Minnesota and Dacotah: in letters descriptive of a tour through the North-west, in the autumn of 1856. With information
relative to public lands, | ||
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 progress which has characterized the settlement of the territory of Minnesota, presents to the notice of the student of history and political economy some important facts. The growth of a frontier community, so orderly, so rapid, and having so much of the conservative element in it, has rarely been instanced in the annals of the world. In less time than it takes the government to build a custom house we see an unsettled territory grown to the size of a respectable state, in wealth, in population, in power. A territory, too, which ten years ago seemed to be an incredible distance from the civilized portions of the country; and which was thought by most people to be in a latitude that would defeat the energy and the toil of man. Today it could bring into the field a larger army than Washington took command of at the beginning of our revolution!
In 1849, the year of its organization, the population of the territory was 4780; now it is estimated to be nearly 200,000. In 1852 there were 42 post offices in the territory, now there are 253. The number of acres of public land sold during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852, was 15,258. For the year ending 30th June, 1856, the number of acres sold was 1,002,130.
When we contemplate the headlong progress of Western growth in its innumerable evidences of energy, we admit the truth of what the Roman poet said—nil mortalibus ardum est—that there is nothing too difficult for man. In the narrative of his exploration to the Mississippi in 1820, along with General Cass, Mr. Schoolcraft tells us how Chicago then appeared. "We found," says he, "four or five families living here." Four or five families was the extent of the population of Chicago in 1820! In 1836 it had 4853 inhabitants. In 1855 its population was 85,000. The history of many western towns that have sprung up within ten years is characterized by much the same sort of thrift. Unless some terrible scourge shall come to desolate the land, or unless industry herself shall turn to sloth, a few more years will present the magnificent spectacle of the entire domain stretching from this frontier to the Pacific coast, transformed into a region of culture, "full of life and splendor and joy."
At present there are no railroads in operation in Minnesota; but those which are already projected indicate, as well as any statistics, the progress which is taking place. The Chicago, St. Paul, and Fond-du-Lac Railroad was commenced some two years ago at Chicago, and over 100 miles of it are completed. It is to run via Hudson in Wisconsin, Stillwater, St. Paul, and St. Anthony in Minnesota to the western boundary of the territory. Recently it has united with the Milwaukee and La Cross Road, which secures several millions of acres of valuable land, donated by congress, and which will enable the stockholders to complete the road to St. Paul and St. Anthony within two years. A road has been surveyed from the head of Lake Superior via St. Paul to the southern line of the territory, and will soon be worked. The Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad Company will in a few weeks have their road completed to Prairie du Chien, and are extending it on the east side of the Mississippi to St. Paul. Another road is being built up the valley of the Red Cedar River in Iowa to Minneapolis. The Keokuck road is in operation over fifty miles, and will soon be under contract to St. Paul. This road is to run via the valley of the Des Moines River, through the rich coal fields of Iowa, and will supply the upper Mississippi and Lake Superior region with coal.
The Green Bay and Minnesota Railroad Company has been organized and the route selected. This road will soon be commenced. The active men engaged in the enterprise reside in Green Bay and Stillwater. A company has been formed and will soon commence a road from Winona to the western line of the territory. The St. Anthony and St. Paul Railroad Company will have their line under contract early the coming season. The Milwaukee and La Cross Company propose continuing their road west through the valley of Root River, through Minnesota to the Missouri River. Another company has been formed for building a road from the head of Lake Superior to the Red River of the North.1 Such are some of the railroad enterprises which are under way, and which will contribute at an early day to develop the opulent resources of the territory. A railroad through this part of the country to the Pacific is among the probable events of the present generation.
It may be well to pause here a moment and inquire into the causes which contribute so wonderfully to build up empire in our north-western domain. The territorial system of the United States has some analogy, it is true, to the colonial system of Great Britain—not the colonial system which existed in the days of the stamp act—but that which a wiser statesmanship has more recently inaugurated. The relation between the general government and our territories is like that of guardian and ward—the relation of a protector, not that of a master. Nor can we find in the history of antiquity any such relationship between colonies and the mother country, whether we consider the system of Phoenicia, where first was exhibited the doctrine of non-intervention, or the tribute-paying colonies of Carthage. That system which was peculiar to Greece, "resting not on state contrivances and economical theories, but on religious sympathies and ancestral associations," came as near perhaps in spirit to ours as any on record. The patronage which the government bestows on new territories is one of the sources of their growth which ought not to be overlooked. Instead of making the territory a dependency and drawing from it a tax, the government pays its political expenses, builds its roads, and gives it a fair start in the world.
