MINNESOTA 31 



MINNESOTA. 



BY O. H. KELLY, ITASCA, MINNESOTA. 



The sudden transition of Indian hunting ground into an organized Territory, 

 and tlien taking a stand in tbe front rank of nortliwestern States, directed 

 much attention to Minnesota. The change has been so rapid that even the 

 actors in the great work are surprised at the success of their labors. Immi- 

 gration commenced pouring in in June, 1849, follownng the footsteps of Gov- 

 ernor Ramsey, who issued, in that month, the prochxmation declaring the Ter- 

 ritory duly organized, and entitl(?d to a delegate in Congress ; and there was 

 an overwhelming flood of people, of all nations and from every clime, who 

 found homes within our limits. The tide increased yearly until 1862, when 

 the outbreak of the Sioux upon our frontier checked its progress, and the wave 

 moved back with such force that, iintil this date, (March, 1864,) its eflPect is 

 still visible. Probably in the growth of States, with only agricultural and 

 manufacturing resources to attract the attention, Minnesota's pi-osperity will 

 never be equalled ; and I purpose, after fifteen years' residence here, to give a 

 sketch of the advantages we possess, by which we shall offer inducements to 

 the immigrant not to be found elsewhere. And yet it will be far from my 

 object to picture Minnesota as a paradise, for it has some disadvantages also ; 

 but these may De overcome, while the advantages cannot be reduced, and can 

 be much enhanced in value. The great attraction to the first immigrants was 

 our vast pine districts, and the State of Maine was well represented, during 

 1849 and 1850, among our population. In fact, during those years it was esti- 

 mated that more than one-half of the residents of our Territory were from the 

 lumbering districts of the Penobscot. Our high range of latitude made it 

 questionable with some whether Minnesota could be an agricultural State, and 

 many statements were published detrimental to our agricultural reputation. It 

 was considered an experiment, and the sequel shows that it has been a suc- 

 cessful one. My observations in this paper will be chiefly confined to that por 

 tion of our State tributary to the Mississippi, above the Falls of St. Anthony. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. 



Minnesota has an area estimated at 83,531 square miles, or 53,459,840 acres 

 of land. BeloAV the falls, the shores of the Mississippi are skirted with precip- 

 itous and rocky bluffs, while the country above presents a lower and more 

 even surface, making a great and pleasing contrast to the eye of the traveller. 

 We have here fine rolling prairies, oak openings, and extensive forests, well 

 watered by lakes, and by small streams — tributaries of the great river. No 

 mountains, and but few hills even, worthy of notice by a New Englander, are 

 found. While at the falls and below, the country is well supplied with vast 

 ledges of limestone, we have no ledges for a distance of seventy miles above, 

 when a ledge of granite crops out, extending twejve miles to Sauk Rapids, the 

 head of steamboat navigation above the falls, at an ordinary stage of water, 

 although a steamboat has been up to the Falls of Pohegema. 



SOIL. 



On the eastern shore, extending back from one to five miles, and as far north 

 as Fort Ripley, the soil is quite sandy, with gravelly subsoil, yet productive. 



