The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-17
NEWS OF OUR own STATE.


gives the following information in regard to
homesteads: tH - 1Ir
In answer to the oft repeated inquiries,
"where are the homesteads mostly taken 2" we
would reply that during the month of May
there were taken under the Homestead Law
at the Land Office in this place, 25,555 acres.
OF this amount 14,72O acres were located In
Faribault county, and 4, $50 acres in Martin
county. These two counties are certainly
getting their share of the emigration to the
District. And why not /? We do not believe
offer superior inducements to emigraDts, and
from the way people are crowdlng into them,
we think good many beside Ourself are of
the same opinion. Of the amount of home
stead land taken in May in Faribault county
2,240 acres lie in the township of Lura; $3.50
in the township of Minnesota Lake; and 1920
acres in the township of Barber, showing that
rather more than half of the emigration for
the past month to the county has settled in
these three towns. There are half dozen
towns more, just as good when all the land in
them is gone.
SENATOR PORTER of Mankato, having applied
to U. s. Senator Ramsey, of Washington, to
ascertain what course it was proper for dis
charged wounded soldiers to take in order to
obtain their bounty, that gentleman referred
the same to Hon. E. B. French, Second Auditor
of the Treasury, who replied as follows:
Claims of this character are paid by Pay
master under an order of the Secretary of War,
upon presentation of discharge and evidence
from the certificate of disability that the soldier
was discharged by reason of wounds received
in battle.
WE learn from the Winnebago City Home
stead that the body of Mr.. Cooley, of Mower
county, was found in Luna township, Faribault
county, supposed to have been frozen to death
last winter. His watch and money were still
in his pockets.
Several weeks ago, we published a statement
of the killing of big Indian on the Cotton
wood, by two soldiers of the Sixth Regiment.
On Monday last we were visited by these
gentlemen-members of company G-who
exhibited to us trophy of their adventure in
the shape of full sized Indian scalp. The
boys say that they were scouting through the
timber in pursuit of Indians, and coming upon
a trail they followed it for some distance I'M
til they had become detached from the remain
der of their comrades. Soon they observed
party of three Indians, watching them. Upon
being observed the Indians Immediately fired,
but the boys threw themselves upon the
ground, the bullets passing over their heads
They then rose to their feet and fired at the
Indians, both balls hitting and killing one of
IACnI. AAo otueIS csCaPeu, taking the QeaU
Indians gun, but leaving two powder TASKS,
several halters, lariats and trinkets innumer-
able. The TASKS were filled with new pow
der, of excellent quality.
The boys scalped Mr.. Indian, taking his en-
tire coat of hair and one ear. They represent
him as full blood, large frame, about forty
years of age, and as wearing slight, scattering
mOustache. In a previous article we incor-
rectly represented the Indian as half-breed,
with heavy side whiskers.-Maakato Record.
ORDERED AwAY.-We understand that Gen.
Sibley intends ordering the abandonment of the
Quartermasters post at this place, and that
Captain McKusick is to be ordered to the
James river, where fort is to be erected. The
supplies are to be removed, and the frontier
garrisOns are to draw their supplies from Fort
Ridgley and st. Paul. The latter place is to
be the point for letting all contracts, fat jobs,
&C., and o rich harvest is expected to be
raised by the metropolitan hangers on.-Mn..
kato Record.
PAYMAsTER.-Chas 8. Dunscombe Esq, of
this place, has been commissioned Paymaster
in the United States Navy. We understand
that before the appointment was conferred
upon Mr.. u. he underwent q very creditable
examination. Record.
DAMAGING FRosT.-On Sunday night last
this vicinity was visited with severe frost,
which in some instances killed vegetables out
AASAV. AAOuSu oUSldlucu ucTc WIS
slight, we are informed that in the vicinity of
Glencoe, corn and wheat was literally cut
down to the roots and destroyed. The dam
age extends over a large scope of country
Ordinarily this might be considered a calamity,
but under the present circumstances of
drouth, to which the people are becoming re-
conciled, it matters but little whether the
crops suffer death at the hands Of Jack Frost
or by heat.-Chaska Herald.
THE drOuth still continues, and there are no
prospects of rain. The earth in this section
is literally drying up, and the grass in many
With opportune rains, we might get fair crops
of grain and vegetables, but there can now be
no hay crop, especially on the uplands. Farm
ers and stock raisers should have their ground
in readiness, and at the first rain, SOU corn for
fodder. This seems to be the only alternative
of which they can avail themselves. Unless
we have rain very soon our situation will Ger
tainly be observation-disclosures Argus.