Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-24
Southern Minnesota.

Permit me through the columns of the Leader
to reply to the frequent and many enquiries
that are being made, and to redeem pledge
that made when left Ohio.
Southern Minnesota is that portion of the
State that extends South, and Southwest of
st. Paul; or between latitude 43t and A north
and is as good farming country as man could
desire; being about two thirds prairie, balance
from light to heavy timber, and very well wa
tered with streams, and good springs. The
soil is black, sandy loan, and is capable of a
high state of cultivation. 1t is supposed BY
some that we are so far north that it is SO very
cold, that it will be poor farming country
To this viii just state, although 1 am in lati-
tude forty -four, that we can and do raise to per-
feetion both Spring and Winter wheat. And
as to corn we can say the same as to yellow
flint, and the yellow and white dent, and that
too from fifty to seventy-fve bushels per acre.
As to potatoes and all kinds of root vegetables,
they do better than l ever saw in Ohio. As to
fruit, the country has not been long enough
settled to test the matter; still we have apple
trees of three years growth and doing well. l
have some four huRdred apple trees from seed
planted last Spring, and they look fine. The
present winter, thus far, has been very mild; our
first and ouly fall of snow was about one foot;
there has been only three or four days SO cold
but what person could work out comfortably.
The weather is very unifom-week after week
cloudless sky The views entertained as to
the coldness of the country have been formed
from the intensity of the cold during the winter of
1856, when it was cold almost beyond paral-
lei throughout the Union and world. Conse-
quently some left Minnesota, and now, many OF
them would be glad to return if they could, and
will not be contented until they do return
For our advantages over and above many OF
the new States are such as to hold out great in
ducements to the emigrant. lst.-As to our
agricultural and manufacturing opportunities,
they are not to be surpassed in any new State
or Territory. Again-as to our Railroads, we
are still at work on them, and are looking for
speedy completion of the Transit Road which
will when finished, connect st. Peters on the
west, with the Winona on the east. 1t is now
| all except about eight miles ready for the su-
perstructure from Winona to Rochester, our
county seat, distance of fifty miles, and on
said eight miles there is now, in midwinter,
heavy force at work, and we expect its compile
tion soon. AS to our educational interests we
stand erect. Besides our Seminaries, we have
basis for an ample school fund. In this dis
trict we have built a new frame school house,
and have a school of some 27 scholars, with
fund of about 500.
Just now money is scarce; consequently lands
are cheap. Unimproved lands are worth from
50 to SIS per acre. But in view of the expected
immigration to this part of the State next
Spring, lands will advance. Now is the time
to prepare to come next Spring. A person can
now come by Railroad to La Crosse, point on
the river, forty miles Southeast of this place.
would not advise a person to move to this
country at present in the Fall, but come in
April 1t is now this 18th day of JAN, 1853,
very warm and the snow is passing oil.
G. STOCKING.
Springfield, Olmsted Co., Minnesota.