New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-16
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able " sleep for verify there Is fatigue III roccpn'
OVER THE ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC RAILROAD
SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION - STAGlNG-A
NIGHT ON THE POMMB DE TERRE RIVER.
RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, July s6.-We
found special train readiness yesterday morning. to
carry us over the st. Paul and Pacific Road. Gov
Austin Secretary Pusey Editor Wheelock, and few
other welcome additions to our party had already ar
rived from ST. Paul After the rain Of the preceding day
the sky promised return to Its uniform ana
purity and o few hours had Travelled into sunshine
The belt carefully country around Minneapolis
is still narrow but 1t has all the charm OF an older
region The tracts Of timber constantly interrupted
by little lakes to three miles in extent; and
is remarkable how farmh house and few grain fields
give to each of these air OF ongestabshed cutva-
ton and comfort Lake MinnetOnka 10 or 20 miles from
Minneapolis charming sheet OF water, about % miles
long but with many ndented arms and bays that IL
has shore line nearly 200 miles There here Sum-
mer hotel little propeller for excursions. and few
sail-boats for fishing parties. We caught delightful
gimpses-but only glmpses-in passing Then the coun-
try gradually became wilder and oneher the farms OF
ruder aspect and the villages few and far apart Inc
forests were wholly of deciduous trees principally oak
maple and elm The farmers inmany cases cutting
the natural meadow and prairie grass for hay The ex-
IRENE dryness Of the enabesthem to NOW great
tracts Of marsh which usually lost to the ana
thus although grass is such crop, the supply OF
| hay will not fall short Of that Of other years.
The st. Paul and Pacific Road is now In running order
TO Norris le5 miles from Minneapolis. When we had
nearly half the distance out OF the wooded
rolling region upon open prairie country, very rich
and nearly level which is remarkably like the best por-
lions of the Platte Valley The sun shone bright and
warm on the vast green softly unduatng Spaces the
woodlands shrank into islands and long capes OF darker
green and the of the settlers became more scarce
than ever Speeding through these plains at the rate OF
40 miles an hour we did find them monotOnous but
two or three gentlemen who had perched themselves on
the wcatcher and unable to get of for stretch
OF 40 miles, lost their hats and very nearly their hair
They assured us that they had dozen plovers I'M
acquainted with locomotive speed dashed dead against
the smoke stack.
After a number OF first faint efforts at towns we
reached IAchfeld aged two years. and already grown
into some large frame buildings an elegant hote ana
5000 lots While the train halted made the acquaint
apce OF Norwegian member of the Minnesota Legisla-
ture who was fully American in his faith and expecta
tons He announced large and continuous Scandina-
Wan emigration this region. After an experience OF
fifteen years. the Northern element may be considered
as not only successful but highly important addition
TO our population. The Swedes and Norwegans learn
and adapt themselves to State and county organza
ton more readily than the Germans am glad to
find them as bright and supplemented and contented
here as in scania the Guldbrandsdal. There is in
We seemed to have entered on the Great Plains Mile
after mile of green prairie land grove after grove Of
timber, sometimes lifted water by a mirage,
passed by, and the settlements were left behind The
little cluster of houses called Benson the terminus
OF the road few weeks but now we are carried S
miles further. to Norris which is only six months old
There is here chance Of townOts TO whomsoever be-
eves in the permancnce of the place. Some of it, how
perambulatory and will pull up stakes and
forward the road moves. The frame dwelling honse,
with cellar under it, the rude tavern and store will
stay; the saloons and restaurants tents
and board shanties will march with the rails. This
feature Of our civilization, which has into
existence since railroads begin precede settlement
The portable town. with its common yet most expensive
Injuries and temptations moves westward through the
wilderness, at the end Of every new line. ,|
| The chief engineer Mr.. Morris, surprised with q
dinner Of most unexpected good quay,-an appropriate
farewell to civilization. Then took leave OF our
friends from St. Paul and Minneapolis and slowed
away in the threestage coaches which carry
10 steamboat navigation the Red River, point $50
miles distant. Governor and noted editor secured
seats beside the drivers general and two colonies
smiled from the Of the stages and various knights
OF the steel pen filed up the vacancies Our luggage
reduced to the smallest dimensions the billed" shirt
was scarcely but each bOomed in his
fayorite tint of flannel Boxes containing necessary
edibles-chiehy cigars, sardnes, and crackers-with
blankets musket0 netting, and twenty camp stools
lasbed ON behind; the barrels Of rifles and fowlng-
pieces protruded wickedy on all Sides and there
even hints OF revolvers although saw When all
had been repeatedly inspected and pronounced good
gave parting cheer the train and its occupants, and
at D. H. (prairie time) dashed of for Pomne dc Terre
| &c miles distant. JEW
In 70 minutes Morris and Its great expectations had
vanished. Away went the long undnations Of
the SOIL past the gimmer OF virgin lakes, through the
unshorn gardens Of the wilderness Prairie grass and
western winds blue sky, and bluer waters! vast hor
IONS and flying clouds and wanOn interchange OF belted
light and shadow! They all filled MS, II not with new
delight yet with one which never grows stale from
| perience. The region resembles Southern Nebraska
which fully equals richness and boasts the additional
charm of its numberless little lakes bright lonely tarns
generally with tmbered bluff the northern side. All
the most attractive situations being rapidly claimed
/ by settlers Looking from this rise VI the grassy waves
| far and wide over the land, constantly saw the
wlite speek OF tent or hasty board cabin on the
tmDered knobs beside the hafhidden lakes. Lake
Kansas and Nebraska ten years of settlement Will give
TO korhWestern Nnpesota the aspect OF AL old country
our hunters blazed away continually from the coaches
vth obstruction OF cartridges than Of birds: few
plovey werr theft only sIou. We changed horses at
I halfway station stable on the banks VI lake. where