The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1905-12-13
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Excerpts Taken From St. Paul Papers of
Forty Years Ago.

Forty Years Ago.
James j. Hill, Esq, the popular
and faithful agent of the North
western Packet line, as well as o.
railroads connecting with the Eas
and South at various points dowr
the river, has again placed the news
papers and public under obligation
by furnishing statistics Of trade
(both imports and exports) at this
port. For several years Mr.. Hill
has kept a private account of al
receipts and shipments at this point
oftentimes working far into the night
after a busy day in the office. AL
though his account is a private one,
and the only complete one, so far as
we know, it has always been at the
service of the newspapers. His list
shows, among other things, that
there were exported this year 81 ,268
barrels of flour, 326, $50 bushels of
| wheat, 242, Alb pounds of wool,
243, 423 pounds of butter and furs
valued at 100000. In 1861 the but
ter shipments only amounted to 5000
pounds.
A steamboat excursion on the Mis-
sissippi river at St. Paul on Dec. l.
That was what occurred here
yesterday, with the Great Western
band on the upper deck of the
Chippewa Falls, and many Of our
citizens present with linen busters
and palm leaf fans. The idea origi-
mated with Col. Girart Hewitt several
days ago of having a steamboat
excursion ON the first day of winter.
Capt. w. F. Davidson, the river
king of the northwest, generously
placed at his disposal one of his
numerous packets, and yesterday
witnessed one the pleasantest occa-
sions of the year.
We have had railroad excursions,
picnics in the open air, when the
grateful shade of many colored.
leaves were a grateful relief from.
the burning rays of an autumnal
sun, and last but not least, steam
boat excursion way up north In
Minnesota" a full month after our
Eastern friends have been led to
believe we were securely clasped in
the cool embrace of the ice king,
whom they think in their ignorance
holds undisputed sway in what they
call the HyperboYean regions of Min
nesota.
Col. Hewitt's idea was to disabuse
peoples minds of this idea as we'll as
to enjoy a pleasant time. At 10
o'clock about $50 of our leading
business men, city officers and many
strangers stepped aboard. The boat
first steamed down the river as far
as Carver's cave. Then the boat
began its trip up the river. As she
steamed past the city every window
facing the river was filled with ladies'
and from Trout brook to Benzberg's
garden was a line of waving hand
kerchiefs held by fair hands.
On the return trip the 'Skeeter"
club and the O. T. B.'?, a large num-
Der of which two associations were
on board, decided to celebrate
according to the rules and regula-
tons of their two associations, and
Judging from their appearance they
certainly had a good time. At 1890
the Chippewa Falls landed the party
at the levee and thus ended the first
winter excursion from the port of
st. Paul. The receipts were given to
the Protestant orphan asylum.
x
A St. Paul girl captive in the
hands of the Sioux Mr.. Edward
Harriott, who accompanied the White
Horse Plain brigade of buffalo hunt
ers, and has returned to the city,
informs us that at the Bule Soil, on
the other side of the Coteau du
Missouri, they camped near num-
Der of Sioux lodges, and while there
he went over to the Indian camp to
trade for a skin. There he was
astonished to discover young girl
of Is years, of medium size, light