The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-03
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
OTTER TAIL CRY, Minnesota, [
Feb. |, 1859.

To the Editors Of The Pioneer and Democrat
Your Numerous readers Tor many of them
at leasD are deeply interested in oil that re-
lates to the State and its resources. There
have been many descriptions given through
the press OF every part OF the south half Of
Minnesota, but as yet nothing has been said
of the particulars of the northwest part OF
our State. This is doubtess owing to the fact
that this portion has but recently been par.
chased OF the Indians, and was not therefore
open to settlement | have lived here now
about two years, and have passed. the great
er part of two winters. l have become IA
miliar with the Otter Tail country by per-
sonal inspection and by information obtain.
cd from the different corps OF Surveyors who
have just completed the survey of most OF
the country on the Otter Tail and upper
portion of Red River. have Travelled
much within the last five years through the
States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wis.
consin, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Mis-.
ncsota, and venture the assertion that there
is no country west of the Ohio River that
for beauty and fertility surpasses this por-
ton of Minnesota. The country from Breck-
enridge to Detroit Lake distance OF over
100 miles-may be said to be about equally
divided into three parts, being one-third
Prairie, one.third Lakes and Rivers, and
one-third Timber. There are no large Prai-
ries, Lakes, or large bodies Of timber 1t is
so situated and interspersed that any man
wanting farm can get prairie, timber and
water on bis farm, or very near it. The
largest body Of timber in this vicinity is on
the northwest side Of Otter Tail Lake.
The timber consists Of burr oak, ash, sugar,
linn or bass wood, elm, popPle and birch.
About fifteen miles from this place on
the River the Pine commences and ex.
tends for twenty miles on and near the
river, it is white pine Of ~ fine quail
ty az can be found in this State or Wiscon-
sin. The river is sufficiently large to per.
NIT tbs timber to be RATED in any quantities
to any point on the Red River Of the North
There is about being constructed two saw
mills, one at the pinery and one at this city
both of which will. ere long, be in opera.
ton and cannot help doing very profitable
business.
The soil of the prairies is rich black
sandy loan. The crops Of the past season,
such as corn, potatoes. oats, turnips, beans
and garden vegetables cannot be surpassed
10 any country in the Union, especially pc.
tatoes, beans and turniW. Wheat, rye and
barley have not yet been tried, but will be
TO considerable extent. the coming SEASON
Otter Tail Lake is the largest Of the lakes
in this part Of Minnesota it covers aboat
thirty thousand acres, or twelve by Eve
miles. The lakes are interpreted oil through
the country, both in the timber and prairie,
and are sheets Of clear pure water, with
beautiful sandy and gravelly beach, and are
swarming with fish in the greatest abund
ance and Of the very best quality, such a.
white fish. cat fish OF large size, sturgeon,
buffalo, pike. pickerel, rd-borse, bass. aud
drum fish. Of wild fruits, we have an
abundant supply, such az grapes in profu-
sion, plums, raspberries, blackberrie, cur
rants, gooseberries, strawberries, eraBber-
ries and wild rice. 10 the game line, We
have moose, elk, bear, wolf, deer, fox =,
coon, fisher, marten, mink and otter. OF
wild fowl, in spring aud fall, we have, In
great quantities, the goose, ducks Of various
kinds, swan, pelican, prairie chicken and
pheasant.
The climate 10 this northern region 10 the
great bug.bear with the people Of the
Eastern and Southern States, and ] nc
knowledge that came here Nth
. sort Of expectation that should
freeze to death, and accordingly provided q
thermometer TO know II what particular
time We sbould begin 70 CONCEAL, and on the
srt day II January, commenced TO note
down the degrees during that month; the
lowest range WA 90 the Both, when the tber.
nometer stood at "a beiow zero; on thu
2ld 81, and 22d it was % below. The
average state Of the thermometer for tbs
month was SIX degrees above zero; there was
in the month 10 clear days and IL cloudy
IL is true that the Thermometer indicates .
greater degree Of cold here than further
South, bat the experience Of most Of two
winters here DEMONSTRATES 10 me, and win "
soy person, that we can stand q 10 deg.
below zero atmosphere here, better than
10 deg. shove 10 Ohio Another tact will
mention, tha, many bsrss~ ssd cattle range
10 the woods all winter, without any shelter
or bite Of feod bat what thsy get IN the
woods, and come oat IN the spring IN much
better c0nditinn than one half the stock i,