St Paul Minn. Augt 13/68

 

Dear Father.

                        I left La Crosse last Tuesday the 11^th inst, on the steamer for this city expecting to arrive here the next morning at 10 or 11 A.M. but we were delayed by the low stage of the water, and got here twenty four hours late.

 

                        I got an excellent view of the river scenery & took good care to observe every thing. Took notes all along the rout but have not got them all filled out yet; will send them from La Crosse.

 

                        On the steamboat I found my self lodged in the same state room with a young man whose appearance I liked and who proved a very pleasant / and agreeable traveling companion.

 

                        He was going beyond St Paul about thirty miles to visit a friend of his, an old hunter of the West, & to spend a month with him hunting and fishing.

 

                        Since we were both going as far as this place together & he desired to go the rounds here we concluded to make the excursion around the city & up to the Minnehaha, Minneapolis & St Anthony in company since it would be cheaper & much pleasanter.

 

                        Yesterday upon arriving we registered and then went direct to a livery stable and engaged a horse for the afternoon in order that we might drive round the city, and up to Spring Cave, quite a novelty from which, as its name / indicates, flows the waters of a spring, and a pretty good sized one too judging by the size of the creek which we found flowing through it. No one knows its length nor how far from the mouth the source of the creek lies. We penetrated the cavern about two hundred or three hundred feet, & in that distance found one little fall of three or three & one half feet.

 

                        After exploring the cave we drove to the celebrated Lake C[?] which is about three miles east of the city and by the way is a great humbug (the lake of Oakland County being at least as fine),—though judging by the two hotels which we found on its shores and the fishing parties in boats and on its banks, it is quite a resort. /

 

We next rode up to Sumit Ave. the highest point in the city & where the finest residences are situated.

 

                        Here we got an excellent view, looking down the river, of the city, & light sandstone bluffs beyond. Also an other looking up the river and taking in the little town of Mendota both very fine views & much improved by the massive glass of my companion C. W. Breaker U.S.N.

 

                        St There is a fine view of the river from the trussel bridge, and which Mr Breaker, who was with Farrigut last summer in Italy & France, says has the same soft appearance which is said to be peculiar to Italian landscapes & those of South France and for a river view is the finest he ever saw.

 

                        To day we took the train for Minneapolis passed under the bastion of Ft Suelling & three miles beyond stopped off at Minnehaha which is indeed a beautiful spot; fortunately we got a hack from here to Minneapolis, rode through the main streets, / thus getting a good idea of the town. The principle  thing that builds this place (Minneapolis) up is the immence water power furnished by the Falls of St Anthony which is principally used in the manufacture of lumber, with a few machine shops, on a small scale, & a couple of paper mills one of which I visited though I had previously been through one at Sparta and was thus enabled to point out the process to my companion.

 

                        We crossed from Minneapolis to St Anthony, on the opposite side of the river, by means of a suspension bridge, 'tis not much of a town two large hotels, which have never been remunerative, & several stores two or three of which have never been occupied / & no likelihood of being.

 

                        We passed down on this side & took a long look at the falls, then visited the mineral springs that jut out of the side bank, in a stream some of three & some of six inches in diameter & about half way up, which is here 50 or 60 feet in hight.

 

                        Then we returned to this city on the same side of the river by the 1^st Div. of the St P. & Pacific R.R.

 

                        St Paul is said to contain 30 thousand inhabitants by but I should not more than 20 or 25 M. One gets the best impression as well as the best view of the city on the steamer river from the steamer when approaching the city, though the principle business St, presents a very fine appearance on account / of the beautiful granite of which most of the business places are built & which is mined near the city. There is also one iron front & one going up nearly finished.

 

                        The dwelling houses as a general thing are not as elegant as many of those in the two Saginaws, with the exception of those built of stone but I presume none of them as costly as C. K. & Derbys or Masons.

 

                        I start for La Crosse in the morning at 9 A.M. & there expect to find my instructions.

 

                        My expenses for the trip up to this time will have been just $14.75 including my ticket back to La C. which I purchased.

 

                        My hotel bill for two days will probably be four / dollars though it may be five So you see I made a pretty close estimate.

 

                        Much love to all Mother, Henry, Jamie, Grandma & a big share for your self.                                                                                   

 

From You

Affectionate

Son

Glover

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