Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-05-28

Westward ho is the course of empire;
Log cabins peer-cities follow in their wake
And potent States from Territories retire.
In verifcation of the above sentiment es-
pecially cite you, Messrs. Editors, to the bril-
liant and glorious career of your own proud
State. She is chip out of the great block
now full fedged as Minerva from the brain of
Jupiter-yet scarcely season-colored by the
scar of time. The footprints of the red man
are still fresh upon your shores, and naked
lodge polls still stand in your forests. Mime
sofa early won a crown for her queenly brow.
Before applying for admission into the
Union, however, she must set apart on her
west portion Of her vast territory to be
known as Dakota, a new Territory, fit in size
and resources for State, when the future
should so deve!ope and mould it into accept
nhle shape for n,nmhnre'.:r :"t~ ALL eonied-
eracy.
When you were admitted, the vanguards
of the great army Of civilization were already
beyond your limits; and regiment or two
have since passed over the line. Lacking the
alu and protection which were due from the
General Government, the settler IS sovereignty
was resorted to, civil government and tenn
porary Territorial organization established
and Dakota, thus slowly but surely, has pros
pered and progressed. The present spring
tide of emigration is floating i'll goodIy num-
bers-among them your humble servant, to
within her borders. While endeavorng to
watch we'll the " chances" and to keep N.Y.
self posted in things of general Importance
throughout, will also try to keep my promise
with the MINNEsoTlAN of line or two now
and then from "along the way"
The route of travel for those who fit ont
in St. Paul, is by steamer or by land up to the
Minnesota River to New, Ulm, thence VIII
teams up the Big Cotton Wood intersecting
the well beaten government road, sixteel.
miles below Saratoga, and which road leads
thence directly west to the Big Sioux River.
The distance from New Ulm to this place is
about 12O miles distance from here due west
to Medary, nearest point on the Big Sioux, 25
miles, Roads are becoming good, and forage
will soon be far enough advanced as to en-
tirely dispense with grain for teams. There
is no want of fish and wild fowl along the way.
Fine settlements flourish along up the Big Cot.
ton Wood to within 30 miles of this point
In fact, a trip to Dakota is now becoming but
thing of pleasure, occupying but few days
time in travel, while the varied scenery and
sources of amusement along the route are of
continual interest.
Let me say Of the southwestern portion of
Minnesota, through which we have just passed
embraced in the counties of Brown, Cotton
Wood and Red Woud-uliat 1 have never
wished to find better farming country in all
its adaptations; and l may add, that there
are yet thousands of as good farms as have
yet been taken, to be had by settling upon
and pre-empting each man his 160 acres.
This (Mountain Passl is the grand reception
place on entering Dakota by the main central
route west from navigation of Minnesota River.
1t is at the head of Lake Benton and at the
source Of the natural pass, called by the In
dians, Hole-in- the Mountain" through the
Coteau des Preirie, or dividing ridge between
the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. From
the summit park, in which we are encamped,
is had one of the grandest views America at
fords. The spot itself, with its immediate
surroundings, is full of romantic beauty-sur-
passingly picturesque in its scenery-has an
air of Mtare stateliness and grandeur-yoe
is mellow and gentle and fragrant with odo-
riferous delights-makes you wish it were
your own and your friends for homesteads;
yet in your Imagination there is the hum of
Commercial Metropolis--there is the whistle
of locomotives on the natural g junction be-
low, yet you will conclude that whatever else
its destiny may be, it shall become popular
resort for pleasure seekers. Looking away
over a range to tine East, may be distinctly
pointed out the sources of four fine rivers, viz
the Des Moine, Big Cotton Wood, Red Wood
and Yellow Medicine; interspersed may be
counted a hundred beautiful lakes, some open
but most are finely wooded diversifying and
filling up the whole scene, are smooth, luxu-
rent, green-carpeted prairies like so many
meadows, furnishing in all picture much
more naturally representing some long cul-
tured country in the midst of thorough civili-
zation.
To the south, looking at right angles across