Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-07-23
Editorial Correspondence.

the welfare of the white race?
IGNATIus DoNNELLY.
Editorial Correspondence.
Auoka-Runs Rirer-1Ae Pineries-Num6er Of
Dscellisys and Psople-Burning of Methodist
CAurch-Irouble sciM a Saloor-6c.
ANokA, July 18th, 1859.
As pleasant place as have yet visited in
this State, is this Village of Anoka, the Coun-
ty Seat of Anoka County. 1t lies on the
northeast bank of the Mississippi, at the
mouth of Rum River, eighteen miles above
Saint Anthony, and enty-eight above Saint
Paul.
Anoka, am told, is an Indian word, mean
ing botA Sides There was formerly an Indian
village here, on both sides Of Rum River, and |
as the white settlement is on the same site,
the Ina;sp name is adopted.
Adjoining the Mississippi, there are few
trees-enough almost to be called grove
and there also few on the west side of Rum
R;ycr; but the most of the country closely
surrounding tie Village is "a handsome, level
prairie, of dry, sandy Joan coil, making it
very lovely situation.
Rum Rivers quite an important stream.
1t is large enough for rafting down logs and
timber from one hundred and seventy miles
above its mouth. Sixty miles above here, the
piner;es begin, and continue to the head OF
the stream and beyond, and 7 am told by
lumbermen that they are quite extensive, and
cannot be exhausted in this day and genera
tiop. At this point there is an excellent wa
ter power, Of nine feet fail, at which are nova
large Touring mill, Of three run Of ssqEss, one
saw mill, and two sash, blind, door, and plain
ing factories, Besides these, there are here
now two steam saw mills, and furniture
factory driven by steam.
In July, 1853, Caleb Woodbury., William
H. Woodbury., Neal D. Shaw, add DR.. S. W.
Shaw bought the town site, and began pre-
pairing for u village. There are now here, be-
sides the mills named, one hundred and tasenty
Dwellings,, three tavern houses, and ten store
buildings, with the usual number of barns,
stables, sheds, &C. One hundred of the dwell
lngs are of good character, several costing
three thousand dollars each, and seyef4! others
two thousand Eve hundred to two thousand
dollars each.
The three best dwellings have seen, are a
new one just finishing of Mr.. Ammi Cutters
and old one, (for this country of DR.. Shaw's
and one Of Mr.. A. P. Lanes; though there
are many other very Gne ones.
, The hotels are commodious buildings, and
the Randolph House, whose hospitality an
enjoying during my visit, is good place t.
stop atone is greeted with plain old fash
toned hospitality. AS an evidence of the lib
eral tendency of the host, Mr.. w. q. Ran
doiph, [ may mention that, though he call
: himself Democrat, and is SO called by 9th
ers, he has ordered the Daily, and directed
/, me to send herewith the advertisement of hi
: house. The New England House, on tn
west side of Rum River, is also an excellen
e one, and is kept by Mr.. j. Il. Lufkin. Tn
y Shaw House, the largest of the three, is a
: present Shut.
There are eight stores open and in business
four general stores, one drug store, one ii
q and hardware store, and two shoe stores.
IS This place must grow to one Of muc
, importance it has an excellant steamboa
d landing, the railroad track runs direct
r through it, it is surrounded by beautiful
It fertile, farming country, and the Rum Rive
,e Valley is rapidly settling and improving, an
" it must become large place and do gres
p business.
o The late flood carried off the bridge, acEos
in Rum River here, since which woferries ha,
been put in operation, which have served tt
travelling public till now. But Mr.. jaime
r McCann, an energetic citizen, has taken upc
rs himself the enterprise Of building bridg
r and has it so far completed that teams are G:
n pected to cross next week. i slight toll vi
is be charged to reimburse him for his outla
pc till the County builds better bridge in i
s, place.
There are now two excellent churches her
he one Baptist and one Congregationalist. Anot
th er, an Episcopalian, is building. The Met
es odists had fine one, just finished, costir
twenty five hundred dollars, which was bu
" ed down last Monday night. 1t was on Gle,
j. plat of grassland, twenty rods from any OF
d, er building. and no workmesl have been ne
On it for several days. OF course, everybot
,e- believes it was set on fire.
alf On inquiring into the suspicious circu,
ur stances, learn that this is Temperan
en- Village, by a large majority. No licenses
selling liquors are granted. Last year, n
On Dudley was keeping saloon, which becar
- an annoyance to many Of the citizens. 7
Temperance people waited on him to persua
ew him to close it. He was appealed to and /
IN monstrated with. They offered to pay
- his liquors, and to pledge him patronage if
O. would go into other business. But he OF
of bid defiance. He called the appeal to Ii
IRE an insult, and boasted he would make TWEEN
more drunkards as an offset to it. Soon
to- forwards, one night, party of young men
50 disguise destroyd his liquors, to the value
ne three hundred to five hundred dollars.
ur- threatened vengeance. Not long afterwart
On his saloon was burned down. He charged
lis to the Temperance people, but they say it "
is insured for more than its worth, and no o,
nat siders had any thing to do with it. As