The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-04
\ NUMBER [I.llI E:Is.Il. "a.
geographical Engineers, who explored
EIS section /. .he SIMMER nf Qif ard i,,OEdn

1 -,
TIE Whole exteteof tic valley of the Red
River If the NTH. presents an almost
fuHbroken level Of rich prairie. intersected
at right angles by all the heavily timterea
tributaries of the Rad River from the East
and West, the Red River itself running
nearly dne North, through its centre, and
heavly'timbered on both banks, with elm.
oak, snarle, ash, &C. This valley, from its
vast extent, perfect uniformity of surface,
richness of soil and unlimited supply Of
wood and water, is among the finest wheat
countries in the world" ~. t,dt araf
Ex-Governor Ramsey, in a very interest
ing ard instructive address. delivered at
M'rn"anots. before tho Minni sota Terrific
rial Agricultural Society iN 1856, saws: 81
have myself witnessed corn growing luxu-
rlantly on Cass Lake, over two degrees Of
latitude North OF here, on the head waters Of
the Mississippi whilst beyond that in the
valley OF the Red River of the North, at
Red Lake Mission, lying between latitude
4S and 40 degrees, both the Indians and Mis-
slonaries for many years past have raised
large surplus of grain Of various kinds, parti-
cularly of corn. A letter from the Mission
which friend recently permitted me to
make an extract from, says: I'VE cultivate
wheat, corn, potatoes, peas, beans, carrots.
turnips, squashes, &C., with no more than
the ordinary amount of labor: we get GO
and 10 bushels of corn per acre, and 10
bushels of wheat per acre." 4-.
1t is not claimed that the region bordering
on Lake Superior, and lying between it and
the head waters of the Mississippi. is gene
rally desirable for agricultural purposes, as
compared with other localities; but if we can
form any opinion from limited experiments
and the accounts given by Robert Dale
Owen, Prot. Lorin Blodgett, and other tray
elers, New England farmer would have no
reason to look upon it with contempt Mr..
Ryerson, in his letters says of the vicin-
ity of the Lac La Pluie or Rainy
River, which forms a part of the boundary
between the Territory and the British pos
sessions " Large quantities of as rich and
fine land as is to be found in America also
lie along on both banks of this splendid
river"
Without further hesitation may we not as
sumo that even on the point of agricultural
resources the north and south line State pos
sesses the advantage. What else have we?
The reports of Captain Pope, of Owen, the
U. 5. Geologist, and IN fact, of all explorers,
as we'll as the geological formation of the
country bear concurrent testimony to the
abundance of water power to the north of
the parallel OF As degrees. 1t is we'll known
that above the parallel of 4G degrees, some
90 miles north of St. Paul, the St. Crox and
Mississippi with their tributaries, furnish in
exhaustable forests of pine and cedar, and of
tamarack. Actual examination has shown
ti'at rich deposits Of copper eXisi within Or
borders on the north shore of Lake Superior.
and there a strong indications of the exist
ence of other ores in that vicinity and still
further south and west. Speaking generally,
the whole region to the north Of latitude 4G,
between the Mississippi and St. Croix, and
on up to our northern line may be described
as timbered country. In these fast days
it is not to be expected that the farmer will
settle there at present to any great extent,
so long as good prairie invites his labor.
But when we consider the immense de-
mands for timber and lumber, and by and by
Tor wood which the prairies of Southern Min
ncsota, of Iowa, and even Of Kansas, are max
ing and will make, We cannot over-cstimate
The value of the boundless forest above u.s.
What are the commercial facilities that the
north and south line secure ? We find the
well known navigation of the Mississippi and
st. CroiX on the East. Capt. Pope says 81
assembled the Red River of the North in boats
from our Northern frontier at Pembina to
Otter Tail Lake, and found it Manageable for
boats of three or four feet draught for near
" 400 miles Of its course, and to a point
within one hundred and ten miles of the nav
agable portion of the Mississippi" On our
northeast, Lake Superior penetrates our
Of 4 bf, Of 4 bo
ton of tie great chain of Lakes. Whatever
advantage we can derive from our position
in this respect, is ours exclusively. Chicago
is situated at the head of navigation on Lake
Michigan, and we call it natural centre and
commercial point. 1t is not necessary to
prove that second Chicago will spring up
at the head of Lake Superior, in order to
give that point character and value. But so
far as facilities, and exclusive facilities for
commerce are concerned, is there not slrik-
ing analogy between the positions of the
two? A glance at the map is convincing.
1t appears from all reports, official and un-
official, that Lake Superior is clear of shore
ice from five to seven months in the year,
and its great depth and size of course prevent
it from freezing beyond few miles from the
beach. Practically there may be said to be
no obstruction to it's navigation whenever a
passage can be made from Chicago through
the straits of Mackinaw. 1t will be seen by
reference to the map, that the distance from
the head of Lake Superior to Buffalo by
water is only about fifty miles farther than
the distance by water from Chicagoto Buffalo.
This Lake commerce is becoming every year
more and more important. 1t is we'll known
that vessel loaded with wheat made it's
way, during the last season from Chicago
to Liverpool without breaking bulk or re-
shipment. What, then, are the resources of
the State, as proposed to be formed by the
North and South line a? Agricultural, min
eral numbering, mechanical and commercial.
To the farmer, the North and South line
offers all the inducements of the other, and
no more. To the mechanic and manufacturer
unlimited facilities. To the miner and lum-
herman rich rewards. To commerce every
which the latitude allows.
In this day and age of the world do we re-
quire argument to convince us that State
a variety of resources like the
State proposed by Congress, possesses adj
vantages over simply agricultural State
like the other? 1t is universally conceded
that agriculture. commerce and manufactures,
using the terms in the largest sense admissa-
BILE, are the broadcast foundations upon which
the wealth, prosperity and power Of a State
or nation can be placed We need not look
beyond our own times for proof of this prop
osition. Our own ewes and ears are every