Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-07-20

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| On THE MINNESOTA RIVER, July 9a1S61
FRIEND REED:-'
This morning took passage on this little
Steamer at Mankato for St. Paul, and while sit
ting here enjoying the beautiful scenery and this
delightful Minnesota breeze, l suppose you are
sweltering in your ''Den," hard at work, driy
the quill that the Telegraph may be off Sin
time" The thought occurs to me that under
such circumstances an 'item," or something
to I'LL up, might be acceptable. So with the
sole idea of helping you out 1 commence, not
knowing when shall end. l left the MisSissip-
pi at Winona, and having friends near Manka-
TO, made that my objective point lying l5o
miles directly west The Railway now extends
80 miles in that direction, and Burbank s famous
line of Stages penetrate the interior from this
point There Icing no alternative for me, pre-
pared myself for rough usage, and before the
remaining 60miles were accomplished l became
fllly convinced of my ynothingIess and decided
that ga hard road to travel" We have on board
to-day representatives of human nature in a
variety of forms. At Mankato we shipped a
party of delegates 10 the democratic State Con-
vention, which coDvenes at st. Paul tomorrow.
In conversation with one of them l was told
that they go down to the convention without
the remotest idea Of ultimate success ; but they
go through with the form, Isuppose, as in Ohio,
merely TO keep up an organization and show
their good will. Would that the Republican
party might inherit this one redceming trait-eter
nal vigilance with a determination to overcome
all obstacles. AccesSions are being made to the
party at each landing, and demonstrations about
the crowded saloon indicate a rich harvest for
the bar-keeper. Compressed lips and wry faces
speak of another characteristic which need
not mention. At the opposite end of the cabin
from this scene a dcrOtcd and apparently hap
py pair, just from the hymenial altar. They
were accompanied on board an hour ago by
the anxious father and fearful mother, who, at
the shrill whistle ofthe steamer, beat hasty
retreat, leaving the children to go all the way
alone down St. Paul to see the Black Crook
which believe is on the bill for tonight He
is seated close beside her, and has already COM
menced fulfilling his solemn UoaU, to love, cher
ish and entertain the choice of his heart. She
having taken him for better or for worse ac-
knowledges him as her protector, and allows
her head to gently drop upon his heaving bosom
and with upturned eyes and such bewitching
smile, wonders how long before they will be in St.
Paul. The beautiful river scenery has no charms
for item now, the outside world is a myth, the
first glance of the honey has completely
eclipsed their earthly vision to everything but
little Cttroids and long years of solid bliss
Suchis life. They, too, were duly appointed
delegates not only 10 St. Paul, but 10 the great
n70rinaOnidL convention, of which fact they
will be fully aware, when upon the wane of The
honeymoon, they both find themselves elected
Now word about the country. The Mime
sofa river takes its rise from Big Stone Lake,
on the border of Dakotah Territory. Its course
| for about 70 miles is southeast, when it makes
a short turn and flows southwest about I5O
miles to its confluence with the Miss at Mendo-
ia, SIX miles above st. Paul. During the greater
part of the season it is navigable TO the curve
mentioned, at which point is situated the city
of Mankato, by far the most important in this
portion of the State, andfavored by nature with
one of the most advantageous positions The
valley ofthe Minnesota river embraces very
extensive tract Of the most fertile land in the
western country, the whole southwestern por-
ton of the State tributary to and virtually in
| cluded in it. Although settled at recent date
in consequence Of its lack Of railways, and on
ly partial prevalence of navigation, yet its ex-
treme fertility of soil has already induced thous-
ands of settlers to make it their home There
cannot be a doubt but it will soon be one of the
greatest wheat growing centres ofthe west, from
which will be shipped large proportion of the
great staple of Minnesota. The influx of emf
grants the present season is almost incredible
The continued advance in Improvements will
make past progress, however great, look dimin
utive when compared with the future. Numer-
Gus towas are springing up in the great valley,
yeIng with each other in commercial import
ance; but nature has apparently placed the
available means ofaccess TO this part ofthe state
in the hands of Mankato, and she is unques-
tionably destined to be its commercial centre
Mankato suffered severely from the Indian out
break of 1862. Being near the frontier; this
sudden descent upon them almost paraiyzed the
business of the embryo city, and carried finan-
cial as well as physical dismay to many. This
was q serious drawback, and for two or three
wears the town made little advancement; but
soon the Indian tribes were removed by the
| Government farther west and tho young city
rallied and has since grown with great rapidlty.
1t was at this point, you will remember, that
several hundred hostile indians were confined
| until 1868, when 3S ofthe Sioux being convict
ed. were hung at the same instant from one gal
| lows; the remainder being allowed to go free.
The inhabitants now have nothing to fear: that
removal of all the tribes to the far west. and the
settlements between, preventing beyond pos
sibiliIy recurrence Of these troubles. Ihe
spring here has been excessively wet. The
great fab Of rain has swelled the streams and
rivers to capacity seldom if ever reached be-
fore. Scarcely bridge in this section is left
many very fine and costly structures have been
swept away, obliging people TO establish ferries
in their stead. But notwithstanding all the
drenching, the wheat crop, though from three
to four weeks late, promises now bountiful
L harS6St looEc Obi