The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-15

tract 10 subject to pre-emptiOn, same as
other government lands. cannot see how
the District Land Officers could have put
the construction upon the law a. indicated
in your letter. Or course those wishing to
preempt under settlement made after the
passage Of the law, must pay for their lands
prior to the day OF sale, in like manner with
those whose settlements were made prior to
its passage. After the sale, should any
lands be left: they will be subject to pre-
emption, with one years time, under the
general preemption law, to make payment.
CRors.--Notwithstanding the backward.
ness OF the season, the crops in this region
are looking well and promising an abundant
yield. Fears were entertained in reference
to corn that had been planted early; but
the present warm weather is bringing it
forward finely; so says the Belle PLANE En-
qu,rer. We hear the same account from
other places in the State which is certainly
good news, and moreso, as the crops down
the river are generally said TO be thin.
Were it not that it would look like mali
cious exultation we would say "Hurra for
Minnesota. "--Iiaslngs Independent.
Tue GRAssHorrERs.--We learn that the
grassboppers have made their appearance in
immense numbers on the Minnesota river,
in the neigeborhood OF st. Peters. They
are as yet small, and are doing no mischief,
but great fears are entertained that they will
become troublesome hereafter ibm.
Coal MIyEs.--We have already noticed
the alleged discoveries of Coalin Blue Eearth
county and elsewhere. This illusion which
has certain degree OF periodicity in its man.
--'s.ssioffs--s s.sss 5efss aa. .iah rcaene cd ~
tensity. To the report already made current
upon this head the Rochester Free Press adds
the following
ave learn that Messrs X ing and Iiaight
have discovered upon their farms ia X almar,
what has every indication OF being an ex-
teDslve coal mine SO confident are they
in their belief that coal in abundance can be
found, that they have already made con-
tract for sinking shaft of sufficient depth
to thoroughly test the matter and made
other arrangements TO commence mining
We sincerely hope that such discovery has
been made, for it would be of more intrinsic
value to the Country and State, than the
discovery of gold mines even though they
were ten times richer than they are repre-
sehted. We shall take steps TO ascertain
fully the grounds OF the report and will pub
lish full account Of the matter.
HousroN CouNry.--A pamphlet issued
by the publishers of the Hokrh Chef, upon
the " Resources of Houston County" gives
an encouraging view Of the capacities and
prospects of that beautiful country. The
writer overlooks. to some extent, the roman.
tic picturesqueness of the valley of the Root
River, where the bluffs rising several hun
drcd feet above the winding and wooded
bottom, tessellated with farms, presents
boldness and even grandeur of outline which
is supplied by no other landscape in Mime
so,a-not even on the shores OF the Mssis-
sippi; but he expatiates at length on the
unitarian aspects of the country.
The bluffs on the Mississippi which form
the external wall of the country, and which
our pamphletar is afraid may present
rugged and even forbidding aspect in
fact mark the general features only of mar
row strip Of country lining the river from
two TO four miles in breadth, when the high
and level plain is reached by tor,uous ra-
vines which mark the course Of the streams.
These streams are frequently broken in their
descent from the highlands, aflording abun.
dance Of water power. The soil Of the prai,
RIGS, or Of the valleys is rich and the bot.
toms OF the rivers are skrted with dense
growth of hard woods, while numerous
groves do, the surface Of the plain.
The products Of the soil and forest and
the numerous mill privileges which are scat
tered at frequent intervals along the stream,
encourage the prospect that Houston County
will be one of our best manufacturing Coun.
ties
The Agricultural Fair recently held in
Houston County speaks well Tor its soil and
husbandry.
But the Southern Minnesota Railroad.
which is to have its outlet at La Crescent,
at the mouth of Root River, il is confidently
expected will do more for the development
Of Houston County than any other agency;
and taking into account the Importance of
this road as an outlet for the whole Of South.
ern Minnesota, ~ the natural continuation
Of the Milwaukee and La Crosse road. this
expectation would seem to be reasonable
enough.
Unimproved prairie lands in Houston
County are selling at from 80 to IS per
,,ra all eri,,vat.sl fam, lan.la AZ SIN ~.