Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-07-07
OUR MINNESOTA LETTER.
OSEoTA, Mimi, June 10. IL

u p the 81. Louis river, IOur miles rom us
junction with the little bay at the entry of
Lake Superior, and on its western bank. we
find the tile village at which am now So
iourning. 1t is an old town where hunters
venteen years. 1t numbers about twenty
five houses. five of which have been erected
this season. 1t has good hotel. two stores
and two steam saw mills. South and west of
it there is an almost unlimited quantity pine
timber, untold millions of feet of which will
yet seek the Mississippi Valley. And here
is a wide range for speculation and adven-
turers rs the records at the Land Office show
that not one hundreth part of it is yet taken
either BY the Railroad corporation or private
individuals One of the mills now running
here is owned by the Railroad company.
and, with single saw, is averaging over
two thousand feet per hour.
The ST. Louis river at this place. is about
one and one-fo fourth mile in width. and floats
the largest lake steamer or sail vessel. 1t is
a beautiful sheet OF water, and mrst hereafter
be as conspicuous in the business and history
of the northwest, as is now the st. Croix
Lake and river. Among the things that APP
pear doubly strange to the traveller, or sojurn-
er, is the fact that it has not gained a reputa-
ton road long years agone. This fact
however, is a strong evidence of-another,
namely, that. even so long as our country has
been known and explored. there are yet to
L 80 L.. n
scenery. some of the MOST romantic dells,
dales, glens and even useful cataracts which
shall serve for water powers, and some of the
grandest rivers to float the commerce OF our
country. At this moment am reminded of
recent trip up Trout Brook so called. on
which are found many dashiug cascades
which will yet employ the pencil of the ar
list, and theT pen of the author. About
two miles from its mouth the channel is mar
low and contracted, and at length the little
volume bursts forth over precipice aud comes
dashing down a perpendicular hight of near
Nv thirty feet. Then gathering lis scattered
fragments of spray and mist it again CON
solldates' and seeks another winding pre-
cipitoi!@ channel where IL follows lis rugged
path 10 the lowland. and then expands into
Slow broad stream that will float canoe,
life beat or a .wood-scow lis banks on
grand old maple and birch. the fallen trunks
OF many of which are exceedingly difficuit
TO scale Such is Trout Brook
And now as | cross il on my way towards
the Zenith city, fihd the marks Of the sur
veyor, and on a white birch stake | read
"27th Avenue" Pressing onward. over
rough and rugged road, behold the high
and lofty rocks of black granite, covered in
Fart with tall, small Plies. whose vigorous
growth long since exhausted the soil which
first nourished them, now stretching their
naked arms to the elements, painting heaven
onward, hitherward aud thitherward, as if
beseeching the God of nature to give them
rest in soma mole secluded spot. Yet in these
very rocks there is wealth. for, as | stand ON
| this dizzy hight, below me, and not forty
| rods from my feet, is steam shovel on board
U. S. 4" drrdger," now opening a canal from
| the river straight To these rocks of ages. Ali
/ behold il nowi These rocks are to be rent
asunder aud broken in fragments to go to the
b,enkwater. And here too, the way spec,
laOr has marked his "2Uth Avenue" on"Su-
| perior street" and Quilt an air castle on his
city plat. Thirteen hundred dollars will buy
| a lot here. sir" said an agent of the proprie-
| tor to me, az turned to r trace my steps.
4" A lot for what sir? This cannot be GEM
| eteryp mo sir, indeed replied the man
| i'm utter establishment. ''Well. sir, then |
have no occasion to purchase" and we par
! ted.
And now here again at Oneota Ifind nearly
all the present inhabitants to be "old settlers"
| who have martyrs of them els es during fifteen
10 seventeen long. cold winters. and during
as many brief summers. in which they have
| contcnded for life against gnats, midgets,
mosquitoes and flies. and against summers
| heat and winters cold" al; even IN one June
| day. But now they are in the hight Of their
| glory-the railroad has come. and with it
| green backs in the hands of spectators, who
| dred and twenty Ave dollars instead of as
| many cents PEI acre. Verify, these old res
| identers" have realized their highest antci-
| pations but whether this VIII be he case
| with their successors is problem much more
| difficult to solve, and one which lime alone
can determine.
But haikl They cry "a shipl a ship!"
and yonder, full six milss or more in the dis.
| lance we behold her. No smoke, no steamer
! that, but a stsunch old sailing craft with
perfect mast and complete rigging AL sails
are spread but not to the breeze, for there il
none But still she moves majestcally along.
The lake and bay are still-the river is high
err and placid, No ebb. no flow of wave or
| tide. But this day is an exception. A still
clear, pleasant day has not been known here
before for the last ten that have come and
gone But thanks for this,and thanks for
sight of the grand old ship. | will drop my
pen. l will learn her port-l will learn her
name. A. NJ.
A RESULT OF THE w AR.-The follow!