Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-01-01
The MinnesOta ssSalt SPRING, and soap
ftol,' Land Grant Selections.

through one OF the Editorial Stall OF our pa
per, at the Executive Office of the State, t
copy the Report of the Salt Spring, and Capi
tol Building Land Commissioners who hat
recently returned. We were told, howevel
by the Acting Governor, that such could moi
be done, until the action had been confirmed
by the Department of the Inte,ior,--or som
other such subterfuge, and We were compelled
to await the slow course of Executive pleas
ure to lay it before our readers, knowing w
would first see his mouth piece. We nov
find it in the Sibley Organ, and presulning i
to be correct, copy it.
We premise by repeating the terms Of th'
Enabling Act of Minnesota.
" That ten entire Sectious of land, to b,
selected by the Governor Of said State in le
gal subdivisions, shall be granted to sait
State for the purpose of completing the public
buildings, or for the erection of otifrs at tn,
seat Of Government, under the direction o
the Legislature thereof.
And also
"That all salt springs within said State
not exceeding twelve in number, with si1
Sections Of land adjoining, or as contiguous a:
may be to each, shall be granted to said STATE
for its use; the same to be selected by tht
Governor thereof, within one year after The
admission of said State, and when so settled
to be used or disposed Of On such terms, con
ditions and regulations as the Legislature shall
direct: Pr0rided, That no salt spring OF
a. ;,,
individual or individuals, Or which m&y ,,
hereafter confirmed or adludged to any indi
vidual or individuals, shall, by this article, be
granted TO said State.
Mr.. Sibley having been authorised by the
first state Legislature to locate the lands grant
ed, he commissioned James D. Skinner, g
Civil Engineer of this City, to hunt them
up The commission was well bestowed, and
Mr. S. Immediately set about performing its
duties. Pierre Bottineau, the old Red Riv-
er Guide, was employed, and the party left
st. Paul on their winding way OH Septem-
Der 9Th, All extract from the Journal they were
required to keep.
THE LAND FOR CAPITOL PURPOSES.
We left Forest City on the morning OF
the l4th Of September, travelling i'll a South
Westerly direction towards the Kandiyohi
Lakes, distant about % miles. Being aux
ious to save time, went forwrrd to the Kan
diyohi Lakes, in company with Mr.. A. C.
Smith, Register of the Land Office, thus saw
ing delay, which would have been unayoided
had been obliged to transport the whole par
ty hither. .....,....
The country from Forest City to Kandi-
yoh is a fine and fertile rolling prairie, inter
persed with frequent lakes and groves of tim
Der, and already thickly settled. This prairie
extends from the southwest bank of the Crow
River at Forest City, indefinitely west
ward, preserving the same main characters
tics.
The tract Of country around the kandi-
yohi Lakes, is one of exceeding beauty and
fertility, and is now rapidly being taken up
by settlers. The prairie soil isa rich black
loan of great depth, and there is suftici-
ency of timber of good quality, aTeas.d the
lakes -..
"In this district selected the ten sections
of land granted the State for the purpose 0.
the public buildings, or for the
erection of others at the seat Of government.
In each instance examining the section taken
with care.
These lands are partly prairie, ard partly
lying within the railroad limits,
and are such as viii, make very valuable
FARMS
FROM TWIN LAKES TO RED RIvEE.
Twin Lakes is the last settlement until we
Il RnJ
is good, though timber is scarce. Leaving
Grove Lakes we Travelled four miles to the
Chippewa River, which is small! stream run
hing over graveily and rocky bed and is cas-
lily crossed On the western side Of the riv-
er the country rises and becomes more broken
and hilly, while the soil is inferior in richness
being coarse gravel. Frequent limestone
and granite boUlders Of all sizes are found or
the tops and sides of the bluffs and the whole
tract is less inviting than most Of the prairie
land We travelled until we reached White Bear
Lake.
White Bear Lake is {. large and most beau
tiful sheet Of water, six miles west of Chip
pewa River Its shores are high and. bold
rising in places to height Of two hundred
feet They are also finely wooded and pre-
sent a succession of views, which for roman
tic beauty, can hardly be excelled in Minneso
ia.
Leaving White Bear Lake, after travelling
eight miles, We crossed fork of the Chippe
wa River, here a mere rivulet from this
stream the prairie becomes more rolling unit
we reach Pike Lake, six. miles from the fork
This is small sheet of water, apparently tim
bered around its shores. Thence our road
lay six miles over very hilly and stony pra
rie, when it assembled high ridge, which
again descended with a uniform slope to ths
Pornme de Tcrre River, /. distance Of one and
a half miles. From the summit Of this des
cending plateau to the Pomme de Terre, the
land is rich and lies finely. Crossing the firs
pomme dc Terre, no slight undertaking, ION,
bank being very precpitous, the other muddy
and the river deep,) we traversed most in
viting tract of country.
This tract lies between the two Pomme de
Terre rivers is about ten miles in length
and indefinitely wide. 1t is certain, that fol
a width Of six miles, the land is admirably
adapted to farming purposes. This is Il:
much as could be determined without diverg
ing too far from our route. The timber j:
abundant and of good quality; the soil rict
runrling streams and beautiful lakes. | feel
therefore, confident of committing no error
in recommending the location in this district
of the amount of the University Lands as ye
unsolicited, being fully persuaded that tn,
State can find no other possessing greater i
equal advantages.
Leaving the second Pomme de Terre Rive
our next halting place was Elbow Lake, (s'
called from its peculiar shape) and distan
8 miles.
The country was still rich and pleasing
prairie, but not so well numbered as that las
mentioned. The lake itself is pretty shee
of water, and not without good timber On it
banks.
From Elbow Lake to Lightning Lake is
miles; at this last lake it was necessary to car
ry fuel for the rest Of the journey to the Rec
River, or to Breckenridge, 81 miles distant
We now proceed in the first crossing Of tn,
Red or Otter Tail River, distant l2 mile:
from irbtnipp akn =