The sun., 1893-10-19

100000 acres are aiIl owned by the
state and federal governments and are,
or soon will be, subject to sale, settle
ment and entry Much of this land is
valuable for timber or agricultural pur=
poses, and some of it is valuable for
mineral purposes. In addition to these
lands there are nearly 100000 acres
still owned by the various railroad COM
panies. OF the lands in private owner
ship more than one-third, or upwards
of 100000 acres are still wholly un-
developed and in a state of nature, and
of the residue, the far greater proper
tion is used in it's natural state as
meadow or pasture land, though all Of
is fit for a high state of cultivation.
New York. with total acreage of 81 =
100000 has a population of considerable
over 6,0O0,000. At this rate Minnesota
land surely nature has equipped her as
ing homes to and sustaining population
of upwards of 100000 prosperous and
happy people.
But let us turn for q moment from the
contemplation of our state in it's econo=
mic aspects and give a brief glance at
its physical features, In it's bosom are
the sources of three mighty water courses
the Mississippi, the st. Lawrence and
the Hudson bay-nature's great arteries
throbbing to the outermost verges OF
the continent-the vehicles of our COM
merce and the silent regulators of our
railroads. Extensive forests. rich in
woods of an ornamental and useful char
acter, and in places interspersed with
mines of iron and other metals, cover
the northeastern part-a full third of the
state. The residue of our vast domain
is an ocean of billowy prairie, besprin-
kled with numerous islands and penln-
sulas of undulating woodlands, all as
fertile as any the hand of man ever
titled. And all this broad e1panse Of
forest, prairie and woodland is 1aweled
with ten thousand lakes, sparkling, alive
and translucent,
And to make this earthly Paradise com.
plete and the fit home of a thrifty anu
hardy race, it is possessed and sur
rounded with an atmosphere pure, health
breeding and work.irsp spiring, such as
necessarily appertains to country and
people like ours. Fortunately, the SOIL
and the climate have come into possession
of a people worthy of it. Minnesota has
entered many fine and hnportant exhibits
ut this fair, but of oil her exhibits none
are so typical, none so interesting and
men and women who have wrought her
into being as one of the great states OF
the federal Union. Yankee and Anglo
Saxon. Teuton and Northman, Frank and
Celt, foreigner and native, have here,
under liberal laws and on footing OF
equality, labored hand in hand, in pa
triotic spirit of emulation, and have
evolved out of natures chaos the sub
stantial beginnings of a mighty empire
And when these different elements, which
constitute our chronological makeup, have
become fully assimilated into one people
of one LANGUAGE and of one spirit. in
tensely and truly American, then will the
complement of the great destiny of Min
nesota be wholly filled, and then will she
exhibit to the world nation complete
| in physical, moral and intellectual equip
ment. That day, when it comes-and i
is near and approaching with swift and
irresistible strides-will be the great Min
resota day of the future. We have In
our midst to-day men, venerable and
full of years-the patriarchs who have
led our people into the promised land
Minnesota day is beyond all question
their day, for to none else is. the state SC
near and dear as to those who cared fol
| It and nourished it in its infancy. They
are entitled to our gratitude and to oui
| blessings. Their lives and their presence
are an inspiration to US, who are younger