USA > Minnesota > Minnesota - its advantages to settlers, 1869 : being a brief synopsis of its history and progress, climate, soil, agricultural and manufacturing facilities, commercial capacities, and social status, its lakes, rivers, and railroads, homestead and exemption laws > Part 6
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There are many places which are, or have once been celebrated resorts for con- sumptive invalids-Maderia, Ventnor, Torquay, Cuba, Florida, Algiers, Upper Egypt, &c. Many of these are now known to be positively injurious to this class of patients, and have been abandoned. Among them all, there are very few, even if harmless, that possesses any advantage. So unsatisfactory has been the result of change of climate that many eminent physicians no longer advise their patients to try it, beliving that they standj about as good a chance to recover at home. The fact that the disease is quite common in all of these places of refuge, leads us to the conclusion that the benefit derived from them in such cases, if any, is due to the mere change of climate rather than to any special influence arising from the localities themselves .* The supposition that a warm climate, or even a cold one possessing an equable temperature, free from sudden changes, is required by consumptives, is evidently an erroneous one. Dr. Law- son, the author of one of the ablest works on this disease which has ever been published in any language, says : "In order to promote health, the atmosphere should be subject to some degree of perturbation, and even rapid changes, pro- vided those variations are not great or extreme. The steppe of Kirghis, where consumption is almost unknown, is remarkable for its rapid changes, and even severe winds." Again : "In these early stages of phthisis, patients are already beginning to feel the depressing effects of disease, and therefore, require all those influences, hygienic and medicinal, which impart tone to the system, and thereby invigorate the nutritive functions. It cannot be presumed, however, that a mild and equable atmosphere will produce this result ; on the contary, the very mo- notony of the atmosphere must lead to depression, and thereby increase the de- bility." Of warm climates, he says : "A very warm, stagnant and moist atmos- phere, with but little elevation, would manifestly prove injurious, and there is sufficient ground to justify the conclusion that where the disease is far advanced, tropical regions are unfavorable." " We have abundant testimony to prove that when the disease has become established, and the system debilitated, but
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i. *. A Practical Treatise on Phthisis Pulmonalis," by L. M. Lawson, Cincinnati, 1861. 3
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little good can be derived from warm regions, while, on the contrary, great in- jury will often result." M. Rochard, another medical writer, refers to the fact. that " tuberculosis marches with greater rapidity in the torrid zone than in Europe."
I have searched through a vast amount of medical authority, and digested nu- merous tables of statistics. The conclusion I arrive at is, that the only class of consumotives benefitted at all by warm, equable regions, are those in the very incipient stages ; that the benefit in such cases is due more to the change than anything else ; and that the same class of patients would be benefitted to a still greater degree by a dry, cool, elastic atmosphere, such as we have in Minnesota, and in parts of New Mexico and California.
Dr. Chas. A. Leas, United States consul at Madeira, who has resided in Rus -. sia, Sweden, Central America, and Madeira, in the service of the government,. under date of September 10th, 1866, writes : "] have made the subject of cli- mate, as accurative agent in consumption, a special study, and in connection with iny annual report to the State Department at Washington-just now sent on- I have entered somewhat into detail upon that subject, and have endeavored to show, from observation, that consumption, in its earlier stages, is best relieved by a visit to, and residence of greater or less extent in, high northern latitudes, instead of warm climates, as is the usual custom. I have further suggested Min- nesota as one of the finest climates for that purpose."
In the report above alluded to, Dr. Leas accounts for the superior advantages of a high, dry, cool latitude, in tubercular diseases, on the theory that the lungs, in heaith, are only sufficiently capacious to "admit air enough to purify, through its oxygen, the whole of the blood ; in proportion as the air thus breathed is contaminated, or mixed with moisture and other impurities, so will the amount of oxygen admitted into the lungs at any time, be diminished in quantity, and to. the same extent, a portion of the vital fluid unoxygenized," giving rise to a di- minished vitality, and thus laying the groundwork "for the development of con- sumption, under causes favorable to such a result." The atmosphere in high. northern latitudes, is much purer than that of warm countries, on account of the precipitation of its excess of moisture by the cold, "thus giving a larger amount of oxygen, which is the great vivifying element in a given amount of air, and. thus again enabling the lungs to more thoroughly purify the entire volume of blood. And more particularly are the lungs thus aided when a portion of their substance is thrown out of action from the actual deposition of tuberenlar mat- ter. Besides all that, the frequence of such a large amount of pure atmosphere- to the circulating fluid, has a decidedly tonic and invigorating efect upon that
element, and through it the whole system. * * * * Aud for such an atmosphere as is here indicated, I would suggest to invalids affected with pulmonary disease, that they are most likely to find it in Minnesota."
