Sauk Rapids frontierman. [volume] (Sauk Rapids, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1860, 1858-04-08
sssz q From lie ST. PAsi Aaysrlissi. y
MINNEsOrA. 'aa sSf4'
Hsr surrrfaos. IakSs, Rivers. wo ~. y. \
sHa IArticls No. .s.ss

.,',.,3. IAr,icls No, y 4 sss,Is
4 The Miasissippii speaking inysrsely
% its current carries with i the char
ac.eristics Of the great calcareous plain
through which il flows y its sourcs n
Northern Minnesota. Iis fss sa:ssg,
81 The section of Minnesota lying wesl
of the Mississippi. ilncluding lhs mag
ni6cent valleys OF the Minnesota river
in the south, Ind the Red River in the
Northwest. and comprising two thirds VI
the entire arse of the State. j. for i lhe BE-
most part q continuation of the unifornl
surface Of Iowa, presenting = succession
of rolling Prairies covered with q thick
ilecioys mould. and watered ~ net,
work of small streams with wooded
margins, often marked by deep, s.aoeqs
rayines. The triangular sections DC
Minnesota lying east of tie Mississippi,
terminating il the highlands which sep1:-
rate il from the Lake Superior district,
ia section reserved Cor future descrip-
Itson;) 10 an extension of the more di-l
versiied topography Of sNisconsin--in-
cluding extensive forests Of pine upon
the northern afluenss Of the Mississippi
above latitude 49, and abouDding above
and below that line id lakes, ponds,
meadows, oak osp e nj ng 8, tamarack
}swamps, and streams, these features
breaking up the general form Of undu- ]
lating plain into prairies of vmore limited
extern than in the first district, withia
still more variable soil and more sabun-
dant sdistributions Of water and wood.
These generalgeographical divisions,
however, are diversified by q much
greater variety Of topographic detail
than their con,er,ninous districts Of Iowa
and Wisconsin. Lake, Woodland,
river and plain are blended in every
form Of akernation or Of combination,
producing constant succession Of
charming landscapes to whichanothing is
wanting which can make the image Of
human homes complete, but the human
presence md the human care And
this sabsundinge pr.,fnsien aaf svond aud
water has not only the effect Of saving
onrE scenery from the sa,nen uniformity
which distinguishes the surface Of pra,-
rie Suites in general, but serves an
economical purpose Of immense value
10 an agricultural coun,ry. Few farms
are without tie necessary sdjuncts OF q
farmer estate, and even in the centre
of our widest pralries il Is rare that the
settler is mt within easy reach ofiiinber.
Minnesota isthe best s6aiered Siafe in
the Union- -forming inthis respect . sig
niicant contrast to The arid plains of
Kapsas and; Nebraska, and giving i
u naar!sed advantage, even over its'in-
nediata -tieighbors on the south, east Oh
west.rsi li,t8s biz ssFs assszssss s8stsst
The immense lake region which here
gives birth O. the watersM ri the MISSISSIPPI
pi j the ST. ,,Louisanls Red rivers, and oc-
cupying three lonrths Of dor whole area.
will'explain this exclusive and yaluabis
characteristic These lakes iliei ia their
largest groups upon the broado summit
level Of the great water shed; but ex-
tend in scatteredvmasses and chains alf
over the Territory j. fformiug' with their
outlets = perfect sys1ems If fsirrig gation.
The1multiplicity, the beauty ,and econo-i
micah utility ofthese lakes have been
thesconstans, theme of the admiration of
trayelfrss Norwpbd swho assisted Gwen
ip~ bis geographical survey III 1877, was
'hawiidfed with their nuinber and variety.
He, descfihes the sweetness and clear
ness of their waters thor picturesque
md various beauty of their Gle an and
p.bbly shores. and the abundance ofthes
fish which they contain, s's0f q qudli,yi
greatly superior To- those of the streams
iof the Middle and Western Stetes ~
and Lieut. Maury, IN recent letter 70
. scientific journal, says. sssss
4 asThare isssin this 'Tesri,ury greater number
81 shse lovely steess Dc Laughing waters. than H.
aIlsthe coun,ry bes,des. They give variety and
beauty q The landscaps they soften the ali, md
lend aIf their ildasand chsrns and aftfactibns 70
MAKE shis gsodi land lovely places of residences.
WI SEQ ihat With ihees beaniifi sh6sts u water,
nsture hAs dopstfor The apper M,ssissippi Whist
Eiiet proposes should be done BY sha government
far ths Ohiq, and whas Napoleon iii i doing for
the rivers of France. .ss5
4. EkstY ons; of these s,l,o1ssnd4 of lakes u
FessFveF ~ The rains Id lshes ssst seasen. Which \
teveEses 10 l np lhsrver IN tho dry ST least this
r ono VI their Offices, for they have many The
cdnse eqns6cs y. lkaf lkoukh more watef falls from
Eshe sky oAt16inhesdsa ii sommsf, than yoa hi
Nsw York receive inc winter Or spring, yet Tho
lfisssslppi ii never flooded H Ths difiassnre bs-
EsWsep sxlrene high and low water All H. RAni,