MINNESOTA. 37 



and the savages, presuming that our fighting population had been withdrawn 

 to crush the southern rebellion, drew the knife and entered upon their fiendish 

 murders. Upwards of* one thousand men, women, and children in our frontier 

 counties were brutally murdered, and several counties were depopulated, the 

 people flocking for refuge to the cities and towns on the Mississippi. 



For two mouths trains of wagons passed daily, and the labor of years was 

 in a fair way of being lost. The military resources of the State were put into 

 the field, and this panic at last subsided. The next year the once powerful 

 Sioux of our State found themselves driven beyoud the Missouri, and the rem- 

 nant of the first band in the outbreak had taken refuge in the British posses- 

 sions, near the line of which a sufficient cavalry force is now stationed, in com- 

 mand of an officer who will not report many prisoners after a battle. Sufficient 

 military force is now, and will hereafter be, stationed on our frontier to prevent 

 any further depredations from Indians, and settlers can now make homes in 

 any part of our State Avith perfect safety. Our excitements and disasters have 

 subsided, and the deserted farms are mostly repeoplod. 



THE DROUGHT 



of last year must not be overlooked, however. From October, 1S62, until 

 August 4, 1863, we had but about twelve inches of snow and three inches nf 

 rain, the result of which (being confined to the northern section of our State 

 thiefly) cut off our grain crops on many farms. Fortuuately, work being pushed 

 on the Pacific railroad, the labor required furnished aid to many, and a very 

 mild winter following, much suffering was prevented. With a judicious ex- 

 penditure of money by our State, and perhaps a small appropriation in aid of 

 the enterprise by Couo'ress, the 



IRRIGATION 



of a large portion of this section of the State may be effected to prevent droughts 

 hereafter, as well as bring a good return to the State treasury, and an increase 

 of crops to the farmers who will take advantage of the enterprise. It Mill thus 

 be seen that most of our drawbacks can be avoided in the future ; but I have 

 mentioned them to show that we have had a good share of trials, and yet ai-e 

 not discouraged. 



SCENERY. 



Among the attractions of our State may be mentioned the beauty of our lakes, 

 rivers, and waterfalls. Many of our lakes are miles in extent, and stocked 

 with pickerel, bass, and other fresh-water fish, and the delightful scenery on 

 the shores cannot be surpassed in romantic beauty. As a resort in the summer 

 season by the wealthy and pleasure-seekers, Minnesota is fast coming into no- 

 tice. In connexion with natural attractions, I may mention that our wild 

 flowers, both in the woods and on the prairies, claim great attention from bota- 

 nists by their almost endless varie'ty. Many of them are peculiar to this latitude. 



WILD GAME. 



The long residence of the Indians has been the means of destroying most of 

 the ferocious animals, and it is but occasionally that even a bear commits any 

 depredations. The remnants of beaver dams indicate that these valuable and 

 industrious animals were once plenty, but they are not found, as far as my 

 knowledge extends, by our white trappers. Fishers, otters, minks, and musk- 

 rats are plenty on the outskirts of civilization, and are at present quite a source 

 of profit, but the present high prices of furs must soon cause them to be ex- 

 terminated. Of deer, rabbits, and wild fowls we have an abunaauce, and the 

 game laws of the State are well respected. Wild geese, brant, ducks, par 



