The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-08
Our own State .


The Hastings Independent says that
Agents on the Illinois Central Railroad are
canvassing the river towns for grain freights
to Chicago at as low figures as the same is
carried to Milwaukee.
This is an important feature in the grain
trade of Minnesota, and deserves to be look
ed into by the Milwaukee folks, if they wish
to, command the shipments of grain that
finds its way to the Lake shore. The com.
potion between the three great cities OF the
West for the products Of Minnesota, proves,
no doubt, OF more profit to our farmers than
any other class; as the high prices paid
during the past month would prove.
JAMES A. NOLAN, of Caledonia, Hous ton
county, is dead. He was early Unidentified
with the organization of Houston county,
and for six years held the post of Register
of Deeds. In 1857, be was member of
the Constitutional Convention. He died in
the 10th year Of his age.
JOHN BANTAM & Co., turn out at their
factory at Hokah, Houston county, about
5000 worth of plows every week. The
most of their work is made by machinery
run by steam. This establishment has but
lately opened, and when their arrangements
are entirely perfected, it may be possible
for this new and enterprising firm to supply
the demand for their homemade, improved
plows and cultivators.
The Postmaster General has ordered the
establishment of Postofice at Eagle Mills,
on Spring Greek, in Freedom county, and
appointed WARREN MILLS as postmaster.
A BAPTIST CHURCH was organized at
Roscoe, in Freedom county, on the 18th
ult., of which Rev. J. WALDRoN Was chosen
as the pastor. 1t was publicly recognized
by council convened for that purpose.
The Red Wing Sentinel doubts much if
any place on the upper Mississippi river,
can boast of more natural beauties than
Red Wing. The situation of the town is
commanding, being about thirty feet above
the Mississippi river, surrounded on two
sides by large bluffs, which at this season
Of the year are decked with mantle of
living green. Opposite the city, is beau
tiful sheet of water, known as Lake Re-min-
ne-cha, which is four miles in circumference
and contains water sufficiently deep to float
yacht of thirty tons burden. 1t believes
the natural and artificial beauties of the
town will make up scene of loneliness that
cannot be surpassed anywhere.
Of the country, and how it looks, the
Sentinel thus speaks:
10 an admirer of nature, the general aspect
Of the country is beautiful in the extreme.
Within the last ten days the windows of the
sky have been opened, and copious rains have
descended, doing an immense amount of good
to the crops, and causing the heart of the far
mer to sing with very joy. Before the rain
fell, much fear had been felt of an extended
drouth. The ground was ligth and dry, vege.
tatlon was at a stand still, and the farmers
were already beginning to indulge in low NUT.
terings because their small grain did not spread
and root well, when the long looked for rain
came down, causing the clouds to be dispelled
from the husbandman's brow, and the doubts
to dispense from his heart. Now the grass,
the grain, the vegetables, with renewed vigor
have pushed themselves upward-the green
leaves have grown fresher and greener@the
tints of the blossoms deeper and lovelier, and
everything rejoiced and strengthened by the
visitation. The prairies do bloom and bios
som as the rose, and the prospects of an abun.
dant harvest were never more fattering.
The Wilton (Waseca county, Home View
has the following:
Wild Strawberries ripe in Minnesota, the 23d
of May! plucked at Wilton, and if Old Nature
don't intend to fool US, in feckiDg the prairie
far and near with their white blossom, as if
with the big fakes of young snow storm, we
shall have cart loads of them around US in
week or two.
From an article in the Farribault Repub-
lican, on the weather and the crops, the fol-
lowing is extracted:
The fine shower of Thursday evening has dis.
PEELED all the fearful apprehensions of the
doubling ones, that our crops were to be in
jured by drought, and we never saw the face
of nature wear more smiling and lovly ap.
pearance than at the present time. From the
most reliable information we can obtain from
different sections of this county with what we
have seen with our own eyes, we believe there
is at least twice the number of acres in crop
this year that there was last and four times as
much as there was two years ago, and crops
never looked more promising than now. The
yield of wheat last year has proved conclusive
ly that no state in the Union can excel our
own beautiful Star of the North, in the prOduc-
tiveness of its soil, acre for acre; and certain
ly no State can boast purer atmosphere,
more radient sunshine, more brilliant sky or
sweet gushing fountains of living waters, than
our own dear Minnesota! Minnesota forever,
and Rice County against the world.
The reports from Winona county, and, in
fact, from every other county in the State,
are equally encouraging with that above
quoted. The Winona Republican says:
The extent of ground now being broken by
the farmers in this State almost surpasses be-
lief. From those who are situated to know,
we learn that thousands upon thousands of
acres of sod have been brought under subjec.
ton by the pillow in this and the surrounding
counties within the month of May. Large prep.
aratiOns are being made to sow wheat in the
fall, and to this end every available acre of
ground will be put in use. Corn is also being
planted extensively in the sod fields this spring.
The agricultural population of Minnesota is
laboring this year with an energy and will
which is probably no where surpassed, if
equalled, elsewhere on the continent. And
they have everything to encourage them; for
no other State has been more favored by ma.
ture than our own. - ....