Another cause of the successful growth of our territories in general, and of Minnesota in particular, is the ready market which is found in the limits of the territory for everything which can be raised from a generous soil or wrought by industrious hands. The farmer has a ready market for everything that is good to eat or to wear; the artisan is driven by unceasing demands upon his skill. This arises from extensive emigration. Another reason, also, for the rapid growth of the territory, is, that the farmer is not delayed by forests, but finds, outside of pleasant groves of woodland, a smooth, unencumbered soil, ready for the plough the first day he arrives.
But if a salubrious climate, a fertile soil, clear and copious streams, and other material elements, can be reckoned among its physical resources, there are other elements of empire connected with its moral and political welfare which are indispensable. Why is it that Italy is not great? Why is it the South American republics are rusting into abject decay? Is it because they have not enough physical resources, or because their climate is not healthy? Certainly not. It is because their political institutions are rotten and oppressive; because ignorance prevents the growth of a wholesome public opinion. It is the want of the right sort of men and institutions that there is
Not high raised battlement, or labored mound,
Thick wall, or moated gate;
Not cities proud, with spires and turrets crowned;
Not bays and broad armed ports,
Where, laughing at the storm, proud navies ride;
But men, high minded men.
1 The following highly instructive article on navigation, I take from The Pioneer and Democrat (St. Paul), of the 20th November:
"GROWTH OF THE STEAMBOATING BUSINESS—THE SEASON OF 1856.
—About ten years after the first successful attempt at steamboat navigation on the Ohio River, the first steamboat that ever ascended the Upper Mississippi River to Fort Snelling, arrived at that post. This was the 'Virginia,' a stern-wheel boat, which arrived at the Port in the early part of May, 1823. From 1823 to 1844 there were but few arrivals each year—sometimes not more than two or three. The steamers running on the Upper Mississippi, at that time, were used altogether to transport supplies for the Indian traders and the troops stationed at Fort Snelling. Previous to the arrival of the Virginia, keel boats were used for this purpose, and sixty days' time, from St. Louis to the Fort, was considered a good trip.
"By a reference to our files, we are enabled to present, at a glance, the astonishing increase in steamboating business since 1844. The first boat to arrive that year, was the Otter, commanded by Captain Harris. The following table presents the number of arrivals since that time:—
Year | First Boat | No. of Arrivals | River Closed |
1844 | April 6 | 41 | Nov. 23 |
1845 | April 6 | 48 | Nov. 26 |
1846 | March 31 | 24 | Dec. 5 |
1847 | April 7 | 47 | Nov. 29 |
1848 | April 7 | 63 | Dec. 4 |
1849 | April 9 | 85 | Dec. 7 |
1850 | April 9 | 104 | Dec. 4 |
1851 | April 4 | 119 | Nov. 28 |
1852 | April 16 | 171 | Nov. 18 |
1853 | April 11 | 200 | Nov. 30 |
1854 | April 8 | 245 | Nov. 27 |
1855 | April 17 | 560 | Nov. 20 |
1856 | April 18 | 837 | Nov. 10 |
"In 1851, three boats went up the Minnesota River, and in 1852, one boat ran regularly up that stream during the season. In 1853, the business required an average of one boat per day. In 1854, the business had largely increased, and in 1855, the arrivals of steamers from the Minnesota, amounted to 119.
"The present season, on the Mississippi, has been a very prosperous one, and the arrivals at St. Paul exhibit a gratifying increase over any preceding year, notwithstanding the season of navigation has been two weeks shorter than last season. Owing to the unusually early gorge in the river at Hastings, upwards of fifty steamers bound for this port, and heavily laden with merchandise and produce, were compelled to discharge their cargoes at Hastings and Stillwater.
