The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-09-16

=. NO. 9.
| NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD E1
~ ....j< =: PLORAfIONS. -
The outer TAU Country-rhe Grand Por
lak1 N 4hS Centurles-A, Look Int
tAss Rstsrs.,, -.:;-:., i'-,,j ~
co1re.pon1enee Of the Bo.ton Journal.
= ',s'& sOrrEn TAlIf LAKE, |
s# MlAnEso7A, August, 1869. J
My last letter informed you of the
surprise we received, while in camp on
the banks of the Little. Otter Tail, the
head stream-ot the Red River Of the
North. We are still in the Otter, Tail
country" To-day We have rode over
smiling prairies, through groves Of cak
and maple, and beheld in the distance a
large territory covered. with the 1.-the
foliage of the tamaraek. Here and
there We see groves of pine, rising
like islands above the level of the for
ests. ~
At times our horses walk on pcbbly
beaches, and splash their hoofs in the
impid waters Of the lakes. We pick
up agates;: corneliaus, and bits Of bright
red porphyry, washed and worn by the
waves. Wild swans rear their young
in the reeds and marshes bordering the
streams. We see them gracefully Gid.
ing over the still; waters:: They are be-
yond the reach Of dur rifles, and We
would not harm them If we could.
There is d good dealof the savase left
in man who, under tie plea Of sport,
can wound OF kill a harmless bird or
beast that cannot be made to serve his
wants. Itgives me pleasure to say
that our party;zare not blood-thirsty.
Ducks, ploveT, snipe; wild geese, and
sand-hill cranes, are served at our table,
hut they are never shot IN wanton
sport. e., .:':"s Il. =
orrERT TAIL LAKE.
u The stream which We have crossed
several time flows southwark into Otter
Tail Lake, and issuing from that it
flows southwest, then west: then COM.
ing northward becomes the Red River,
and 2ours it's waters into Lake Winnie
peg. From that great northern reser-
voir the waters of this western region
of - Minnesota reach Hudson's Bay
through Nelson's river.
Otter Tail lake is a beautiful sheet
of water, and by its dimensions re-
minds me Of the Sea Of Galilee.
CONPAR1D WITH THE SEA OF GALlLbk.
It is thirteen miles long by five wide,
and contains about the same area as
that lake Genesaret .hallowed by our
Lord. Its waters are pure and sweet,
and cooler than those bordered by the
mountains Of Gadara. There are no
such. rugged submits here as in Pales-
tine, but Nature has not withheld her
hand; she has clothed the gentle slopes
Of this region with q. verdure such as
never ,:st : wa.: seen on the hills Of Jadea.
We look icross the calm; ( expanse and
behold everywhere a forest growth
the light green Of the birches,. the ash
ind quivering aspen, mingled'with the
rich aud darker -hues of trees which
bear their beauty through winter.
.....'.:>: =: rHs.lsA1e LAKES. =
Looking eastward We sec = chain Of
small lakes aud ponds cleaning in the
sunlight. They are the Leaf
Lakes aud the head waters of the
Crow Wing, one Of the largest western
Of the Upper Mississippi.
= The PORTAGE. =
The neck of land between these
lakes and the Otter Tail is only about
q mile in width. This narrow belt is
the greet portage or carrying place Of
the Northwest. Here from time i'm
mem orial the transit has been made
from the waters flowing into the Gulf
of Mexico aud those flowing into Hud-
sons Bay. Back through all Indian
history this has been the highway.
Over it thoussndssof warriors on the
war path, OF on the hunting expeditions
in time q, peace, have passed, launch
ing now their canoes on the Otter Tail,
skirting its wooded shores, descending
its crooked outlet, folio wing. its long
course t, the hunting q! regions Of the
North on the plains Of the saskatche-
wan, OF: now turning the prows Of their
frail barques eastward and descending
the Grow Wing to the Great Father 3 'E' . OF
Waters. .:...>f u*. .. ..
THE GRAND PORTAGE OF THE cENTuR1Es.
1t makes my pulse throb with a
Quicker beat to think that over this
beautiful region will be the erandest
port.ge of'the age-the greatest carry
Jog place Of the coming centuries.
Count me an enthusiast if you will,
but while our horses are slaking thcli
thirst 10 the waters of the lake, throw
a single glance over the country. Here
We are on the eastern border Of >he
Great wheat fold of the continent. We
Al