Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-09-18

to any other town in Minnesota. Capt.
talists are focking in and investing in
manufacturing aud other business, and
the ring of the trowel and Of the car.
penter's hammer Is heard on every side
The residents are sanguine, and conf
dently predict that in few years they
win outstrip s. Paul and make Mime
apolis the 6rst town ia the State. This
however they will hardly accomplish,
for Notwithstanding the great manufac-
turing privileges they possess and the
railroad connections they will soon
have in common with St. Paul, yet the
latter is naturally the commercial point,
and having ample capital and q well
established business, il is not likely that
these advantages can be overcome. In
my Judgment, s. Paul will, so to speak,
be the Boston Of Minnesota, while Min.
neapolis will be the Lowell
Minneapolis contains many fine bus
iness houses and dwellings and q first
class hotel building, (which however is
far from being a first class hotel), and
commands handsome trade from the
rich regions to the south and west of it.
The country around Minneapolis in
every direction is remarkable for its
soft, picturesque and charming scenery.
Viewed from the observatory on the
Winslow House in ST. Anthony, the
beauty of the landscape on every side
is most enchanting. How can describe
it2 Enough, that of the thousand de-
lightfnl spots, which somewhat exten-
sive travel has presented to my notice,
| have seen none lovelier than this
Let 20 one who visits this region, fail to
enjoy the magnificent picture which lies
spread out at and around the Falls of
StfAnthony.
Now let us return to ourdrive to Lake
Minnetonks. Our route passed by sew
eral small and pleasant lakes, (of which
two, Lake Harriet and Lake Cal
houn, are much visited) and in time for
dinner, we reached Excelsior, our des-
tinatiou, on Lake Minnetonka Here
we found comfortable accommodations,
the throng of visitors having measurably
subsided A few weeks earlier every
available corner was occupied, and often
excursionists had to be content with
camping out Now, however, though
Excelsior is but q small hamlet, we were
taken in and well done for The lake
is one of the largest in the State, and
much the largest of any in this. portion
of it. The name Minnetonka, Indicates
its relative Importance, the meaning
being "Big Water" Ample provision
is made for the accommodation of visit.
ors in the way of sail boats and fishing
tackle, and great sport and enjoyment
are obtainable By those who wish a brisk
sail, or indulgence in Izak Walton's fs
vorite amusement. We tried both with
satisfactory results. Fish are abnnd-
ant, and many Of large size. Bass and
pickeral weighing from 6ve to ten, and
even fifteen, pounds, are frequently
caught The lake is studded with beau
tiful islands, and sail around among
them, if not rom futie, is at least delight.
ful. Except that it is larger, the gener-
al characteristics of this lake are the
same as Of other lakes which we have
visited Having spent day aud half
in excursions on and about it, we re-
turned, as we went, with pleasant re-
membrauce of the trip for future ret
rospectioD. %#
ST. Paul is very much quieted down.
The throng of visitors is mostly gone,
and to us who have seen, and been in
and Of the crowd, the town has now an
air of dullness. We feel that, while our
stay here has been in the main very
pleasant one, we can promise ourselves
no great advantage from prolongation
of our visit The climate here is GER
tainly splendid, end the country fine,
abound'ng in much that is useful, beau
tiful Prd attractive. Nevertheless give
us th, "solid" merits of the "PocKET"
Nation, vhere, despite the heat and
changes weather, the unromantc
fare OF the country, and the dreadful
prevaleI ce Of hogs and democrats, we
have all the benefits that productive
soil can give us; all the advantages Of a
mighty river as an outlet to our COM
merce, with more than all, the inland
lakes and obstrueted streams prerdiling
here; aud more to be valued than all,
we have a courteous, frank and gem
erous hearted people; therefore, what.
ever the views Of others, the STATE Of
Vanderburgh and the Hoosiers for us.
We shall leave here in few days for
Milwaukee, going thence to Mackinaw,
perhaps--perhaps not Time will deter
mine. r.