The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-04-25
MINNESOTA AND THE HILLS.
An ExiIed Indianian Has Something 10
Say About the Great Northwestern
State--The Black Hills and How to
Got There

Especial Correspondence of the Sentinel
ST. PAUL. MINI. April 16-Though living
far from my dear old state of Indiana, in
which 1 spent my happiest years, where l
voted early and often, beginning with Gov
ernor Whitcomb down to President
Buchanan, i still feel such an interest in her
that / have since my removal made her sew
eral visits and since in these evil times
travelling is too much of a luxury / will con-
tent myself with writing few lines which
no doubt will meet the eyes of many of my
old friends. / have frequently met with
copies of your paper during the late presi-
Dental canvass, and was glad to OBJ
serve that the same democratic vigor
as of old is still running through its coli
umns, alasl in vain, considering the result of
the commission, which unlawfully robbed
the nation of two of her most patriotic and
brightest sons We have accepted the in
evitable with patient submission, hoping to
live and fight the battle again with better
results.
STATE POLITICS.
1t is strange how he old Hoosier state
has changed in regard to politics, formerly
the most reliable, the democratic result of
every election foregone conclusion, and now
with the time-honored democratic principles
yet inscribed on her banners, it will not do
to bet on her, no more than on Connecticut.
Whence is this change, and when will her
sons return to their first love?
Our state is almost hopelessly republican,
owing in great measure to official patron
age and subsequent money power which
latter has been freely used among newly
arrived foreigners, particularly Scandinavia
ans, which latter hold the balance of power
in this state and in their child-like simplici-
ty lend credulOus ear to the cajolings and
misrepresentation of the ring men of the
republican party and the we'll paid emissa-
ries of their own cOuntrymen.
MINNEsoTA's PROGRESS.
Our state is otherwise progressing finely.
New settlers are constantly pouring in, and
whole districts which were but
few short years ago a howl
ing as a rose. 1t is easier here to open and
have a good farm in two years than
in the woods of Indiana in ten,
and the soil is so easily cultivated that
after the first breaking boy with lame
horse can do as much work in q day as a
man with a strong team in Indiana, and
beat him two to one in raising a crop be-
sides 1t is good thing for your state that
the people know so little about Minnesota,
else you would lose great many of her
hardy sons. AS regards the cold winters,
that is the least trouble. | would prefer
spending two of them here to one in In
diana. A great cry has been raised by in
terested parties, with view OF diverting
emigration ID other parts, about the locust
plague. While it is not to be denied that
we have been afflicted by this pest, it is only
fair to state that only a few newly opened
portions of the state have suffered. and
those nearest to Dakota territory. There
has been considerable restitution among
the new settlers on account of losing their
crops. Being poor and having nothing else
to fall back upon, the government has had
to assist them with provisions and seed corn,
which latter they are now hopefully engaged
for the last few weeks to put into the ground
As an evidence of how little the locusts have
affected the general result would state that
notwithstanding less than average crop, on
account of unfavorable weather last spring,
this young state has exported q ,000, 900
bushels of wheat last year.
THE BLACK HILLS.
Being here somewhat nearer to the Black
Hills, your readers may expect to hear some
thing from that Eldorado and no doubt
some may contemplate on a trip to try their
fortune, and here / am happy to state that
/ can furnish reliable data. The gold fever
has broken out here and RACES epidemically.
A great many have gone already and
numbers are following. That there
is gold in the Hills is well established fact
by temporarily returned miners from there.
1t is also an undisputed fact that seven
millions of gold dust have been shipped
from the Hills last year. All who 90 there
will not make fortunes, but there will be
plenty of work at five dollars per day,
which, while man can live at one dollar
day, is better in these hard times than stay
ing idle at home
Now my advice, based upon practical OBJ
seryation, is this: