The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-25

NUMBER ii.
From Our Special Csrrespondenee


To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
On our arrival in this City of Hopes, we had
the good fortune to fall into the hands of
Thomas Clark, ESQ.,, editor of the Superior
G0Sette; Thomas Richie, Esq, the wide-awake
stage agent, and e. w. Anderson. jr., the well
known and popular real estate dealer These
gentlemen kindly furnished as with facts, f.
cures, maps and incidents enough to swamp
canal boat but through compassion for your
readers, we give only such items as are appro-
PIRATE in letter of this character.
In the eyes Of greenhorn, who don't know
how to appreciate corner lots, }" nor to COM
prehend the magnificent beauty Gin prospec-
tive) of marble banks, granite churches, and
free stone palaces, Superior is one of the most
God and man forsaken towns ever beheld but
as the Irishman said about the place Of his birth
-" The foocher Of that beautiful town, by the
blessings Of God, is yit befoor us!"
One of the most prominent features peculiar
to all Western towns, is. first an original site,
and then dozen (more or less) wings and adj
ditions. tackled on by landsharks and specu-
lators.
To this general rule, Superior is not an ex-
ception. lthas its City of Superior, Superior
City, Uptown, Downtown, Superior East,
Saw-mill Point, and Middletown each and all
equally embellished with pine and spruce
stumps, halfbreed children, empty houses and
lean dogs.
Aperfect contagion swept over this town in
the years 1856 and 1857, technically known as
the Speculation Fever, (which we conclude lin
the absence of medical reports) proved alarm
ingy fatal, for it carried off nearly all of the
inhabitants, as will be seen by the following
figures:
The population of Superior and all of its
wings, in the fall Of 1857 was estimated at 1000
with 800 houses. As the contract entered into
the buildings was Of such character that
they couldn't very well be re leased, they still
remain, but the people, like the officers of the
Sons of Malta have nearly all departed, and the
residents now number but about 400 all told
white, black, red and snuffcolored. But as
the old darkey revivalist remarked at the camp
meeting,
30 you's set of high old coons, You is,
but Dress de Lord God, deres lots o. room for
improvement"
The city is eight and half miles long with
eight miles frontage on the bay-one of the
loveliest sheets of water on this continent.
The surface of the ground is nearly q dead
level about thirty feet above the lake, and de-
faced in perhaps half dozen places with deep
ravines, which act as excellent drains during
wet seasons and violent showers
The soil is dark loan over rich yellow
elias, which produces excellent crops during
both wet and dry seasons. The great financial
crash of 1857 probably fell. heavier. on Superior
than on any other town of its population in
America. 1t was at that time having magic
like growth. Houses sprang up like mush-
rooms over night, and rents Of such enormous
amounts were freely paid that every third man
was land mad. -
The natural advantages of Superior are
among the finest to be found in the United
States, and if the land had been originally
owned, plated, and managed by honest, con-
scientous, public spirited men, it to-day would
have had population of five thousand-a
number which it will probably fail to reach I'm.
der five years, when the steam horse is ex-
pected to arrive semi-daily from St. Paul.
The natural advantages of this place, have,
like those of many Others, proved its greatest
curse. The land was secured through different
parties by scrip, warrant and presumption; and
as each had 'l-ee-tle the best title" they have
been fighting over it ever since
The lots instead of being laid out 30 feet by
$50, as they should have been to encourage
the settlement Of those looking for homes were
laid out % feet by 12O feet, and then so dis
tributed among stockholders that it was next
to impossible tor purchaser to obtain two
contiguous lots without submitting to unmer-
ciful shaves from perhaps half dozen sharp
ers. SO much for laying out cities for the ex-
elusive benefit of non-residents and hearrless
spectators; it is in plain English suicidal and
infamous.
Speaking of plain English, reminds us OF an
old gentleman of the colored persuasion, whose
acquaintance we have just had the honor of
making in this city.
Negroes always have euphonious names.
This ones is Jumbo. He declares that she
isn't all nigga, by jugful!" So sensitive is he
on this subject, that he never fails to inform
strangers at the earliest possible moment. that
he is half breed French Chippewa wild q
little cullud blood on his grandfader's side!"
This pleasant delusion, he hugs and nour-
ishes, as does fond mother her first born:
and however excited, whether with mirth or
anger, he never fails. If in the presence of
Strangers to apologize for his bad English.
A surveying party, some time since, camped
over night in the vicinity of Jumbo's house.
(Houses are so plentiful here that each family
can have three or four, if desired.) In the
morning. after breakfast, Jumbo puts on his
best store clothes and visits the camp. Po-
litely taking of his antIquated beaver, he ex-
claimed:
"YOu must please squeeze my bad English.
but You gen1men last night stole two ob INV
best Shang-hi pullets, and about dozen COW.
cumbers, and guess de bill be about two dol.
lars 'naff!"
The party thought that what Jumbo ,ack.d
In good English. he more than made mn in
shrewdness, courage and common sense and
so footed the bill without any qnestions 'D1
Among the men who early sew the snne,;or