, 1859-07-23

your readers any new in6lotion. Nere deacdp.
hon il Inadequate to convey 4 correct idea, md
be thst would know how tliis rirer looks, must
sseke I trip to St Paul. 49,.
X :: 1fhA vaaf number ofistands Ia the Mississippi
strsek my attention. The river between Prairie
d. 0,isn md Lake pepin COWS among tn thou
sand fslets vhieh split md dispsess H. river
into many streams. These 1itlle islands 1a.y IN
size from rod long to 4 mile. They are: I'll
densely ooveTed over with t1ees-ehieay wilis1.
0ften they stand three or four abreast,
dirdisg The river into several smsler rivess.
Fors distance Of more than two hundred miles
do not think saw the entire river flowing In
on one channel, in sight at one time. The stage
Of water was high, and the pilot could safely
stear his boat between any Of the islands be
pleased without heaving the lead or danger Of
grounding.
The hard times have knocked speculation aud
growth out Of the riyer towns. They may be
sud to remain in ttatu quo, though judg gipg
from appearances some of them art 50 com
psete}y used up that they will never know Fhat
hurt them. La Crosse, FROM the hasty glance
got at It, exhibits more recuperation than: any
place saw on the river. Considerable busi-
ness is doing in it. Winona is located On
aad picture Of its former life aud activity.
There is now no speculation in its eye.
The people seem to be waiting patiently for
something to turn up. Winona must hare been
the paradise of real estate operators for atsea-
son. From the boat rs it stesms along the ievee,
one can read On half tha street signs as follows:
Real Estate Office" "Land Warrants for sale" !"
"Prc.emption Office" Land Locating Office"
Real Estate Broker" Money Loaned On
Land" &C.
Wabashaw is another speculation built town !;
md is now 1ifeless, Reeds Landing, two miles
abosc, is 6r1sk, thriving little place, that en-
joys steady and substantial trade from the
Chippewa valley. Prescott, at the mouth Of the
s.. Croix, has survived the shock and exhibits
. retains some vitality, and hope, and may recover
one Of these days; but score OF other river
cities which might name, have been Knocked
| into q cooked hat" Between 1854 and 1857 the
country was pretty much all laid ont into cities,
the land being considered too valuable for agri-
| cultural purposes.
| But here we come to st. Paul, and must
| bring my discursiye letter to close. We have
| steamed up stream 302 miles in "a hours inctud.
ing all stops. The trip from Prairic du Chen
has been delightful. The weather has been
neither too cold nor too hot; delicious breeze
has blown down the river, tanning our faces
The steamer Milwaukee is one Of the swiftes
and best boats on the river. Capt. Hewitt whe
has Charge Of the boat has commanded boats 4
quarter Of . century on the Mississippi-is
most attentive and agreeable gentleman. Ont
thing observed with qualification that ther.
vas none Of that swaeger, bluster and profanit,
indulged in BY the officers on this boat whic1
one almost Invariably hears and sees on tn,
Missouri riyer boats.
son are passengers. He says that he went vi
tllis rirer nearly forty years ago.
The Republican State Contention meets in St
Paul tomorrow (20th inst y and will try an,
let you know II hat it does.
| Yours. ETC.. j. II.