Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-26
MORNING LEADER.
MINNEsOTA CORREsPONDENCE.
Root River valley, aud southern DlinnesOta.
HoKAu, Houston 90 Min May 20.


friends in your region, not only in the beauti-
ful Forest City, bat all along shore ON the
Western Re, I'VE, l wish to communicate to
them through the columns Of your widely cir
culated Journal such information as might be
useful to those who contemplate seeking more
Western home, information possess respect
ing this lovely land, in which ! have cast my
lot
Houston county is in the extreme South east
corner of the State, having the majestic Missis
sippi for its oastern-and the Northern line of
Iowa, for its Southern boundaries. Root river
passes through the northern portion of the coun,
ty discharging its waters into the Mississippi,
opposite the llourishng City Of La Crosse, in
Wisconsin La Crosse is the most important
t)wn on the upper Mississippi, between Du-
buque and st. Paul, and bids fairiu "a very brief
period Of time, TO distance Dubuque in the race
for greatness and supremacy on these Northern
waters being the western terminus Of the La
Crosse and Milwaukee Railway, one Of the
most important Roads on this continent.
From La Crescent, opposite La Crosse, the
Root River Valley aud Southern Minnesota r.
! Rim fact a continuation Of the La Crosse d
| Milwaukee Road-penetratest the interior ofthis
| young and vigorous State, through a region of
country as rich in all the native elements of
future greatness, as any portion of the West
The aspect Of the country along the line of the
r. r. V. r. r. for the first forty miles, to the
eye Of the traveller, is not remarkably inviting,
as the road follows closely tho valley of the
river, which is mostly low bottom lands, Gov
cred with a uxuriaut growth Of grass, alterna-
ting with dense body Of splendid timber, en-
closed on all sides with wall Of high bluffs
rising from one TO four hundred feet above the
bed OF the river, These bufls in Summer pre-
sent to tho eye a strangely picturesque appear
ance. Their sides, from base to summit, are
covered with garments OF a most beautiful
green, thicily feck,d with many coored Wild
flowers, while scattered here and there over
their entire surlace-closcly resembling the old
apple orchards of Ohio-grows a low variety ol
OAK The valley is from three 10 five miles
wide, and contains the heaviest body OF timber
in this state These tmbcred bottom lands are
in reality the most ydlu bic lands in the coun-
try.
Leading into the Valley from the country
in all directions, are natural road ways, through
the bluiis, Indicating the natural sites for
towns, ON the Tyer; and all the principal
towns, in this portion OF Minnesota, are situat.
ed in the valleys of our various streams. The
principal varieties of timber are White and
Red Oak, Maple Elm, Ash, Black Walnut,
Butternut, Basswood Cottonwood and Hack
berry THIS body of timber extends from the
mouth Of the river, to a distance of some
twenty miles up the valley, with an average
width Of one mile The balance Of our valley
lands are either meadow or "bcnch lands =
These valley benches are usually situated It
an elevation of from twenty to forty feet above
the river, and are a beautiful PLAIN, etretchng
back TO tho base Of tho hlula and somctim,,
coming clear down to the shore Of the river
They are usually covered with scattert &
growth of timber, aud If at, or near, the mouth
of any Of the numerous streams entering the
valley, they afford beautiful town sites, an
these lesser streams invariably afford excellent
! water. powers, at or near their confluence will
the river.
THIS town is situated at the mouth of one @.
these streams, (Ihompsun's CTeek) and is
think, destined 10 take ruul, as one Of the fret
towns IN the southern part OF the State. 1t Ia
, six miles from La Crosse, and the first poin
reached in tue Valley by the Rail Road. a
this place the Rail Road Company have 10
Gated their various shops and offices, and a
this point they propose To transact the busmes
of the Company. 1t has ia addition 10 this
= ] tine natural advantages po scssed by but ie'
s, towns in the State-a vast water power, cApa
a. bo Of running any amount OF machinery, o
which there Is now III operation lourih
al mill, and saw mill, aud four story building
AZ by 30 feet, fast filling up with machinery
n in which is u chair factory IN iull blast
manulactory Of hay rakcs, &c.,-and one q
a.. a. DuprltIpu IRurg d
z us, out OF the Valley, is one OF the best farm
ing countries in the world We are blesse
with pure spocbled trout abound in al
our strcams-puTe air, and soil OF unsurpa.
scd fertility and are, moreover ut the ycr
doors OF an excellent market, within tl
q. next six months we shall sec the iron hors
y careerisg through our Valley connecting 4
10y iron bands with the Eastern world.
This road is in the hands of your enerlet
aud onterprising citizen, Mr.. Selah Chambc
lain, as chief contractor, who 10 pushing it wit
the utmost rapidty to completion. The fir
twenty miles are nearly ready for the ties an
lroH-and the cars will undoubtedly be rur
ning as far up as Rushlord, go miles,) th
season.
At Rochester, 7S miles west Of La Crosse,
juno ion is formed with the Transit Rold, fro
which point the two Companies use the san
line to Mankato, on the Minnesota River Hho
n they Join the Road up tina. valley from )
Paul, and from that point all three Compan
run over the samo road to the mouth Of d
Big Sioux, on the eastern blnk OF the MissOuI
thus passing from East TO West across the c
tire breadth of this State, and 90 miles Of Il
uuorqanized Territory of Daootah A vast r
gion along the line OF these Railroads is yet u
settled, ailurdug a most inviting field 20 Il
emrrant. To the manufacturer, the merchaI
the mechanic, our valley towns offer fine ope
OF ings for business, while the farmer viii fl
excellent lands within from one to ten miles
any town in the valley. We raise here
abundance, and Of superior quality potatoe
oats, dent corn, wheat, buckwheat and barlc
aud all the varieties of vegetables, and vines,
an almost fabulous yield and size. Corn let
~ bushels and winter wheat frequently
hiph as 40 bushels TO the acre. The Sorghul
or, Chinese sugar cane comes TO perfect mat
/ rity 10 all this portion Of the State Emigrau
To this region will find the route via DeT,
d Milwaukee Railroad, and Milwaukee &
Crosse Rqilroad by far the best aud cheape
route from OliO to this part OF the West. Tn
will also find a rich country and plenty OF a
occupied land waiting for cultivation
A. Is. MURCH
10 BLOODY ArFRAY-MORE BoRDER RurFIk
IsM.--Ou the 8th inst, party Of men nam
I George Johns, Elijah Wood, Gallagher, Ba
= croft and some Others whose names are II
'n pivpn made au attack upnn the house OF Jul