The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-13
Choosing q Location.

OuOU81WS u AOCt8SAUU.
In locating at the West there are many things to be
considered besides the latitude. 1t is certainly prefera-
bic to come to a healty and invigorating climate even
if attended by long winters. than to. be; exposed 70 the
Influences inseparable from the mild regi6ns'
of a new country, where, besides the danger to sifesaaA
feeling of lassitude units the system for pleasure in
any kind Of effort. In. this view, how much better to
ENJOY a continuous round Of happy days in Mipnesota,
unaffected bv fear of injured health, than to fritter
away a short and miserable life, in the unhealthy dis
~tricts, because warm and rich, in the generality Of the
States q little south of this A mild climate is one
Of the most enticing bats to lead hosts Of thoughtless
~emigrauts to destruction, as the hundreds 81. connecting
evils are not understood until the mischief has been
wrought upon them. There are, at this moment, thous-
ands Of persons in Minnesota, who 1hhse fed from such
localities to recruit their enfeebled bodies, of save the
remnant Of their antilles from the poisonous 1t.
~mosphere Of those places where they have no winter
Of any duration, and where it is spring or np@er all
the time. Ask any of these to whom We refer, and
their testimony may be relied on; they would seek, the
rigorous winters Of the north pole il preference 70, the
best district where the climate is 50 inviting TO the ig-
norant emigrant on account of it's freedom from cold.
There are, besides climate and health,a many other
motives that should actuate the ~emigrant. With but
<canty means, the cost Of getting frat start is one Of
great magnitude. In Minnesota there are nearly eight
millions of acres ready for presumption at $i'25 an
acre, a large portion of this is equal to the best now
in the hands Of settlers, ana a good share Of it Is near
dourishing towns and settlements, and in proximity to
the large ~navigable rivers of the State. But few of
the Ian Is taken up are in the hands Of specializing com
panies none at al, compared with those Of auy Of the
rest Of the West. A law will be enactel this year BY.
Congress, there is no doubt, giving the alternate sec
tons on the lines Of the great railroads. to actual Get.
tiers, and all future legislation on the public domain
will be to keep the soil here for the settlers, and from
the blighting effects of land monopo'ies. .a.ss gsq saaiH
The richness of the soil, and facility Of raising all
the products of the Eastern and Middle States, remain
unquestioned, and the agricultural wealth of Minnesota
will yet be the wonder of the north west. I'd : + g.gsst
After securing a tract in a proper locality with all
the attending benefits Of healthy climate, n~avigable
streams, and convenient towns, there may yet be many
drawbacks to the success of, the settler. To mention
one illustration viii verify this, and may suggest other
like instances. On the Missouri River, al far up -
~navigable, and west of its banks, through Kansas and'
Nebraska, timber is very scarce-in places materials Tor
building are not to be had at any price, and must u
ways be excessively high priced. sos ,bHei q saai 1saa
b We have already spoken of the cost Of lumber In
the river towns in Kansas, being u. high as 9Qato 100
dollars per NJ feet, and higher IL proportion e The dis il
lance from tn ,se great highways. Most Of it'll taken
from this region or from Maine, and transported up
the Missouri river, at great trouble and cost. Z ;s'i
In Nebraska they fare no better in this respect, d u
learn by the Florence sCo4rier, printed in = town the
most eligibly situated to afford lumber at the cheapest
rate. From an advertisements il the paper we quote
the prices there last month, which are claimed to be
lower than ever offered before We place beside them
the prices lately ruling at the, Eagle Mill in this town :
At Florence, Flooring go; tsi at Niningev, $40 /; BIZ
{" Clear boards, $75s eai q hiaq"oa so ~ y
g Shingles, 3as $9s;oi sbssi $50 ie S.; ina
+ " Lath, a. $685. aod,9i5"i 10 $2,25 - Il
From these prices it will. BE seen that = house costing
but one thousand dollars here, Or almost, any place il
this State, would cost over three thousand dollars Of
Florence, Nebraska and more still ia Kspsas. Aad
what advantage does shc s~ettleri hare there over those
here, that he should pay such |. 111aall1gse. difference. fotf 1qqbhes
item Of bis expenses II would .be difficult e q itsll,
when barns, and other outbuildings, fsneeAi&c., are
added soa farm, if given to the party, instead ct paying
thirty to one hundred dollars an acre. as the; wers
lately compelled to in any convenient, district, he must -,
needs be rich to make e beginning Ct farming With ,
quarter of the sum thus expended, he would be sfqaslly
we'll provided with a farmland all issappdrsenances that
could be procured within i Ten miles sgff any Of our
.hrriiyinag. towns on The Mississippi, Or MMipaAHesqts Rivers
for Eve or ten, dollars an acre.3am e. Isgo n0ssiagaih ssi
Such argumeuts as these are sot to. besaightcd, even
If tho more serious ones referred to- are overlooked.