New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-18
M1NNEsoTA-ITs oLIKA2E, sou. &c.

GrsrLEsEs: You have requested me 70 give 70
von and through you TO the migrating public an inn
'o,,;sl and candid statement OF the elim4te soil re-
.or,ees commercial and mechanical, of Minnesota aud
what PECULIAR advantages, any, this young State bias
ovsy other new countries satisfactory response TO
vour ipoujres would much exceed the limits OF Pr
Val. letter or the time that now have 10 devote 10
even 30 Interesting subject This, however, Shall
10, deter me from compliance with your very TO-
spectfUl request.
The climate Of Minnesota II already proyerbla!ly
good nor can any thing be said upon this head not al
ready known TO an intelligent public. It's complete
exemption from all those diseases and maadles ocato
moet new countries and 80 justly terror 10 all new
coners conceded by all who have tested it by actual
residence. There ia hardly town, or city, or neigh
borhood in the State, that s not able TO bear testimony
20 more than one complete restoration from chronic
disease Of the lungs OF the varied types OF
consumption assumed by tina. most subtle Of all the
agents of the fell destroyer. Perhaps no locality on
our cont nent has lees OF fever and ague. Indeed,
there be any cases Of this kind, their origin Is readily
uaced TO some other States or Territories, and bu,
.hoit residence necessary 10 eradicate entirely.
Hundreds and hnndI eds Of families are annually driven
from other Western States 10 take up their residence IN
Minnesota, TO escape this offensive and troublesome
Toe 10 the emigrant and his family. This Is not only
true of one but of erety portion OF the Stae; and
What is very remarkable, 1t s just as healthy around
The lake shores and along the valleys Of our water
courses as upon the prles and table ands oil the IN
tenor In 10 pant OF America the seasons better
defined OF more emphatically marked We VIII begin
with the Spring, This usually begins about the
middle OF March when the snow begins to melt and
disappear suddenly. April ia tickle and huctuating-
Nav trsnquI warm and genial. The latter part OF
Aprl the farmers plant potatoes and SOW ther spring
wheat About the first OF May they SOW their oats,
and about the tenth plant their corn Alter the nrss
OF May iross rarely ever appear, certainly not 70 the
came extent they DO III States further sOuln ana east
This is very remarkable fact, and Is demonstrated
YEARLY | was informed by aged Missionary, In tho
Spnng o. 1919, that he had lived In the country tnen
txeen ears and that he had observed the appearance
of frost averaged two weeks earlier IN Northern ILL
uois than in Minnesota Why this difference IN favor
OF more Northern State, is interesting problem
for philosophers and biologists, with whom leave
the soluiiontbe fact however, Is nccntestloe Sam
mer in this State Is indeed hot sometimes even over
DOW eina but always succeeded by cool, breezy, de-
cious nights. Sleep here is reposc indeed, and not
exhaustion, in more southern States. In no part OF
the world do crops grow moe rapidly than IN Mlnne-
.oa owing chiefly to two causes, the Intense heat OF
SIM mer days ana the warm nature of the coil. Ihls
regularity OF the coil and climate explains the hurried
and swift maturity Of the various species OF corn tnat
many who have not witnessed the fact, believe Cannot
riptn with any degree OF certainty north OF ONO OF
Illinois, This qmck action of The and soil on vege
taton and grain is necessarily spur TO the farmer,
who il burned from department OF his 4bor 70
another without much time for rest or relaxation Al
rst he will be apt to conclude that the planting Of
corn is to close the sowing OF whe IT. oats, and bar
lew and the wedding OF the former too near the hal
yesti1 OF the latter. But he will soon learn by CD
eryatIOn and experience 10 keep them separate ana
apart by taking time by the forelock. Inc Autumns
Of Minnesota are bright, clear, and dry-wel adapted
10 the cutting and curing Of hay and the lngathering
of the crops. Il is also the best season for sport as
hunting, fishing, and driving. No State III the union
has better natural roads and thorougbfares and at this
season you can safely drive carriage 10 the Red
River-thence down that rich valley OF Land 10 the
British neroI-or westward TO the Rocky Mountains,
or southery to Iowa or Missouri. A good team load
YOU can find this season in almost any direction, and
Derfect health by the way. Inc Winter here Is colo,
dry, and severe. Snow tails for sleghing generally
about the twentieth of November, and from that to
Christmas Alter that but little snow falls, anc It lie
uniform Winter till Spring comes, when II makes its
exit rather unceremonously. But let 10 one suppose
hat Winter here is cherries and void Of social IN
eres In no part OF the country are there more social
appliances and social pleasures than in Minnesota.
lyceums, leeture-ro social and dancing parties,
sleighng excursions by day and by moonlight, are
common Of pleasure from the Capitol 10 the
country hamlet THIS too, if the season Tor harvest
ing the pine forestan employ men hall business and
At III pIeasuIe-a crop gathered IN the Winter and nan
ufactured and sold in the Spring and summer.
The soil of Minnesota deserves more careful analy-
ais and more minute description than il has hitherto
received. Previous publications have been too gen.
er and consequently too imperfect for the informs
uon OF the migrant and settler. Nor do i consider
ny self competent, nor Is II my purpose TO attempt
luIy TO supply what has been lacking III this respect.
That is the TASK OF the professional geoog1stmlne il
an humber one. .
Minnesota like all the other States has more or less
of poor or Indifferent coil at the time few States
10 the Union have more productive remunerating
lands than Minnesota, and these are admira ply dis
.ributed so as ultimately 10 equaize the population
through the several important districts marked by the
physical geography Of the country. the great natural
subdivisions OF the State are:
~ oEa fhar ovton dinfr
some sixty miles around the head OF the great lake
that bears than This district for the most part
woodland Most of the soil ia thin, low, and wet with
here there fertile locality of hardwood ash
tugar-mape, and elm, having clay or hardpan sub
soil. But little of this region at present settled and
ia generally unknown TO the emgrating public, as
10 road has yet been competedfron Superior City to
the Mississippa distance Of eighty mile only. 1t is
20 be regretted, the Government is to be blamed
that il has never constructed this road either for mill
tary or poetal purposes, well for calling into
QUESTION and settlement large tract OF the public do
main, thus uniting by comp aratiyely small expense,
The tw o great valleys of the continent the Lake and
Mississippi. IL would be essentially National High
way and would speedily force into settlement all the
cultivaDe land between the mighty waters. This,
100 is the mnera the copper, and iron district of MN
uesota--the only region IN America where copper is
found in purity. When the slumbering wealth
OF this region shall be appreciated and capital aud ope
ratvee shall have found lodgment IL this portion OF
Minnesota agriculture III this vicinity will find mex
haus Die market and rich reward AZ the head of the
lake.
H. In the North West OF the State heads the great
valley basin Of the Red River of the North This al
most distinct region of country, and has many pecu-
Darltes in soil and population The valley proper, is
about thirty miles in width, being mbered aud prairie
and Of the very richest soil, composed of deep black
loan, resting upon a clayey foundation. This ID q
vast luxuralit grass regon--the ancient paradise of
the buffalo herds-from which they have lust been
driven by the vanguard and outpost Of our progressive
population. This great valley is admirably adapted 70