The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-09-26
Western Correspondcncc.

Mankato Blue Earth Co., Mimi, Sept 18th.
Open your atlas to the State Of Mime
sofa. This state comprises an area larger
than that of the New England states
combined. Yet to most Of the people of
Vermont, especially to that class who
have never been west and are not inter-
ested in or to talk Of the Northern Pacif-
ic r. r., it is about as indefinite as the
country about the North Pole, and if
thought of at all is thought to be equal
ly as cold and uninviting. The fact is.
until within few years the true charac-
ter of this state has been kept as far as
possible from the knowledge Of the peo-
pie. 1t is within the last ten years, that
scientific explorers, land spectators and
r. II. enterprise have with any degree of
systematic thoroughness brought to the
knowledge of the cmgrating classes of
New England and foreign lands, the fact
that this State Of Minnesota possesses
climate, fertility and diversity of soil and
products, surprising many and unsurpassed
by none its more developed and prosper
Gus sister states. By the policy of the
Fur Companies, who early established
their trading posts within the territory,
the richness of the soil and beauty Of its/
scenery, were to a great extent kept uni
known to all but few favoritcs. '
Thus for years after other territories
less or only equally rich and inviting
commenced to be filled with emigrants,
Minnesota was known only by the hunter,
Indian, Fur Trader, and a few scattered
and more adventurous squatters. To-day
all this is changed. Each Of the last ten,
and more especially the last five years.
has given to those seeking such informa-
ton through the press, by the aid of such
ready and pleasing writers as Carlton"
Bayard Taylor, and VIM. ii. Seward,
and by means of ambitious r r. capital
lists, graphic knowledge and description
of this State, surprising in extent and ac-
curacy that furnished Of any other West
ern state.
1t is true many of the pictures drawn
by these writer's are colored for advertis-
ing purposes, yet in the main they are
true and faithful representations. The
general diffusion of information of the
character of this State among the emil
grating communities, has given it an al
most before uuheard Of growth in popula-
ton.
Organized as a Territory in 1919, with
a population of 4,057 having by the
census of 1850, $3.50 inhabitants ad.
mitted as State in 1858, with 152 900,
having by the census of 1860, 172O22 !;
by the census OF 1865, 0,099. She
has increased in population until, as by
the last census, she numbers 430,706.
OF these about one half are Americans,
one sixth Germans, one seventh Irish, one
seventh Swedes and Norwegians, and the
remainder a sprinkling of all other races
and tongues. The general surface of the
State may be divided into four parts.
First, all south and west of the Mississip-
pi except what is called the big Woods"
This is generally rolling prairies and ia
bic lands of deep,rch, loamy soil covered
with lakes, groves, and belts of timber.
many of the prairies stretching out for
miles upon miles, until they meet the
horizon on all sides. Second, beginning
forty miles north of st. Paul, vast and ex-
tensiyc forests, mostly of pine, stretch
away to the north to the lakes and the
head waters of the Mississippi. Third,
beyond these, north and northwest of
Lake Superior, broken highlands, with,
narrow valleys and rich mineral landsi
Fourth. The "Big Wood" This is d
belt Of hard timf CT, situated about 30
miles west Of St. Paul, and extending
from north to south 10 miles with a
width Of 40 miles. Numerous natural
meadows are scattered through these
woods, and they contain some of the rich
est arabic land in the northwest. 1t may
be readily observed by the character of
each Of these divisions of the State, the
best agricultural lands are found in the
first division, or south and west of the
Mississippi and St. Paul 1t was here,
especially south of st. Paul, that the
State was first, and is to-day most dense
ly settled But the immigration is now
setting into the western and southwest
ern counties. The Mankato Union of
June 10Th says: The news in the col
umns Of our State exchanges, and from the
highways and by ways, is all to the eff.
feet that we are having flood tide of
immigration such as has not swept over
Minnesota for the last twelve years"