The fact is worthy of note, that this communication comes from Madeira, an island which has been termed " the city of refuge " for consumptives. But the- testimony of Dr. Mason, and the statistics of Dr. Renton, prove that it is only those in the very incipient stages that have been benefitted there. Of forty-seven confirmed consumptives who landed there, not one lived six months ! And yet Madeira has the most equable climate in the world,-the temperature never varying over ejeven degrees the year around,-never higher than 74 de- grees, nor lower than 63 degrees. With a warm, basaltic soil, protection from winds, perennial summer, and tropical luxuriance, it would seem to be the con- sumptive's paradise ; but such is not the case. 'The reason is simply that the air is too stagnant, and wants life and perturbation ; and the air is too moist, expe- rience proving that consumptives require an air sufficiently moist to prevent ir- ritation of the air passages, but at the same time dry, elastic, pure, and iuvigora- ting. A little wind, therefore, does no harm, while the experience of ages has at length established the fact, beyond peradventure, that those countries most favorable to consumptives, as the steppe of Kirghis, New Mexico, Minnesota and California, are remarkable for the dryness and purity of their air, and are subject to occasional changes of temperature, as well as ,winds. Another fact-
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worthy of special mention is, that the disease is seldom ever generated in those countries.
As compared with the other places mentioned, Minnesota takes the palm from them all. While some portions of California, and of the Pacific coast general- ly, are favorable retreats, others are less so. The mountains are rather cold and harsh-the valleys too stagnant and moist. 'The country about Sacramento and the interior of the State is the most favorable ; but even here, according to Dr. Hatch, of Sacramento, although the atmosphere is quite dry, it is very subject to abrupt changes, and extreme vicissitudes of temperature. The same is true of that portion of New Mexico and Texas, best adapted to comsumptives-those fierce "northers," to which they are subject, often causing a change of tempera- ture of 50 or 60 degrees in a few hours, and rendereng winter clothing very ac- ceptable. And yet Dr. Lawson says : " It is extremely probable, if not posi- tively certain, that the territory known as New Mexico, embracing Santa Fe, is more favorable to consumptives than any point on the American continent, if not in the civilized world." Minnesota, at the time this was written, although even then a great resort for consumptives, had not become known to the slow Pegasus of the medical muse. Drs. Gregg and Hammond, in their accounts of the climate, show it to be very similar to, but inferior to that of Minnesota. It is dryer-rather too dry-increasing the bronchial irritation and dyspepsia, aris- ing from inflammatory action of the mucous membrance of the stomach, and in- flammation of the lungs. The climate is more changeable than ours, and subject to severer currents of wind. With these exceptions, the climate is very similar to ours. The air is dry and pure, and "persons withered almost to mummies are to be occasionally encountered, whose extraordinary age is only to be in- ferred from their recollection of certain notable events, which had taken place in times far remote."
Yet we have in Minnesota a climate superior as a resort for invalids, to even New Mexico. We have never had any epidemic of typhoid or other fevers, but owing to its warmer climate (its yearly mean being 50° 6) New Mexico is somewhat subject to this class of disease. The typhoid fever raged there as an epidemic from 1837 to 1839. Our winds, instead being strong, cold, and con- tinued currents, constitute rather a lively agitation, or perturbation of the air ; and finally, Minnesota is as accessible by railroad and steamers as Chicago, while · in New Mexico, Dr. Lawson says that ," the difficulty of access, as well as the want of accommodations, and the character of the population, (Indians and hunters, or "rangers,") will for a long period, deter even those who have suffi- cient physical ability, from visiting the country."
The conclusion is thus forcibly impressed upon us, that for invalids, as well as for every class of inhabitants required to populate a State, Minnesota is superior as a place of settlement to any region in the world."
Without asserting that all persons afflicted with pulmonary disease will in- variable recover in Minnesota, it may be safely claimed that no climate under heaven offers equal advantages to this class of invalids. While it is undoubted- ly true that a larger percentage of those in the early stages of the disease will recover, there can be no doubt but that those in the second and third stages often get well here. No physician can foretell the result of a trial. The only method of deciding the question is by actual residence.There are those here, whom no one would take to be consumptives, who have had but one lung for over ten years. Many come too late, or coming in time, continue here the over-taxation of mind or body, or other unhealthy habits, which first broke them down. Their friends blame the climate, if they fail to recover ; but the fact is well established, that any case within the reach of climatic influence, will get well here, if any- where. Another fact equally well established, is that a permanent residence here is better, in order to render the cure permanent. Many instances might be cited, where invalids, after spending a year or so here, and apparently got well, have gone East and died of the disease ; of others, experiencing a return of the old symptoms, and making a second recovery after returning to Minnesota. Many cases, however, are cured, or greatly benefitted, by a sojourn of a few
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months. Sometimes years are required to effect a complete cure. It is better for all desiring to secure the benefits of our climate, to cut loose from all busi -. ness relations where they reside, take up their abode, and go into business here, as a resident has much better chances of recovery than a visitor, who is de- prived of home comforts and associations. Seasons vary, more or less, every- where. Some are more favorable than others, but taken one year with another, Minnesota, as a sanitarium, will be found all that it is represented to be.
St. Paul, Minn., Feb. 4, 1869.
DEAR SIR :- Your letter of February 3d, 1869, has been received. An obser- vation of nearly eleven years enables me to assure you that in your pamphlet you have not over-estimated the wonderful salubrity of this climate.
In many pulmonary affections the air seems directly curative, and dyspeptics will most certainly be benefitted by a residence in this State. The dry, bracing atmosphere acts as a stimulant to the digestive organs; while the great changes in temperature encourage circulation, and thus carry the rich blood to all parts of the body.
Digestion is that process by which supplies are taken into the blood from the alimentary canal; and it has been well said that when you have plenty of good air, and a good digestion, scrofula and consumption will be unknown. The pure air we have - and it is now well understood by physicians, that our citizens eat and digest the rich, animal food so abundant here, with much less call for high- seasoning and for stimulating sauce, than they have been used to require else- where.
The effect of the dry, cold air in relieving congestion of the liver is also remarka- ble; and hundreds here who came from the South and West broken down by. malarial fevers, can testify to the rapidity with which they have recovered their health and strength. Yours respectfully,
D. W. HAND, M. D.
G. HEWITT, EsQ.
MINNESOTA SCENERY-RESORTS FOR TOURISTS.
The scenery of Minnesota has attracted the attention of many writers, paint- ers and poets, and elicited eulogies in prose and verse, ever since the first white man stood on the brink of St. Anthony's Falls, or listened to the gleeful splash- ings of Minnehaha. The brilliant purity, dryness and elasticity of the air, bring- ing every object out with bold, distinct outlines, lends a peculiar charm to the lovely scenery which everywhere abounds. The nights, particularly, are serene and beautiful beyond description. Prof. Maury, author of the " Physical Geo- graphy of the Sea," says : "At the small hours of night, at dewy eve and early morn, I have looked out with wonder, love and admiration, upon the steel blue sky of Minnesota, set with diamonds and sparkling with brilliants of purest ray. Herschell has said, that in Europe, the astronomer might consider himself highly favored, if by watching the skies for one year, he shall, during that period, find, all told, one hundred hours suitable for satisfactory observation. A telescope mounted here, in this atmosphere, under the skies of Minnesota, would have its powers increased many times over what they would be, under canopies less brilliant and lovely," and many hundred such hours could be found here within that period.
The State is encircled by lakes and rivers, like the garden of Eden, as pic- tured by the imagination. In fact, the numerous streams and lakes of Minneso- ta, form one of its characteristic charms, and when it was the habitation of the Indians, they showed their appreciation of them by erecting their rude lodges on their shady, pebbly shores. The larger lakes, with outlets, are from one to thir- ty miles in diameter. The smaller class, however, are much more numerous, and "generally distinguished, also, for their clear, white, sandy shores, set in gentle, grassy slopes, or rimmed with walls of rock, their pebbly beaches sparkling with cornelians and agates, while the oak grove or the denser . wood, which skirts its
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ITS ADVANTAGES TO SETTLERS.
margin, completes the graceful and picturesque] outline." Prof. Maury says : "There is in this territory a greater number of these lovely sheets of laughing water, than in all the country besides. They give variety and beauty to the landscape ; they soften the air, and lend all their thousand charms and attrac- tions to make this goodly land a lovely place of residence. We see that, with these beautiful sheets of water, nature has done for the upper Mississippi what Ellett proposes should be done by the government for the Ohio, and what Na- poleon III is doing for the rivers of France."
