The Evansville daily journal., 1858-05-11
The Coup,rv Norsl.we.s OF Minnc,os..

Tho Country Northwest Of Minnesota.
The Rev. Mr.. Cressey, who was for
merly q clergyman in indianapolis has
been five or six years in Minnesota and
among the extreme settlements in the
Northwest. He describes the climate of
the country as the most salubrious on
the continent; the temperature is Is
high as that in Western New York, and
the soil as unequalled in fertility:
He believes that in less than century the
population north Of the 45th parallel would
be greater than that south of it. Ten years
ago Minnesota had 2 900 inhabitants; now
tie number exceeded 100000. Ali that
great breadth Of country extending from 10
to Is degrees northwest OF st. Paul is
wheat growing district. Corn and wheat
grow well in lat. So. The time is coming
when the shipments of grain through Lake
Superior will exceed those of Lake Michi-
gan. There is territory enough in the great
| Northwest proper TO make twenty States as
| largo as Ohio. All this immense region is
| capable of a high state of cultivation. Ma
ny will ask why it is so much milder in eli
mate in these high latitudcs. One great
| reason why it is SO, is its relative altitude
E-ery one is aware Of the great influence al
large portion of the Rocky Mountain region
is from five to seven thousand feet above the
level of the ocean. AS You 60 north the
whole face of the country gradually fattens
till it reaches nearly q unitorm depression OF
| 200 feet above the ocean. Take the differ
ence between 900 and 200 and you have a
I like difference in climate and temperature
1t is like descending from q vast and grad
ually sloping mountain into the genial val
| II. = lao A ,iUh tv had mn
posely placed his hand on this region and
) Aattened and depressed it. 80 as to mako il
the better fitted for the use of man. Anoth-
er great cause of the comparative miidnesi
is no doubt to be attributed TO the vast eur
rents of 5almy atmosphere which com,
sweeping down from the Pacific.
This latitude furnishes the best route for
railroad across the continent. The Britisl
Government are maturing plans in rcterenc
/. to that portion OF the country under thei
jurisdiction, which are destined to exert
: very great influence in settling that Who'll
region. The charter Of the Uudson's Ba
Co., having expired, and the Government
| having refused to renew it. opens to the en-
terprise of the world one of the richest field
> on the continent. The British Government
= are already discussing the practicability of
! railroad to the Pacific through their territory
and have sent out scientific men to max
g surveys to that end. They are in sobcr ear
G nest in this movement.
The Sclkirk settlement, situated at the 50t
d degree of latitude, las tbrived well for fft
y years in spite of all the jealousy and opPos
ton of the Hudson's Bay monopoly. Th
n settlement has fully tested the capacity
l. ! that country for agricultural purposes, an
makes 1t certain that it is capable of bein
Q made highly productive. All these fac
a have a direct bearing on tho interests of OF
own territory in that direction. As citizer
" of one great common country, We shoul
e feel lively solicitude in these matters, an
see to it that the moral and intellectual il
u teres;s of this empire in cnbry 70 are not owe
d looked. Now is the time to establish schoo
and colleges, so that the religious and mel
70 tai development Of this vast region sha
10 keep pace with, and give direction to, its m
terial interests.