The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-23


To tho .diOr. OF the Pioneer and Democrat
II has never been our good fortune to he,
long to- happier gathering than the one
which assembled on board Of the Minnesota
river Packet, Frank Steele, "whereo,
HATCHER is Master, aud GLEASON IL CLERK, y
on the afternoon Of Wednesday, the sth inst
All told, we numbered one hundred and
sghty-nine passengers, by far tho majority
Of whom were destined for the Sioux Agcn.
cy, and carried up more than iiny tons OF
freight for the Indian and War departments
alone. The Pioneer Guard Brass Band
lent the aid Of their cnlivening strains. the
arrangements on board were such ~ to give
perfect satisfaction to all the travellers, and
the clerk Of the weather graciously gave his
cooperation, Your correspondent hardly
darcs trust his descriptive powers with the
view which meets the eye Of the tourist
s,caming out Of the port Of st. Paul. Is
not our noble river crowned with solid Gus.
ties OF stone, loi,ier than lchcnstein or
Drachepfels' Besides the natural granducr
of the Father Of Waters. the Rhine appears
a petty creek. and single ravine would
suffice TO hide the lol,iesi tower
Time would Tail us were W. to attempt
minute description Of the towns or the scene
ry along the river. From Mendoza To New
Ulm, the whole valley gives signs Of the 10.
dustry and prosperity Of i,s people. Eu,er.
ing the Big Woods. the Bou Franc Of
Nlcolet, our channel thenceiorward wound
its tortuous course between lofty banks Of
dense foliage occasionally crossing the valley
from one bluff to the opposite side, now
ioa,ning and boiling at the base Of y rocky
cliff, aud again marking its track through q
broad bottom with double lines Of willows
The only prair'es between the Big Woods
and the river are Sand Prairie. Belle Plaine
and le Sueur. Tho strength and fertility
Of tho soil seems 10 increase ~ you ascend
the river, and tho 81. Louis grain dealers
recognise the oats raised on Ie Sueur Prai.
rle ~ the heaviest that comes to their mar.
kst averaging thirty.sis and tbirty-eight
pounds 10 the bushcl.
Passing the splendid dairy farms just
above Shakopce, the ilourishing towns OF
Carver, Chaska, st. Lawrence and Belle
Planc, VIC come 10 Henderson, which LAS
arisen from the waters, u second Venus. A
brown mark on the sides OF the houses, nj
about garter" height tells the story OF the
late overflow In nnmistakable language.
Receiving hearty welcome at all these
places az well ~ IL Sueur, Ottowa, aud
Traverse DIES Sioux. we arrived at st. Peter
about two o'clock, i. NJ. on Thursday.
Spoke the Favorite, Capt. Davidson, and
continued upward. kaso.a. Mankato,
South Bend, Eureka and New UIm received
fair share OF admiration from our tourists.
Aud really. the growth Of some Of these
PusFH Wtu ItIuubuDt. ia iIf SUN
mer Of 1856, three log hat, made the SUN
total Of New Uln. and now more than one
hundred and thirty houses are upon the
site, many Of them large and handsome.
Containing ourselves with y fashionable
call at Fort Ridgoly, We arrived at Red
wood, the Lower Sioux Agency at four and
half o'clock, T. N. on Friday. The aide
of the hill was eDamelled with the gay blan.
kets Of the Indians, scarlet and green pre-
dominating. The younger savages allowed
Themselves TO become q triilc enthusiastic,
but the grave aud reverend segnior.
doubled their ieet under them. and smoked
kinnikkiDnic 10 the style Of their fathers,
unbeoding alike the martial music or the
thunder Of our cannon.
The payment was 10 progress, and our
party nj once scaled the bluff, 70 se the
sghts. Troops Of Indians dressed 10 the
payes, coiors tbrobgcd around the doors OF
the Office. aud stalked maj0tically through
the room. The payment IL very ample
operation, without any Of the circumlocu,ion |
Office favor about il. The Agent reads the |
namo Of on Indian, and the amount due
him. The savage extends his hand and
touches the progersl pen. The Agent
makes !" bis mark opposite the Indians
name the paymaster counts out the gold In
his palm, and the affair ia ended The
amounts paid tbi, year 10 about $500 psr
head, and the Ist embraces more than 2iOO
names. Saturday morning was speDt iu
rowing about and examining the habits and
customs u the Indians Some Of our party
invested largely IN Pipes and tornabswks
and thu ladies pstronizsd the seonom ioai
jewelry Of the sqaa~s W 90 extent which
would gladden. the eyes Of civilized spouse
Bat pleasure must have an cod, and at las,
with waling music and the hearty voice 81
cur gun, xe babe farewell 10 the Agency.
Driven by the violence q The wind 20 take
refuge IN the willows, some commenced the
manufacture Of whistles. Others created q