Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-17
LETTER FROM MINNESOTA.
ST, PAUL, Feb. 9, 1859.

ST. PAUL, rep. y, 1908.
To tie Editor Of Worcester Spy:
To some of your readers, st. Paul may
Seem place so distant from Massachusetts,
that they would not care to know more of the
city than they now do, or to read letter CIV
ing any description of its climate, business, or
any other particular-but there may be others
who look upon Minnesota as a place, where,
ere long, they will take up their abode, and
use their best efforts in becoming rich and in
fuential. There may also be a few who have
been suffering for long season with that great
Eastern destroyer, consumption, and who have
heard something of the climate of this State,
and are DESTROYS of knowing more, that they
may try yet again a change which shall prove
beneficial, and perhaps the one which may re-
store them to health and happiness. To these
few of your readers, then, let me write few
words respecting our city, its climate, business
prospects, and other things interesting and be-
longing to a new country. :
st. Paul is now city of about IA, 900 inhab-
itants. 1t is situated on the bluffs on the Mis-
sissppi River, at the head of navigation, and
is about 1900 miles from New York city. The
city covers large area of territory, being In
length about five miles, and in breadth three
miles The buildings are mostly of wood, two
stories high, but there are several very large
and handsome stone buildings and warehouses,
and also several brick dwelling houses The
principal street is built up of wood and stone
warehouses, the stores being five stories high,
and equally as well built and finished as any to
be found in Eastern cities. There are four
large stone school houses, costing about $1,000
each; large stone cathedral, one OF the best
in the United States; court house, Jail, city
hall, and the State capitol-all very handsome
and finely built buildings A very large bridge,
1000 feet long, is now being put up, connecting
St. Paul with the city of West st. Paul, on the
West side of the river. This bridge rests on
seven stone pillars, about 225 feet apart and
varying in hight from so to 80 feet. The bridge
will be one of the finest and best in the West.
The streets of ST. Paul are well laid out, and
the whole foundation of the city being stone,
granite. There are about fifty regular steam
ers that ply between ST. Paul and all the cities
on the river, from St. Louis to Prairie du
Chem and from Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and
other places on other rivers that run into the
Mississippi. The number of arrivals at st.
Paul, last year, was 1906 The river is open
from April to the middle of November, during
which time the travel to Minnesota is immense,
each steamer bringing hundreds who seek in
this State new home and better prospects in
the future Business is now very brisk, and
there is plenty to do for all classes during the
opening of navigation and, even after theriv-
er is closed with ice, there is a good business
done, but the non-arrival of strangers and trav-
elers makes great difference in the character
of business in Summer and Winter.
The climate of Minnesota cannot b. surpass-
ed by that of any other country in the world.
The air is free from the penetrating dampness
which is so common at the East, caused by the
chilling East winds. Here, it is fresh, bracing,
and invigorating, causing person to feel like
a new creature the moment he reaches here,
and making you feel strong and able to accom-
plish anything. During the Winter months
there is no rain and the snow is rarely over
six inches in depth throughout the whole sea-
son. The weather is cold, yet you do not seem
to feel it, and do not at all suffer from it. The
thermometer ranges from rs to 40 degrees be-
low zero in the coolest weather, but then it
is apparently no colder than it would be in
Boston at zero. l have walked with ladies
when the thermometer was 40 degrees below
zero, and the sun shining bright and we would
scarcely take notice of the cold, and sometimes
not know that it was below zero The greater
part of the time, however, the thermometer
ranges about 80 to 55 degrees above zero. The
walking is always good, and there is no damp
ness under foot You seldom meet with
person who has cold, and it is very rare, in
deed, to find one with a cough. Consumptives
who come here, find relief Immediately, and
a large number have been fully restored to
health by a six months residence here. More
of this in my next ERIN.