The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-02-10
A Letter from st. Paul.

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA. Jan. % 1870
Editor Of Kenssho Telegraph:
/ DEAR SIR:--- s1k-ere Sis
| Since my last letter the god Of the ele-
nents has been as changeable az demo
cratic politician. The wind has been at
every point Of the compass twice in
twenty-tour hours, hailing, raining and
showing in the mean time, with change
of temperature of thirty degrees. On
the sixteenth OF this month-when you
had rain and thunder and lightning
we had heavy fall of snow that block
! ed all the Railroads and buried things
generally. The following morning the
thermometer was twelve below zero, and
on the morning of the 18th it was twenty
four below, and on the 23d fifteen below
while on the 9th it was four below, and
on the 9th ten below. On the 18th We
had rain and sleet, while on the 18th ii
was showing most of the day. The whole
month has been intensely cold and stormy
with high winds. The highways across
the praries are almost impossible the
track is heaped with snow, and turn
to either side sends the sleigh on its side,
and its occupants head-long into the loose
snow, while horse and all are foundering
out of sight.
We just received tidings that on the
10th of this month the thermometer was
forty-fve degrees below zero at Fort
Abercrombie, and that several soldiers
were frozen to death at that time. al
| A person not accustomed to such severe
cold, can form but little idea Of its effects.
A piece of iron or steel applied to the
naked hand produces sensation similar
to that of a burn. 1t produces sounds in
buildings of stone or brick, and in ice on
the lakes or rivers similar to discharges
of artillery. a
| "Hard times" among all classes is the
prevailing complaint. Money is very
scarce, and the rate of interest enormeA j,
many paying as high as twenty-five per
cent. The official papers of many coun-
ties are full of advertisements ofmortgage
sales, and unless arrangements can be
made between the holder and maker of
these mortgages for an extension of time,
many families will be house
less and homeless ere the season
for planting and sowing ar
rives Notwithstanding a general dull
ness in trade and financial matters, invest
ment in projected. and incompleted Rail
roads all over the State is very act i've
and every little clty-for a city in the
north west is composed of blacksmith
lshop and saloons pledgnig itself in
in some railroad for a fabulous amount,
that some day will have to DE paid, and
may prove as bad an investment as a
mortgage on ones real estate drawing
twenty-five per cent. which is to be paid
on the expectation of large wheat crop,
not worth the hauling when brought to
market. The lecture season is proving
a very pleasant one. Mr.. Henry Vincent's
lecture on Queen Elizabeth was largely
attended. Robert Morris, the great Ma
sonic expounder and trader, is delivering
a course of lectures. Next on the list
comes j. B. Cough, to be followed by
one of the fair sex. The new Hotel is be-
ing pushed toward as rapidly as possible,
it is now in the hands of the plasterers
who, to carry toward their work, keep
fires in every room day and night. The
intention is to have it ready for occu-
pancy by the first Of June, so as to accom-
modate the summer travel. Governor
Austin was inaugurated the first of the
month, and entered actively and quietly
into the labors of his Office. He is good
man, and Yields high moral influence.
The Legislature comprises but little tai
ent, yet many active working men. But
few Important bills have been passed
yet. The benevolent Institutions, and
Normal Schools receive a liberal patron
age from their hands
In my November letter spoke of the
burning of the private residence and
boarding house of Mrs. Robinson-a
notorious woman of the city--and init
mated that some funny things would yet
be developed III connection with the
matter. She has commenced civil suit
in the court of Common Pleas, against