"Navigation this season opened on the 18th of April. The Lady Franklin arrived on the evening of that day from Galena. Previous to her arrival, there had been eighteen arrivals at our landing from the head of Lake Pepin, and twelve arrivals at the foot of the lake, from Galena and Dubuque.
"During the present season, seventy-eight different steamers have arrived at our wharf, from the points mentioned in the following table. This table we draw mainly from the books of the City Marshal, and by reference to our files.
Boats | No. of Trips. |
Ben Coursin | 19 |
A. G. Mason | 8 |
Metropolitan | 13 |
Audubon | 5 |
Golden State | 8 |
Laclede | 11 |
Luella | 8 |
Cheviot | 1 |
James Lyon | 7 |
Vienna | 5 |
New York | 1 |
Delegate | 1 |
Mansfield | 7 |
Forest Rose | 1 |
Ben Bolt | 2 |
J. P. Tweed | 1 |
Fire Canoe | 2 |
Carrier | 1 |
Julia Dean | 1 |
Resolute | 2 |
Gossamer | 4 |
Thomas Scott | 6 |
Gipsey | 2 |
W. G. Woodside | 1 |
York State | 5 |
Mattie Wayne | 4 |
Brazil | 4 |
Dan Convers | 1 |
Henrietta | 4 |
Editor | 5 |
Minnesota Belle | 8 |
Rochester | 2 |
Oakland | 7 |
Grace Darling | 4 |
Montauk | 3 |
Fairy Queen | 1 |
Saint Louis | 1 |
Americus | 2 |
Atlanta | 1 |
Jacob Traber | 6 |
White Bluffs | 1 |
Arcola | 8 |
Conewago | 10 |
Lucie May | 8 |
Badger State | 5 |
Sam Young | 4 |
Violet | 1 |
— | |
Total arrivals from St. Louis, | 212 |
Falls City | 11 |
Diamond | 1 |
H. T. Yeatman | 11 |
Time and Tide | 5 |
— | |
Total from Fulton City, | 28 |
Lady Franklin | 23 |
Galena | 30 |
Alhambra | 21 |
Royal Arch | 6 |
Northern Belle | 28 |
Banjo | 1 |
War Eagle | 17 |
City Belle | 30 |
Golden Era | 29 |
Ocean Wave | 28 |
Granite State | 12 |
Greek Slave | 3 |
— | |
Total from Galena and Dunleith, | 228 |
Excelsior | 23 |
Kate Cassel | 29 |
Clarion | 11 |
Tishimingo | 3 |
Fanny Harris | 28 |
Flora | 29 |
Hamburg | 12 |
— | |
Total from Dubuque, | 135 |
H. T. Yeatman | 4 |
Globe | 34 |
Clarion | 12 |
Reveille | 40 |
H. S. Allen | 10 |
Time and Tide | 11 |
Wave | 29 |
Equator | 46 |
Minnesota Valley | 20 |
Berlin | 10 |
— | |
Total from Minnesota River, | 216 |
Number of arrivals from St. Louis . . . . . . . . | 212 |
" " " " Fulton City . . . . . . . | 28 |
" " " " Galena and Dunleith . . . | 228 |
" " " " Dubuque . . . . . . . . . | 135 |
" " " " Minnesota River . . . . . | 216 |
" " " " head of Lake Pepin . . . | 18 |
— | |
Whole number of boats, 78. Whole number of arrivals, 837 |
"It will be seen from the above, that ten more steamers have been engaged in this trade during the present year than last; while in the whole number of arrivals the increase has been two hundred and sixty-seven.
"The business on the Minnesota has greatly increased this year. This was to have been expected, considering the great increase in the population of that flourishing portion of our Territory.
"A thriving trade has sprung up between the southern counties of Minnesota, and Galena and Dubuque. During the greater portion of the summer, the War Eagle and Tishimingo run regularly to Winona.
"On the Upper Mississippi there are now three steamers, the Gov. Ramsay, H. M. Rice, and North Star (new). Daring the season these boats ran between St. Anthony and Sauk Rapids."
Minnesota and Dacotah: in letters descriptive of a tour through the North-west, in the autumn of 1856. With information
relative to public lands, | ||