LETTER IX. SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR.
Description of the country around Lake Superior Minerals Locality
of a commercial city New land districts Buchanan Ojibeway
Explorations to the sources of the Mississippi Henry R.
Schoolcraft M. Nicollet's report Resources of the country above
Crow Wing
LETTER X. VALLEY OF THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH.
Climate of Minnesota The settlement at Pembina St. Joseph Col.
Smith's expedition Red River of the North Fur trade Red River
Settlement The Hudson's Bay Company Ex-Gov. Ramsey's
observations Dacotah
LETTER XI. THE TRUE PIONEER.
Energy of the pioneer Frontier life Spirit of emigration
Advantages to the farmer in moving West Advice in regard to making
preemption claims Abstract of the preemption law Hints to the
settler Character and services of the pioneer
LETTER XII. SPECULATION AND BUSINESS.
Opportunities to select farms Otter Tail Lake Advantages of the
actual settler over the speculator Policy of new states as to taxing
non-residents Opportunities to make money Anecdote of Col.
Perkins Mercantile business Price of money Intemperance
Education The free school
LETTER XIII. CROW WING TO ST. CLOUD.
Pleasant drive in the stage Scenery The past Fort Ripley Ferry
Delay at the Post Office Belle Prairie A Catholic priest Dinner
at Swan River Potatoes Arrival at Watab St. Cloud
LETTER XIV. ST. CLOUD THE PACIFIC TRAIL.
Agreeable visit at St. Cloud Description of the place Causes of
the rapid growth of towns Gen. Lowry The back country Gov.
Stevens's report Mr. Lambert's views Interesting account of Mr. A.
W. Tinkham's exploration
LETTER XV. ST. CLOUD TO ST. PAUL.
Importance of starting early Judge Story's theory of early rising
Rustic scenery Horses and mules Surveyors Humboldt Baked
fish Getting off the track Burning of hay stacks Supper at St.
Anthony Arrival at the Fuller House
LETTER XVI. PROGRESS.
Rapid growth of the North-West Projected railroads Territorial
system of the United States Inquiry into the cause of Western
progress Influence of just laws and institutions Lord Bacon's
remark
THE PROPOSED NEW TERRITORY OF DACOTAH.
Organization of Minnesota as a state Suggestions as to its
division Views of Captain Pope Character and resources of the new
territory to be left adjoining Its occupation by the Dacotah
Indians Its organization and name
POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS
LAND OFFICES AND LAND OFFICERS
NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN MINNESOTA
TABLE OF DISTANCES
PRE-EMPTION FOR CITY OR TOWN SITES
PART I.
LETTERS ON MINNESOTA.
MINNESOTA AND DACOTAH.
LETTER I.
BALTIMORE TO CHICAGO.
Anecdote of a preacher Monopoly of seats in the cars Detention in
the night Mountain scenery on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Voting in the cars Railroad refreshments Political excitement
The Virginian and the Fremonters A walk in Columbus Indianapolis
Lafayette Michigan City Chicago.
CHICAGO, October, 1856.
I SIT down at the first place where a pen can be used, to give you
some account of my trip to Minnesota. And if any one should complain
that this is a dull letter, let me retain his good-will by the
assurance that the things I expect to describe in my next will be of
more novelty and interest. And here I am reminded of a good little
anecdote which I am afraid I shall not have a better chance to tell.
An eminent minister of the Gospel was preaching in a new place one
Sunday, and about half through his sermon when two or three
dissatisfied hearers got up to leave, "My friends," said he, "I have
one small favor to ask. As an attempt has been made to prejudice my
reputation in this vicinity, I beg you to be candid enough, if any one
asks how you liked my sermon, to say you didn't stop to hear me
through."
Stepping into the cars on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad a few
evenings ago for I am not going to say anything of my trip further
east I saw as great an exhibition of selfishness as one often meets
in travelling. This was in the rear car, the others being all crowded.
The seats were spacious, and had high backs for night travelling. A
gentleman entered the car and proposed to sit in a seat in which was
only one child, but he was informed by a feminine voice in the rear
that the whole seat was taken so he advanced to the next seat, which
was occupied by another child, a boy about eight years old again the
same voice, confirmed by one of the other sex, informed him in very
decided terms that that also was wholly occupied. The gentleman of
course did not attempt to take a seat with this lady, but advancing
still further, in a seat behind her he saw another child the only
occupant. His success here was no better. The fact was, here was a
family of a husband, wife, and three children occupying five entire
seats. The traveller politely asked if it would not be convenient for
two of the children to sit together. "No," said the lady and her
husband (and they spoke together, though they didn't sit together),
"the children want all the room so as to sleep." The traveller
betrayed no feeling until the husband aforesaid pointed out for him a
seat next to a colored woman who sat alone near the door of the car,
some little distance off. It was quite apparent, and it was the fact,
that this colored woman was the servant of the family; and the
traveller appeared to think that, although as an "original question"
he might not object to the proffered seat, yet it was not civil for a
man to offer him what he would not use himself. The scene closed by
the traveller's taking a seat with another gentleman, I mention this
incident because it is getting to be too common for people to claim
much more room than belongs to them, and because I have seen persons
who are modest and unused to travelling subjected to considerable
annoyance in consequence.