These lakes all abound in fish, superior in flavor and quality to those of the sluggish streams of the Western States. Many leaping brooks, fed by springs, are pure and cold as mountains streams, and abound in speckled trout. To the disciples of Izak Walton, Minnesota is a perfect paradise. To one fond of the sport, nothing could be more delightful than to drive out to one of these lovely sheets of water, spending the heat of the day on their shady shores, and the morning and evening in a small boat, with rod and tackle. In the spring and fall these lakes are all covered with ducks and other water fowl, affording rare amusement for the sportsman.
So the tourist who seeks respite from hot pavements, brick walls, and sultry cities, relaxation of mind from the cares of business, recreation and recuperation, could take up his abode in no more favored spot. Unlike the cramped quarters, artificial enjoyments and tiresome excitement of fashionable places of resort, like Saratoga or Newport, where the heat, dust, and annoyance of city life, is found, without any of its comforts, here the broad fields of primitive nature opens wide to view, and invites him to invade her precincts, invigorating body and mind.
From the first of May until the first of August, fishing is the principal sport. Sometimes wild pigeons, which often breed in our woods, may be shot in great numbers in June. After the first of August till frost, fowling commences, and the gun and dog take the place of hook and tackle. The first of August in Minnesota is what the first of September is in England, when the game law per- mits the shooting of prairie chickens, pheasants grouse, &c., which abound eve rywhere. The larger game, such as deer, elk, and occasionally a bear or buffalo, come in with cold weather, aud continue till spring. In the fall and spring, duck and geese are found plentifully in every little lake.
Not only to the mere sportsman does Minnesota offer superior attractions, but to the tourist generally, and all who would seek rest, natural repose, and quiet enjoyment, in a cool, bracing and healthful climate, surrounded by all the pleasant associations of nature, "unmarred by the rude hand of art." Railroads and stage coaches may be taken, and the remotest parts of the State reached by easy or rapid stages, as may be preferred.
GENERAL INFORMATION.
ANSWERS TO A FEW OF THE THOUSAND QUESTIONS ASKED ME WILL BE FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING COMBINATION OF DISJOINTED ITEMS.
Persons with families should not come here entirely destitute to brave the trials and privations of pioneer life.
Men with means at their command possess, of course, here as elsewhere, great advantages. There is, perhaps, no question that money can, on an average, be handled to better advantage in a new and thriving Western country, than in the old settlements of the East, and Europe. . There are opened here a thonsand avenues into which capital can be profitably turned, and as it promotes the growth and development of the State, it adds each day to the security of the in- vestment. Those familiar with the commercial, manufacturing and financial affairs of Minnesota, assure me that there has not been a time since the flush period of 1857, when half the field for safe and profitable investments of capital was occupied. Until the last year this want has been a source of great incon- venience and delay to the enterprise of the State ; but now that we have entered upon a career of solid progress, and our population rapidly increasing, we find
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MINNESOTA :
capitalists seeking investments here for their money, and giving new life and vigor to many useful enterprises that else would have lingered and languished.
Our reputation as a healthy country brings many invalids here, who come to regain their health, and do not wish to settle down permanently, or engage in business until they have tested the climate. They do not want to be idle, or desire to make expenses while here, and therefore many seek positions as teach- ers, clerks, &c. The consequence is here, as indeed everywhere, these positions are always crowded. Many young men in good health come expecting employ- ment of this character, and are disappointed. They then wish themselves back or wish they had learned a good trade, or understood and inclined to farm life. They see around them here,men prosperous and contented on farms ; some mak- ing fortunes, and but little exposed to the vicissitudes attending many other pur- suits ; while our merchants and professional men do reasonably well, it is an un- deniable fact that our farmers are more uniformly successful than any other class. Indeed, the portion of farm work now done by machinery, leaves but little that
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. is irksome or forbidding in the life of a farmer So different is the business now from what it used to be, and so light is the work of a farmer here, as compared with the East, that it is not surprising so many are disposed to engage in the business. A vocation at once so honorable and independent will each year commend itself more and more to sensible men, and instead of rearing their sons to the uncertainties of the professions and mercantile life, they will devote them to work that is blessed, because it makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before-bringing wealth out of the earth, enriching and ennobling themselves, and adding to the material wealth of the country.
