12
Progress and Prospects.

NC OViGCu
Progress and Prospects,.
We occasionally hear the remark from one who was
on the ground of this town last year, " that the change
since seems miraculous. Then there were only the house
Of the prc-emptor, and a small office where the business
of the town was laid out" This spring, dull and dreary
as it seemed to open, beheld nearly one hundred fin
ished buildings, most of them the ordinary kind that
marks the early start of all new towns. Since that time,
the number has fully doubled, but of a class whose cost
must exceed, ten-fold, the former.
At this present time, the buildings going up comprise
a number and value greater than any previous period
In summing up the Improvements made in our town
during the past summer, We feel grati6ed at the result.
At a time when 50 much distrust was created at the
East, by the incessant forebodings Of disaster that was
to befal the West,-and laboring under the peculiar
difficulties attending the formation of a new place, with
watchful and jealous eyes to magnify every obstacle
that appeared to stand in the way,-our extraordinary
progress may demand comparison, and demand it in
vain.
The want of a proper levee, was FIRST suggested-bvt
that was soon accomplished the ascent therefrom was
then objected to ; when down went the bluff. Store.
houses appeared to meet the progressive demand. Then
a hotel that is unsurpassed by any on the west side of
the river was erected. All these works required much
care and large expenditures Of money from the enter.
prising proprietors half of whose labors and expenses
in many other ways have never been made known. But
mills, manufactures, stores, and other operations Of bus.
mess life, together with a large and increasing popula-
ton, having now accumulated in the town, it seemed
proper that the citizens should assume the further care
of tho plooo into <hoir own haudo -uith What SuccoSS
the above statement of progress answers. 1t only re-
mains now for them to be clothed with corporate powers
to carry on and perfect the improvements whose need are
being daily manifested ; this will soon be attained when
our State Legislature meets.
We have fully set forth the beauty of the town loca-
ton, its healthfulness, the abundance of wood in it's
vicinity, which, with water, comprise the main advanta-
ges of all western settlements, the latter especially. We
have the Mississippi flowing past the town, whose water
is relished by most persons, especially when cool /;
around the river bank, and along one side of the town,
there are an abundance OF fine springs, ana back two miles
there is a beautiful sheet of cool spring water, large
enough to supply a city the size Of London, which can
be brought into the town at a comparatively small cost.
And on the prairie scarce half a mile back, water may
be found to supply a large town by digging but a few
feet ; and by placing pipes on the slight descent, it
would flow down to any point desired.
These are the natural sources. Being situated on a
rise of ground-one of the beauties of the place-wells
are not so readily made as though located on a marsh.
But even in this respect there need be no further com.
plant. Wells have been sunk, from which an album
dance of excellent cold water is now procured. J. K.
Case, Esq, ever active to promote works Of utility, FIRST
demonstrated the feasibility of having water on every
premise, and others have followed his suggestion, and
verified it. We cannot now call to mind any further
matter of cavil, except from that class who persist in
asserting that a new place. city OF one year old,
where the Indian roamed on his own domain but a few
years ago,-should be possessed of all the advantages of
the four quarters of the globe combined, with the par
ticular luxuries Of their seaport cities added without an in
cidental circumstance on which a drawback can be pre-
dicated,-to warrant the CALCULATIONS we have bestowed
on its prosperity.
and fame by luxurious incidence. Here a new country
is to be subdued. to do which requires severe toll, and
p~rivation, with much selfdenial. Seasons of discour-
agement reach even the Western settler,-but there is
a certainty of final success to crown the honest and per-
severing efforts of the industrious ~emigrant.
Whatever different from this awakens the fancy Of
the eastern emigrant, his own folly is accountable for.
The advantages urged upon his attention are those
that point to future success ; the comforts of life must
to some extent be dispensed with for a season, in the
wilds Of the west but these multiply so fast in most To-
c~alities, that all the desires of the heart will be in the
reach of the present settlers in a short space Of time.
We love to note every step that leads to this We may
throw into our statements much of the exuberance of
feeling caused by the hope of participation, but it is
done with the sincere desire that it may rejoice and
animate others also.
As a chronicler of passing events, we should fail in
our duty were We not to make known what is trans.
piring in our midst having done this, each one may
draw his own differences or plan Lis own theory, Of what
the future has in store.
We know that the particular accounts such as we
publish Of our place, do more to impress the reader at
the East, in regard to the material prosperity, not only
Of the town, but the whole country, than any amount of
general statement. They we'll know that if one part il
healthy and prosperous, the whole must be so likewise.
We have a large number of readers there, and from them
we have constant assurance of pleasure and profit derived
from such particular information as we give Of the
growth of our own and other towns. We therefore be-
lieve it best to adhere to this Legitimate duty Of the
The Louisville Town COMPANY.
The first public meeting Of this Company which was
to have been held at Nininger on the Goth ult, was un-
.avoidably postponed in consequence Of the non compile
ton of the requisite survey and maps Of the town. A
large number Of persons were present who expressed dis
at the delay. We learn that application has
already been made to the Managers for several hundred
The enterprise promises to be one Of the most