The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-30
press Correspondenoe.)
Minneapolis and Its Future.
THE FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY AND THE
LAUGHING WATER.

Four hundred and fifty miles northwest of
Chicago, on the Mississippi, near the falls of
Saint Anthony, is built the foulishing city Of
Minneapolis. 1t is of recent growth; scarcely
twenty years ago II was an oak grove in a
forest of pines, the home of tribe of the
Dacotahs, some French and English traders
and a few missionaries. One of the oldest oi
these. the Rev. Mr.. Riggs was present at the
late meeting of the American board, and
gave some interesting incidents of his life and
labors during the last thirty yeaIs.
Minneapolis is built on prairie, and dis
tance lends enchantment here, as elsewhere,
for we are continually thinking that the mi
rage OF the cloud in the distant horizon must
be sea or mountain. The consciousness of the
immensity of space is akin to the vastness of
ocean in its limitless expanse. The build
ings are of sandstone, and brick peculiar to
Minnesota, cream color instead of red, which
gives very pleasant effect, harmonizing with
the atmosphere and sky.
The'city is laid out in broad avenues and
streets, over an area of four miles, allowing
room for future growth and expansion. and
room also for the hospitalties and sympathies
compact and crowded city. There are many
elegant residences with large grounds at
tached, and some fine public buildings in
stone.
The principal hotel, the Nicollet House,
bears the name of French astronomer and
explorer who visited this region many years
ago and explored the Mississippi to Lake
Itasca,! its source. There Is also another
name very familiar in this Northwest, Hen
nepin. He was Franciscan monk, the first
to explore and give the name to the falls of
St. Anthony, naming them after his patron
saint, Anthony of Padua.
One can hardly imagine what must have
been the wonder, surprise, and'admiration of
this lover of Nature at the first sight of these
beautiful falls. They are wonderful now, ev-
en- under the control and guidance of the
mind of man. How sublime and grand they
must have been, shaded by their native for
ests, rushing, dashing, foaming in untramell-
ed freedom! 1t is said by geologists that the
falls must have been some six or seven miles
below their present site, near Fort Smelling,
but that time and the action of.the water
have worn away lime and sandstone, island
and bluff, and the oldest inhabitants now, see
a gradual recession going on year by year.
The huge bluffs show the action of the water
and frost, in some places along the banks of
the river; and islands are as neatly cut as if a
stone-cutter had just been quarrying blocks
for some special purpose. They are smooth
and white and glisten in the sunlight ike
marble. The principal fall, and the rapids
above, have been so changed that but little of
their original beauty remain. To preserve it
from farther wear, 1t has been covered with
an ''apron'' made oflogs. The steep fall has
been converted into gentle slope by skillfu
engineering Here as elsewhere, mind in the
struggle with nature conquers; the beautiful
must give way to the useful; but the river
goes rushing on, flashing its amber light, ,dash-
ing in foam and spray making grandeur and
beauty, in spite of all hndrances and obstruc-
tions.
Flour, lumber, cotton, and woolen mills
cluster around the falls on either bank IF tho
river and their restless and busy whirl never
ceases day or night. 1t is fine sight to see
the saw mills all lighted. and the workmen
among the huge piles of lumber fitting here
and there like phantoms of the night.
Ore finds bread here in its perfection, light
and sweet and white enough to tempt the