TIME TO COME-WAY TO GET HERE-PRICE OF LAND-SEASON FOR OPENING FARMS- COST OF SAME-PRICE OF LUMBER-MECHANICS' WAGES-FARM HELP-HOTELS- COST OF LIVING-PRICE OF STOCK, &c., &c.
Invalids come at all seasons, and this is, perhaps, right; yet the months of March and April generally furnish more disagreeable weather than the other ten months of the year.
Those who intend to take farms that are opened and in use, should be here in time to do fall plowing, which is done in the months of October and November. Those who intend to open farms should be here in the spring, so as to have their breaking done before the first of August. Ground broken after that time had far better not have been touched. Crops are put in from the first of April to the 10th of June, and gathered in the months of August and September.
Government land can be had with laud warrants or money, at from $1.00 to $1.25 per acre, and in portions of the State at $2.50. Good wild land can be had from second hands at from $1.00 to $15.00 per acre, according to the dis- tance from good trading towns, steamboat landings, and railroads. The differ- ent Land Grant Railroads own immense quantities, located in odd sections, along the line of their roads, and sell at from $2.00 to $8.00 per acre, on long time and at reasonable rates of interest. The prices of good farms must be estimated by the reader from these figures, and the prices of materials and labor herewith furnished. It should be understood that free homesteads under the act of Con- gress are not found within sight of cities, affording good land, hay, wood and water, but must be looked for in the more remote and less thickly settled districts,
In giving the following estimates, some allowance should be made for the fact that prices have not yet entirely receded from those of war times, but are getting down gradually to a reasonable figure. The way to get to Minnesota and through the State will be found at the end of this pamphlet on the pages devot- . ed to " Railroads, Steamboats and Stages." All our railroads are now in the hands of active men, who are pushing them forward as rapidly as possible. Those preferring to travel by river can have first-class side-wheel steamers, daily, from any point on the Mississippi River from St. Louis to St. Paul, and regu- larly to Stillwater and Taylor's Falls. Fare from St. Louis to St. Paul fourteen to twenty dollars ; from Milwaukee about $16 ; Chicago about $20.
Having given the prices of land, I will give estimates for putting it to use.
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ITS ADVANTAGES TO SETTLERS.
"To break prairie land costs from $2.50 to $4.00 per acre ; timber land of course much higher. Lumber costs from $14.00 to $17.00 per thousand feet for fencing, according to the distance from the mills. Posts are made of cedar, tamrack, oak, , pine and locust. Machinery does a large part of the farm work. We have "gang-plows, seed sowers, cultivators, reapers and harvesters, mowers, threshers by horse power and steam. Men engage exclusively in these branches-have their own machinery, and going from farm to farm, gathering a man's crop and putting it in market in a few days. Hired men are procured with but little trouble for farm work, and at prices ranging from $16 to $30 per month ; hired girls at from $7 to $10. The expense of building houses must be gathered by the reader from the price of lumber and mechanics' wages. Lumber for dwell- ings costs from $15 to $22 per thousand, and carpenters get from $2.00 to $3.50 per day ; brick and stone masons from $2.00 to $4.00 per day. Large barns are not required-or, at least, are seldom found. When the threshing is done in the fall, the straw is thrown upon the timbers constructed with "crotch and rider," which affords a warm and secure shelter for stock in all weather. Farm horses here are worth from $80 to $180 ; cows from $30 to $45. Abundance of good hay grows wild on our marshes and meadows, is considered equal to the Kentucky blue grass, and by many superior to clover and timothy. The ex- pense of living here can be estimated by the prices charged for board at hotels and private boarding houses. The prices range from $1.00 to $3.00 per day at hotels, and from $1.00 to $2.00 at private boarding houses. These are the prices in the larger cities of the State, but good accommodations are procured in thrifty towns, and on the shores of attractive lakes, at more moderate prices. The quality of the fare and the charges are to some extent under the control of the travelling public. Where a man feeds low and charges high, it should be your pleasure, as it certainly is you duty, to exercise the "traveller's privilege," and speak out ;- let the fact be known as you pass around. It is the only cor- rective of this abuse-the only protection against the most disagreeable imposi- tion known among men. The public pay their money and take their choice. If they commend what is commendable, and censure the opposite, exercising a cheerful discrimination, it will work a cure. The man who can keep a hotel knows that an appeal to the stomach and the pocket never failed in a verdict ! I am the more particular on this point, because of the great interests of the State in this matter. The man who first visits a place in bad weather, gets to a mean hotel, is badly fed and over charged, will carry the disagreeable impressions of that place to his dying day.
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