Morning journal and courier., 1880-10-29


 tate There-The Journey Thither-Tho
 Green Bay and Mississippi RailrOad-
 Minnea polls Twenty-Five Years Ago.
 Correspondence of the JOURNAL CoURIkR.l
 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 23.
 DEAR COURIER:
 seize an opportunity while on the wing, to drop few lines to you. Only week from home, and here are, nearly fifteen hundred Cover two thousand by the way we have come) miles from home, amid the grow ing, thriving cities, and broad and fertile ter ritories of the Great West. Language can not describe the almost boundless extent the immeasurable resources, and the restless activity, of this region of our great country. Sight is the only competent witness of it's present extent and the prospects of it's mighty future. When we tell you of single wheat field embracing an area of four thousand acres, and single Touring mill which ceives it's richer than golden product and converts it into the staff of life at the rate of five thousand barrels per day, we mention but single item in the astounding whole which presents itself to the traveller in Minnesota. And this goes to feed millions of consumers in the remotest regions of the old world, as well as to supply the demands of the millions of our own country. This is destined to be to great extent the granary of the whole civilized world. But the production of wheat of the finest quality, immense as it is, is net the only industry which is to give prosperity and population to the great Northwest. Lumber is prominent feature in it's products, and a5 we traverse the borders of it's rivers inn mense rafts of logs are being foated down theirscurrents to destination where the saw mill can convert them into the various shapes to command a market and supply the wants of civilized life. Here we are at the head of navigation on the father of rivers, and the Falls of St. Anthony are roaring in our ears. Here, too, utilizing the mighty power of these rushing waters, is situated the great Touring mill of which have spoken, as we'll as clus- ter of others of various capacities, producing in the aggregate grand total of over sixteen thousand barrels per day. We expect to visit these mills before leaving here, and may have more to say of them in another letter.
 Minneapolis is the model city of the West, and is fast increasing in wealth and popula- tion. Some of our former New Haven resi- dents are interested in its real estate. Wash inton Yale has large tract of valuable land in it's suburbs, and Charles Winship, Esq, (to whom and his son we are largely indebt- ed for courtesies) is large owner of pro- ductive property in the business center. The hotels of the Westappear to be repositories of good things. No better bread can be made in the city of Paris or at the New Haven House than that furnished us at the Hotel NicolIet in Minneapolis
 Our route here has been somewhat circuit tous, yet exceedingly pleasant. Leaving New York at night by the Pennsylvania Gen. tral railroad Gin most respects the finest rail road in the world, and by far the most desira- ble route for persons going West) we pass over the Alleghanies as a dessert to break fast in Altoona the following morning, and reach Chicago in time for our next morning meal. From Chicago we went to Milwaukee (one of the prettiest of western cities) and thence to Green Bay. At Green Bay we took the Green Bay and Mississippi railroad, and after full days ride through the centre of the entire State of Wisconsin, at night reached Winona on the western margin of the great river. This last mentioned rail road, nearly 22O miles long, which was built
 
 ly by eastern capitalists, has peculiar his tory. From mismanagement, or from some other cause, it became insolvent, and about three years ago passed into the hands of a receiver. This, fortunately, saved the prop erty from absolute ruin. The receiver, Tim othy Case, Esq, proved to be justine one for the position. Being a man of sound judg- ment and sterling integrity, and bringing to his aid practical railroad experience of thirty years, coupled with untiring energy and industry he has succeeded in raising this dead skeleton of railroad to the full pro- portions of it's original status, and infused it with life and vigor which at one time seemed to have departed forever. Whatever may be the future of this important enter prise, for the benefit of all interested it's could not be entrusted to better hands. From Winona came to this place, a city which but few years since had neith- CT local habitation or a name. Twenty-Five years ago all it's buildings might have been fairly appraised at single thousand dollars less than thirty years ago. if am not mis taken it was an Indian reservation of the United States government-now 1t has the largest Touring mill in the world-the largest grain elevator in the country, and resources that can hardly be estimated. It has grown and is still growing with magic rapidity, and a brilliant future is in store for it. To-mor- row we go to St. Paul, rival of the fair 'sMinne." Yours, J. 5. C