The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-28

n. Conkling, ofthe New York Legislature,
delivered before the New York Chamber OF
Commerce in last December, al impress
sive description of this country, oondens-
cd into brief space with the stamp Of u
sterling authority;
With the valley Of the Mississippi and 81.
Lawrence Rivers ws have bosn accustomed 10
regard the area Of the northern and central por-
tions Of our continent available for agriculture,
~ exhausted. We limited our vision 10 the
ground We stood upon. But no sooner have We
filled up one grand division than another opens
before u. There Ia in the heart Of North Amer.
oa, adjacent 70 Minnesota, . distinct Subdivision
Of which Lake Winnipeg may bs regarded ~ the
centre This subdivision like tho valley Of the
Mississippi, 10 distinguished for the fertility oft
soil and for the extent and gentle slope Of is
great plains, watsrsd BY rivers Of great extent
and admirably adapted for stream navigation.
II has climate not exceeding In severity that
Of many parts Of Canada and the Eastern States.
II will in oil respects compare fsvorAbly with
some Of the most dsnssly peopled portions Of tho
continent Of Europe. In other words, II 10 I'D.
mirably fitted 10 become the seat of . numerous
aud prosperous community. lthas IN area equal
To eight OF ten Of our 6rst class States It's great
river the Saskatchewan, carries . nAvigabls ws.
ter line 70 the very base Of the Rock Mountains
II 10 not st oil improbable that the valley Of this
river may Offer the best route 10 the Pacific The
navigabls waters Of this great subdivislon inter.
look with those Of the Mississippi. Tho Rod
River Of the North In connection with Lake
Winnipeg into which Il falls forms . navigabls
watsr line extending directly north and south
nearly 800 miles The Rcd River 10 one Of the
best adapted ~ steam In the world, having from
twelve TO 6ftssn feet Of water for nearly iA On.
tire courys $50 miles II waters one oi the finest
prsiriss on the continent Two hundred miles of
Railroad will connect II with st. Paul when
this road shall bs completed. snothsr grand d.
vision Of the continent comprising half million
square miles, will bs opened 10 settlement, In
which communities will spring up with the ra-
pidty which has marked the marvellous growth
Of our own country. possessing oil the elements
Of prosperity and Of an extensive commerce"
The basin Of the Winnipeg Is capable,
according to Blodgstt, Of successful agri-
culture up to, and in some localities, IS
experience has proved, beyond tho Goth
parallel, which Is the limit OF wheat cul-
tivation. These vast Alluvial plains, com
prising an area Of 100000 square miles,
with their future States and populations,
with the rich gold folds beyond and the
commerce Of Asia, TO which they open
tho path it has sought for 800 years, sus-
tain the same relation 70 st. Paul q,
their focus of eventual distribution, that
theg great interior and Northwestern States
now bear to New York. The commercial
relations Of the subject will therefore be
reserved for separate discussion undor
that head.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY ov MfssgsoTh.
Area and Bounda, Minnesota con
tains an area OF 1900 square miles il.
political boundaries being Wisconsin on
the east, Iowa on the south, Dakota on
the west, and the British Possessions on
the north. Geographically, its eastern
boundary is formed mainly by the Mis-
sissippi and st. Croix Rivers, and Lake
Superior; its southern by the parallel Of
43 degrees; its western by the Red and
Siouxwood Rivers and Big Stone Lake,
and line due south from the outlet of
Big Stone Lake 70 the Iowa line, and ts
northern by the line Of latitude ~, and
the Lake Of the Woods and down the
Rainy Lake River 10 Lake Superior.
Surface Contour Wv thin the narrow CIR.
Gle Of tn. II Iauteurs des Terres in the north
ern district Of Minnesota intsrlsp at
nearly the same elevate N, the sources Of
the three great river systems Of the con-
tinent. The slopes Of the adjacent val
leys converging upon this central ridge
give IN the surface of Minnesota with the
general aspect Of an undulating plain,
the contour Of pyrarnidal roof down
whose opposite sides the disparted water.
de>cend 10 their ocean outlets. Two
thirds Of this surface slopes southeast
wardly with the waters Of the Mississippi;
the rest il divided between the sdjsc.n,
level. Of the Rcd River On the northwest
and the broken highlands of the northeast
which are drained by the precipitous
streams q Lake superior. The rugged
ranges d dnf, and primary upbeA'sl
which occupy this last district, oontinu-
alton Of billy ranges which begin in Cam
ada afford the nearest approach 10 noun
famous elevation. in the State although
the highest Of these, in tho trap ranges
north Of superior. r'.e only 10 he gh,
a twelve or fifteen hundred feet AiDve
the lake, and les than tive hundred feet
al,g,. the extreme sources of the Mi..,s-
.ippi.
leaving out this volcanic supplement,