The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-06-27
Ghe genpsha Te1egraph
Thursday, June II, 1867.
oorresnondence Of the Telegraph.


Minnesota Resources and Advantages
MRssRs. EDITORS Minnesota has pecul-
Jar geographical position, being central be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and
Hudson's Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and is
also the actual summit of the continent, which
Tact is shown from its containing within its
limits the sources of the three great rivers
st. Lawrence and Red River. 1t
is noted for its numerous lakes and streams,
with their magnificent cascades and waterfalls,
its grand prairies, and the salubrity of its eli
mate.
The productiveness of the soil in it's wild
state is'remarkable. Grab apples, plums, black
berries, raspberries, Strawberries ,gooseberries,
&C., grow in extraordinary album
dance, and of superior flavor, while the guam
tity of wild grapes is truly astonishing, espec
tally on the bottom lands. Hops equal, if not
indeed superior In size to the famous Sank Co.
hops also grow in immense profusion on the
bottom lands Prairies and woodlands abound
with great variety of wild flowers, and me-
dicinal plants, among which is the famous gin
seng, of which large quantities have been ex-
ported at remunerative prices.
Minnesota is apt to be regarded as almost
exclusivelya prairie country, but such is not the
case. The northern part is covered with ex-
tensive pine forests, and between the Missis-
sippi and Minnesota rivers is belt Of timber
land about 100 miles long and 40 in width,
composed of oak, maple, elm, black walnut,
butternut, hickory, ash, &C., while the banks
of the streams are usually lined with wood.
The location of this immediate vicinity
seems to be peculiarly advantageous. The
soil of the prairie is a rich, black loan, rest
ing upon stratum of gravel which gives the
soil the same advantages as would result from
undertaking The prairie extends back to
the heavy belt of timber above mentioned,
and is fringed on the bottom lands adjacent to
the river with mostly soft timber, such as wa
ter elm, cottonwood, Eastwood, &c. The bot
tom lands also afford an abundance of good
quality of grass for hay. Near the river are
extensive quarries of kind of yellow rock for
building purposes, and limestone is also abun-
dant. The small streams tributary to the
Minnesota, afford ample power for saw and
Touring mills.
St. Peter, four miles above, on the river, is
fourishing young town claiming 1900 in
habitants and is coming to be place of i'm
portance, owing to natural advantages of its
location and the enterprising spirit of its in
habitants. It's manufacturing and CONNER
cial influences are making themselves felt
throughout considerable extent of country.
The State Lunatic Asylum is located at this
place, and to accommodate the increasing de-
miand upon its hospitality, large stone struc-
ture is to be erected by the State this summer.
Mankato, 16 miles up the river, is the larg-
est town on the river, and is the great center
of trade for the adjoining country and frontier
country up the river. Having such a large
and productive extent of country tributary to
it, it is of course place of considerable i'm
portance. Its prosperity is probably due in a
good measure, to the enterprising, go-ahead
stamp of men who have built the place and
drawn such healthy and legitimate trade to
that point.
Wheat is here the great staple, although all
the grains and vegetable crops do well. Wheat
has never been troubled here with the chinch-
bug and the other evils which have tended to
render it so uncertain q crop in the older
states, and consequently the yield and quality
are much better. % bushels per acre is set
down as an average crop. The amount OF
wheat raised throughout the state is really as
tonishing. The quantity shipped this spring,
up in this section, from an extent of country
less thon 25 miles along the river and reaching
but few miles back, is set down at 100, DOC
bushels.
Dairying and wool-growing have not yet re-
ceived the attention here, that theyclaim in the
older states, although I see no reason why
dairying would not be equally as profitable
here as elsewhere. The raising of fine wool
however, does not as yet seem to have met
with much success.
Although the wild fruits flourish SO well, it is
with considerable difficulty that the tame va
rieties can be grown, and the most successful
way seems to be to graft into the native or 81
berian crab. The difficulty is not however, SC
much in the severity of the winter as in the al
ternate thawing and freezing.
The dryness and purity of the air is very pro
pitious for bee culture, and with proper care
do well, and amply repay all trouble in the
amount of surplus honey, besides the addition
al number of colonies each year.
Minnesota started out nobly in the great
cause of edcation. She has set apart two sec.
tions of land, 1880 acres, in every township
for sale or lease i'll aid of common schools
amounting in all to the magnificent sum Of
two and half million acres. The permanent
school fund is already nearly million and a
half, and only about one-twentieth of the
lands are yet disposed of. With the lands sold
and unsold, she has already fund equivalent
to twenty million dollars. This is indeed q
splendid fund, and Minnesota can justly boast
of the most magnificent endowment for educa-
tional purposes of any state in the Union, the
grand result of which in the great cause of hu.
man enlightenment, time alone can domon.
strate
Another grant of4 900 acres has been made
for the endowment of State University, and
a fine stone editice is already erected in Stan
thony. A State Normal School is also in prac
tical operation in Winona. The Compression
al grant Of lbs, 600 acres of land for the estab.
lishment of an Agricultural College is to be
made use of, and college will soon be put in
practical operation.
The people here have suffered rather hard
times during the years of the war, for prices
of everything they have had to buy have doub.
led, tripled and quadrupied, while they have
received only half as much for their farm pro-
ducts as has been realized in sections of coun
try near the market. This state of things was
owing to the distance from market and great
cost of transportation, for the river is not nav
igable during the latter part of the season
when these products come into market But
this difficulty is about at an end, for the Min
nesota Valley Railroad is to be constructed
through here this season, and the Winona &
st. Peters Road is to be completed with the
least possible delay. These roads will bring
n great section of country into closa oonnan