University of Virginia Library

CONTENTS.

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

LETTER II. CHICAGO TO ST. PAUL.

Railroads to the Mississippi—Securing passage on the steamboat—The Lady Franklin—Scenery of the Mississippi—Hastings—Growth of settlements

LETTER III. CITY OF ST. PAUL.

First settlement of St. Paul—Population—Appearance of the city—Fuller House—Visitors—Roads—Minneapolis—St. Anthony—Suspension Bridge

LETTER IV. THE BAR.

Character of the Minnesota bar—Effect of connecting land business with practice—Courts—Recent Legislation of Congress as to the territorial judiciary—The code of practice—Practice in land cases—Chances for lawyers in the West—Charles O'Connor—Requisite qualifications of a lawyer—The power and usefulness of a great lawyer—Talfourd's character of Sir William Follett—Blending law with politics—Services of lawyers in deliberative assemblies

LETTER V. ST. PAUL TO CROW WING IN TWO DAYS.

Stages—Roads—Rum River—Indian treaty—Itasca—Sauk Rapids—Watab at midnight—Lodging under difficulties—Little Rock River—Character of Minnesota streams—Dinner at Swan River—Little Falls—Fort Ripley—Arrival at Crow Wing

LETTER VI. THE TOWN OF CROW WING.

Scenery—First Settlement of Crow Wing—Red Lake Indians—Mr. Morrison—Prospects of the town—Upper navigation—Mr. Beaulieu—Washington's theory as to Norfolk—Observations on the growth of towns

LETTER VII. CHIPPEWA INDIANS—HOLE-IN-THE-DAY.

Description of the Chippewa tribes—Their habits and customs—Mission at Gull Lake—Progress in farming—Visit to Hole-in-the-day—His enlightened character—Reflections on Indian character, and the practicability of their civilization—Their education—Mr. Manypenny's exertions

LETTER VIII. LUMBERING INTERESTS.

Lumber as an element of wealth—Quality of Minnesota lumber—Locality of its growth—The great pineries—Trespasses on government land—How the lumbermen elude the government—Value of lumber—Character of the practical lumberman—Transportation of lumber on rafts

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