The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-13
Justice to Minnesota.
he New York Herald, June 80.

from the New York Herald, June SU
A correspondent takes exception to some
passages in the article in yesterdays paper,
on the condition of the Northwest, referring
to Minnesota, and says:
No State in this Union has less waste
land. The lightest soils are in the pine
region, where there is crop all ready for
harvesting, which will not be exhausted in
a century, if ever. No State produces
heavier or better crops OF the cereals, roots
and grasses. In all these Minnesota is first
class, as is well known throughout the West.
In Indian corn culture Minnesota is not
surpassed by any region north of the fortieth
parallel. As regards certainty of crops
Minnesota land northern Wisconsin, is not
equalled by any State in the Union. There
never has been failure there from any
climatic cause. "a failure, partial, one
year, caused by the transit of the army 10.
Gusts, called "grasshoppers.'0 There the
climate is continental-insulated. The
winter is cold, dry, bright and invigorating
the pleasantest season of the year. In
March the snow and ice are evaporated by
the warm winds of the South, which sweep
through their channels like river over the
plains from the Gulf of Mexico. About
the middle of April, the soil, having received
the seed kindly and warmly, begins to thirst
for rain, when the evaporated snow and ice
begin to return in flushing, electric storms,
mostly at night, announcing that the rainy
season has set in, and this last till the middle
of June, the range being only a few days
more or less. Then follows the dry sea-
son for harvest, and until the following
spring the only rain which falls is a
'tsemi,occasional shower" For ten years
past the only exception to this order of the
seasons was three years ago, when there
was rain in March and again early in July,
causing considerable rust in the wheat. As
regards protection from frost, Minnesota
is more favored than any other State of the
North. Regions several degrees south have
frosts later in spring and earlier in autumn.
This is proved by well attested facts. Last
year, for example, when the wheat crop was
destroyed by frost, in June and July, in the
country far south of Minnesota in
central Ohio-no damage was done there /;
and no State equalled that in grain crops,
either in quantity per acre or in quality.
The topography and climate of Minnesota
are peculiar. That region is the water shed
of three great valleys, namely, the Missis-
sippi, the st. Lawrence and the Red river of
the North-the fountain source of the three
great river systems of America. The reser-
voirs and conduits of this water shed con-
sist of countless rivers, lakes and springs of
clear water, which drain the farming lands
and temper the atmosphere. The soil is
warm, pulvurant and dark, black garden
soil, which readily inhales the hot rays OF
the sun, becomes warmed to great depth,
and at night parts slowly with its heat. If
the upper atmosphere becomes frosty and
frost comes from the upper strata, cooling
the strata next the earth, the difference in
temperature between the earth and superin.
cumbent atmosphere produces in that dry
climate light fog, which keeps off the un-
timely frost, presenting in the case of Min
nesota an exception and paradox, which is
to many persons stranger than fiction
But, business engagements admonish me to
attempt no further imposition on your COL
umns, but to close abruptly with the request
that your special correspondent will visit
Minnesota and see and know for himself
that Minnesota is, for climate, health, soil,
agriculture, various resources, personal COM
fort and natural beauty, the most favored
State of the great NORTHWEST.
June % 1850