Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-27
.-, co-re.pondence.

Edstorial Correspondence
N.x,a-Littls Canada-Aound p's'o Q
M,o.r;no = Washington Sunrise - Ch'sago s
C,,,.s,, md District Republican Conrent'ons- 1
Messrs. For Young, and 7dysor-1"e oo""'y-
.speculators-A Common Curse.
SAINT PAUL, August 18th, 1859.
On Monday afternoon, Mr.. j. P. OWENS
ate of the Times, and Mr.. DAVID A. YOUNG,
Of Cambridge, Isanti County, and Register OF
that County, invited me to seat in their car
risee, for ride into the country, up north
Meeting my own tastes and wishes so exact
~, gladly availed myself of the opportunity, |
and went along. The party consisted Of
four, Mr.. JOHN DoRAN being the fourth.
We left the City late in the afternoon, on
the Superior Road. 1t was quite hot and
sultry, and, in mercy to the team, drove slow
ly till the cool Of the evening.
The first point we reached was Little Can
ada, six miles out, hamlet of dozen build
ings, two or three saloon-hotels, smith shop,
&C 1t is in the vicinity of quite largely
improved, and, for this region, an old farming
country. The settlers are principally Cana
dian French, whence the name of Little Can
ada. The hamlet is right upon the margin OF
Indian Lake, most beautiful pond of deep,
limpid, clear water, Of some seventy-five acres
in extent, surrounded by bold shores, alter
mating in beautiful groves and cleared fields.
The road indicates quite a sandy surface, but
the farms show heavy, bountiful crops, which
would astonish one not here to see sand soil
produce so well.
We only stop here long enough to give the
horses water, and pushed on. After few
miles farther the road becomes little less
sandy, and more hard and level, the evening
became cooler, and the horses gave step more
rapidly.
We passed Mound View, small town and
post Office, eleven miles out, in the midst ola
beautiful looking country, just at dusk.
The moon rose bright and beautiful, and
we pushed on in fine style and the gayest of
spirits, Messrs. Young and Doran enlivening
the time with their sallies, spiced, occasional
ly with the graver witticisms of Mr.. Owens.
The time and scenery were magnificent-the
country generally level, with just sufficient
undulation to relieve it from dead flatness,
and to make it in the best possible shape for
farming purposes, covered with most beauti-
full Openings" groves Of bur-oak and jack
oak, giving the impression of fairy land, as
we passed first through the beams of the
bright moon, and then through the shadows
of the overhanging trees.
We next crossed the waters of the Rice
Lakes, and stopped moment to water the
team, at the old station of Mr.. TRAVERSE
Here we found some sportsmen making it
their headquarters, from whom Mr.. YOUNG
borrowed fowling-gun, for any chance OPP
portunity the next morning.
We passed on, through continuation of
the same character of country, and arrived at
Columbus, about ten o'clock in the evening.
Here we put up for the night. But before
goin to bed, took moonlight stroll over
the place. There are about a dozen build
ings in all, and all the dwellings are unoccu-
pied but two, the little tavern, kept by JOHN
KLERNER, and a house where the saw-Inill
man lives. 1t does not remind one of GOLD
SMITHS Deserted Village, although it is de.
serted enough, but rather of some scenes de-
scribed in Martin Chuzzlewit-a purely spec
ulative town. Avery large, three-story build
ing, designed for hotel, stands deserted, be
sides half dozen other dwellings of poo
character. A steam saw mill stands besid
the road, and looks as if it was used occasion
ally. The place, was told, is in Anok'
County, and was started by Mr.. STARKEY.-
But, Judging from what could see of it by
moonlight, it seems to me very poor place
naturally, at which to try to start village
The plat is on sand ridge, only little wide
than is needed for road, running between
heavy tamarack swamp on one side, and
deep ter-grass-marsh, too wet for hay, o.
the other.
After a gloriously sweet sleep, we wer
routed out in the morning before it was ligh
enough to see without candle, by the host
who very naively answered, to my remarl
that he was very prompt, =" get my livin
by doing just as those who stop with m
want me to do for their convenience or neces
sity."
We had breakfasted, and were on the road
just as the sun arose, and our mornings rid
was goriously cheering. The country seem
ed but long continuation of what we ha
passed the evening before-so generally leve
that we could see several miles in almost an
direction. Yet enough gently rolling to re
lieve it from dead level, and to make tn
scenery beautiful, covered with openings
timber of bur-oak and jack-oak, intersperse'
with little lakes, and strips of wild meadows
should judge it too sandy for good farm
ing country, was it not for the good crops Q
oats, corn, buckwheat, potatoes, &C., saw il
every cultivated field.
Columbus is twenty three miles from st
Paul, and was told about the same distanc
from Anoka. The land, throughout tn
whole country, is mostly in the hands of spe
culators, and contains scarcely any settle
ments. We only passed two farms till w
got to Wyoming.
Wyoming is seven miles beyond Columbus
is settlement of two or three farms, and il
most handsomely situated. The place wa
trst settled and named by Mr.. L. O. Tom
BIER, Pennsylvania, who imported tn
name with himself from the good old land o
Penn. Mr.. ToNBLER keeps a public house
and will mention here that we stopped al
night there, on our way back, and enjoyed
most capital Northumberland as make
the bodily man greatly comfortable when a
weary.
He next settlement, Or farm, We found, i
Mr.. Buchanan's, four miles beyond Wyom