Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-09-08
PAPER CITIES MINNESOTA.
The following letter copied from the Nil
waukee free Democrat is good

iS iOti0"HS iStteI SOlJiGu from iilo NIL
waukee Free Democrat is good.
ST. PAUL, Aug. %, 1860.
referred, in my last letter, to spaper
cities" Without map for a guide, it is as
difficult to find the locations of these insti-
buttons Of Minnesota as it was to find the
habitation Of the "Forty Thieves" without
the "open sesame" As one, travelling ov-
er the broad prairies, may perhaps. tread
the dust Of some def,inct Dacotah, so as
unconsciously will lie pass over the imagin-
airy lots and avenues of these dormant cities.
In no other state was the inS2ne specula-
ton in "city lots" carried to that extent,
which, during the "fush times" of SO and
| Sc, it reached in Minnesota. Its only par
allel was the great Southern "bubble" Of
John Law Thousands of acres of wild
land, wherever the caprice Of spectators
dictated, were "laid out" in city lots and
sold from the map. Sometimes they had
no inhabitants, and whenever they had, the
number was increased, as politicians fire.
quently estimate the attendance upon mass
meetings, by "the short process Of many
additions" A friend of mine, who pur-
chased quantity ot these lots for $50
apiece in cash, was endeayoring, few DAYS
ago, to trade them for pair Of boots which
he needed more than the land, but it was
bootleSs attempt. | have been on the
banks of one Of the tributaries of the Miss
issippi, where, for nine continuous miles,
city lots were lad out and in market
The style Of these spectators bubbles is
very well illustrated by the following inci-
dent related to me a few years ago by an
old gentleman in Connecticut. He had a
son living in this western country, who
wrote for the old gentleman to come out
and visit him, and to bring along some
funds for profitable investment. The
father being actuated by pecuniary, as
well as paternoI love, came The young
man proposed to take a ride out some TWEEN
ty miles to show him new city, in which
he had very valuable interest. After rid
ing several miles, the broad sketches of
prairie, the monotony Of the landscape, un-|
relieved by any token Of civilization, began
to be wearisome to the gentleman. "We
shall soon be there" said the son, urging
along his steed, while the old mans eyes
were straining to catch a glimpse Of distant
church spires and suburban residences. At
last, the son, suddenly stopping bis horse
and dropping the reins, said, -"Well faith
or, we are there "IHere! where?7 ex-
claimed the old gent. "Why, at the City"
was the reply. CityI city, indeed
There's not a house in sight" "Oh! /
know" said the young man, but don't you
see the stakes2'
Times have changed, but the "foolkiIler"
has spared now and then one out of these
victims ofdelasion For example, writer
in Yesterdays Pioneer Dc Democrat at
tempts to show that, in twenty-five years,
St. Paul will be the largest city west of New
York, and will then have population Of
30O,00Ol!!
Minnesota never exhibited greater evil
dences Of prosperity than she does to-day
She has been like a precocious child whose
head is developed in undue proportion to
its body. Capital has been too much con
fined to cities. Too many men have been
striving to live by their wits, and to realize
wealth upon the "baseless fabric" of specu-
lation But the crisis is passing away
Capital and labor are seeking the country,
and are developing upon the fertile prairies
more substantial interests, and Minnesota,
more healthful in all the material resources,
is fast gathering strength to compete with
the elder sisters Of the West in the race of
prosperity. Two years ago there was
scarcely wheat enough raised in this State
for home consumption. Last year mil
lion bushels were shipped from the little
village of Winona alone, and this year the
wheat crop is estimated at eight million
bushels. Wheat is now selling for 65e per
bushel Should railroad ever be con
structed 10 Lake Superior and those com
pleted which are already commenced, Min
nesota will possess advantages for market,
and Of internal communication, mliyalled
by any ether Western State.
Yours dc. d.