Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-08-06
North Vol oorrerpondence.

Sr. PrER, Min, July 90th. 1859.
En-. EMPmE "A trip up the Minnesota river
is one Of no ordinary pleasure and interest tab.
Ing one as II does through the interior Of the
State, rich in soil, varied in its scenery and
furnished at intervals Of few miles with cities
containing from ten to finy or hundred dwell.
lings while a very few have as many as three or
Ave hundred. Between these cities there are q
few scattering horses or huts, Of sufficient pre-.
tensions for the basis Of a claim. The river
winds very much between the hills, often with
in a distance Of Eve miles pursuing every point
Of the compass, and the extensive bottoms
through which II flows are hence very irrcgu.
lar and at present have not recovered from
their drowned appearance, the result Of the
late high waters. Still they arc all occupied
or rather claimed, for in many cases the water
has taken the place Of the families 10 the houses
and in seasons when such high water does not
prevail, will doubtless prove rich aud valuable
The Prairie stretching back from the bluffs is
said TO be in most places exceedingly fertile
and is generally well settled. Emerging from
what are called the Big Woods at Traverse des
Sioux, we came into a charming open country
with hills heavily timbered and beautifully
rolling prairie. The effect Of the changes from
the swamp and wilderness to this open coun
Try il very pleasing and no one can iail Of be.
ing pleased with both Traverse and 81. Peter.
These cities mile apart arc now, by the re
lease Of school lands which separated them,
united and contain a thousand or more inhabi>
tants. The Prairie here comes quite down to
the river affording one Of the most delightful
locations for city Of indefinitely large dimen-
sions. When the Capitol was ordered to be re-
moved to this place great excitement prevailed
and lots advanced from hundreds to thousands
Of dollars, but the act being repealed property
IS reduced to what might be termed modera.
tely extravsgant price, At present two Week
ly papers are published here, two or three very
good hotels are in operation two banks several
forwarding houses, besides numerous small
stores and saloons. The trade in Giusing
which 10 now nearly closed has been Of some |
benefit to the country, especially those living
in the bottoms, and driven from their farms and |
homes by the high water. Business men com.
plain Of great dullness and depression in trade |
and from the present low price of grain antici. |
pate little relief or benefit. All these western |
towns are perfect synonyms of dullness and it |
will require time, good crops and immigration
to restore the former life and yigor of trade.
Iregretted my inability to go up to Fort
Ridgley with the boat and witness the Indian
payments, which occur at this time. The river
is falling so fast and is already 80 low that it |
will be difficult II not impossible to reach the
Fort again until the river rises. In the Spring |
boats went as far as Yellow Medicine, more
than four hundred miles above st. Paul. News
is just received from a boat which in the high
est water reached almost the source Of the Min>
nesota and could, but for a short distance of
low water, have run directly in the Red River.
This it is hoped to do next spring and if &C.
eomplished may lead to important results
The crops up to this point, and hear above,
are very fne. Wheat gives good yield and
some is being harvested. Oats, in size at least
are all that could be desirad Corr is yor,
large and Looks very healthy and thrifty and
farmers feel confident of an abundant crop I'M.
less premature frost should iniure it