Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-11
CORRESPONDENCE.

11uStOu J I0S ISSSs
 
 CORRESPONDENCE.
 Letter from M1nneEPoI1s-N1eteOro
 -GorEeOus Imagination Of an Editor
 Something about MtnneaPolis-Dear
 Fuel and Cheap Food-Young Men in
 the West.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER
 Man is naturally a meteorologist, as is proved by the we'll known fact that, when friends meet, their first remarks are about the weather. Accordingly, after the lapse of several weeks the topic that instinctively suggests itself, on sitting down to write that promised letter of Minnesota impressions, is the delightful weather we have enjoyed ever since coming West. With the exception of two or three clustering days, the season has been as mild and pleasant as could be wished Of course one of my first purchases here was fur cap and shaggy great coat, shielded by which might brave the bllzzards of the northwest But. thus far, there has been no moreneed of such armor against the cold than there would be in New Haven; and the cap and coat hang idly on their pegs, while wear the same outer garments that were suf- ficient in my former latitude. What people say, however, in reply to my comments on the weather is, ''You just wait and see. 7" They tell frightful stories of the frozen mer- cury last winter and the countless frozen ears noses, cheeks, etc. But there IS clearly another and roseate side. I give the following as a specimen of the daring imagi- nation of Minnesota editor, capable of dis arming even that believing, ice-breathing giant, the blizzard, of his terrors: "The sun was bright, but the prairie was sRowy sea, over whose huge billowy ridges the snow dust hurried before the blast-the saow dust, <u6o mai oQnOhf III and Oi life, sped away like myriads of fairies, all making southeast for dear life without once looking behind them, their goSsamer skirts blown around their delicate limbs and the ca dence of their innumerable cries floating like wild and sweet music amid the rare pauses of the furious polar storm. Talk Of palms, orange groves and vine-clad hills! Their joys are efeminRte compared with ours on such a bright, snowy, windy day amid whose glorious atmosphere malaria and dyspepsia die like things unclean, and ruddy complex ion might be given even to a deaths head!" Thus do the hardy men Of the Northwest put to rout those terrors of 8 protracted winter that seem so formidable to others.
 I like Minneapolis There is exnilaration in it's rapid and brilliant enterprises, in it's preponderance of young life, in its novel and original developments. Try to picture to yourself the scene from my study window, whence 1 look ouS on clustering cot tages and stately mansions equal to the best of residences in the proud City of Films, and then try to realize the fact that this portion of the city was vacant prairie land two years ago and indeed that with one or two e1cep- tions every one of those houses has been built during the current year. A stranger IS bewiidered by the fact that so many new streets are being opened up and such rapid changes have been going on that the names of streets are seldom posted. They pride ha5 46n ellel to the river ''avenues' and those at right angles ''streets" Cor else it's the other way, I cannot keep track of this myself and after this is once explained no intelligent person can fail to find his way about by simply count ing them as he passes along. Probably the time will come when we, too, shall sd- mire this, but 1t has not yet arrived. Anoth- CT thing that strikes the attention of every stranger is the extreme diversity and origi- nality of the architecture. Every architect remembers that the starry flag floats over this free Northwest, and taxes his wits to de wise some style of house-building utterly different from anything ever heard of be- fore. The qaesrest patterns are wrought ont that you can imagine, and occasionally design is executed that is as pretty as it is novel, and there is very little really ugly architecture. Every color of the rainbow IS used in painting, and good many coiors ot which no decent rainbow was ever guilty. The prevalence of plate-glass is remarkable. The smallest cottage, the cheapest tenement, is hardly regarded as finished unless 1t has a bay window, or at least huge plate-glass let into one side. Storm sash and storm doors proclaim from every dwelling that cold weather is approaching and the prics of fuel proves that dealers n coal and wood need not starve. Many burn what is known as ''mill-wood," i. 6. slabs of pine, walnut, etc., from the numerous sawmiIls;
 D cord, according to the distance it has to be hauled. Hard maple cut and split sells at about $9 cord Soft coal brings from $5 to SS ton, while $10 IS asked for anthra. cite. And the worst of it is that, in this rig orous climate, one must manage to keep warm, cost what 1t may. Such quantities of mill-wood are consumed that stoves and fur naces are made expressly with reference to burning it. and yet it is not regarded as, on the whole, the most economical sort of fuel unless one lives near the mills.
 While fuel is thus dear. there is some satis- faction in finding the staple articles of food much cheaper than we have been accustomed to- Flour, of course, is cheaper than else where, as it is manufactured here for all the rest of the world. The best can be had for about $6 barrel Other breadstuFs are cerrespondingly low. Potatoes vary fropa 30 to 45 cents 8 bushel; apples about $3. 50 barrel. The price of butter ranges from 10 cents to 30 cents, for which you can buy the finest creamery. Game is also very cheap. On Thanksgiving day we dined of a wild turkey that cost about $1 j0 and to- day we indulged in choice yenison roast at 20 cents 8 pound. Beef sells by the quarter at to cents a pound; steaks from 10 cents for round to IS for porterhouss. Dressed chickens sell for about cents pound and turkeys are from to 10 cents pound. But when one buys oysters he is reminded of his remoteness from the seaboard by his having to pay for good ones, in bulk, from 30 to 75 cents quart.
 A delightful call from Mir. 0. B. Willis, for merly of New Haven, but now of Milwaukee, has aereeably interrupted my letter. He is looking better than ever, and has not forgot ten the little joke of your city editor as to his having been the long secretary of the Y. M. O. A. AS he sang one of his new songs in my rarlor it carried US back to dear old times and joyous revival scenes. Willis is on his way to the State convention of Y. M. c. A. st Saltwater, where he is to take charge of the singing. There is probably no better field in the world for the particular work in which he has been so successful than is Sur- nished by these growing s cities o,,sd of men are pouring in continually and while many of them bring their good habits and religious principles along with them, too many are reckless, irresolute, and ready to fall into any snare that may be presented. One of the most striking things in looking over 8 congregation of any sort in Minneap- oils is the absence of gray hairs and wrinkled brows. Youth predominates, and nowhere can a young man who is conscientiously de- sirous to do good accomplish more than where society is in fluid condition and just ready to be crystallized into permanent form, as is the case here. Men of wealth realize this among us, and stand ready to help every good work. If you were to ask for the 1 finest building in our city, you would | be directed to the Syndicate block, l about AGO feet square and soae seven l or eight stories high, And, in that l magnificent edifce, the finest and most &C., l cessible rooms are those of the Y. M. C. A., | which are under the admirable management | of Secretary Elliott.
 In some future letter mention may be made | of other features of this rapidly growing and | place, with which, since my re- cent installation as pastor of one of the | churches, I feel strongly identified. The | hearty ways of these western people, their | RIacrity in welcoming strangers into their | social and religious circles, their open handed | Iiberality and abundant hospitality make it difficult for even exiles from beautiful New l Haven to suffer long from homesickness,
 H. c, Il.