Dollar Weekly Mirror

Sketches from the North West,-No. 3.

St. Paul, the county seat of Ramsey county, and the capital of Minnesota, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi river, 2070 miles from its mouth, and at an elevation of 800 feet above tide water. It is built upon quite a bluff, and is not very easy of access from the landings which are two, the upper, and the lower. The first land claim was made in 1838 by a discharged soldier. This right was sold in 1840 for $150. Two men named Phalon and Hayes made a claim in the upper part of the town, in the same year, and soon after Hayes was found in the river murdered. Suspicion was fastened upon Phalon, and he was sent to Prairie du Chien for trial. The same claim was sold in 1842 for $400. What is now known as St. Paul proper, was claimed by B. Gervais, who in 1840 built a log hut on the site. The cabin of Mr. Gervais was the pioneer in the limits of St. Paul.— This was followed soon after by the erection of two or three stone houses. Previous to 1845, the site of the present growing city of St. Paul was a wilderness, and the forest and the Indian occupied the places of the now thriving city and its busy population. In 1849 the census returns gave as the population 1,294, and the number of families 257. Since that time, St. Paul, like most of the river towns, shows a growth of almost unparalleled rapidity. The log cabin has been demolished to give place to the more substantial edifices of brick and stone, and the trading post of that day is now succeeded by the most magnificent warehouses, lifting their noble fronts along the levee. Instead of the rude log chapel scarcely large enough for a dozen worshippers, large and stately houses of worship now stand pointing their spires heavenward, and from whose towers the Sabbath bell sends forth its joyous peal to a population of more than 6000 souls; and the commodious and tasty school houses, the pride and strength of our free institutions, rise up to greet you at almost every corner. Had I the time to prepare it, I could furnish you with the church history of St. Paul, but will content myself by giving a condensed statement of it as published in 1851. The number of churches at that time was seven. The Methodist church was built in 1849 and cost $2500; the First Presbyterian church was built in 1850 and cost $12,000; the Episcopal church was built in 1851 and cost $2500; the Roman Catholic church was built in 1851 and cost $--; the German Methodist church was built in 1851 and cost $1000; the Second Presbyterian church was built in 1854 and cost $10,000: the Scandinavian church was built in 1854 and cost $800.

The Episcopal, First Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches are supplied with organs. The educational interests of the city is not behind the others. Notwithstanding the emigration to this territory is almost without a parallel, so much so that the reality outstrips the romance, and notwithstanding the large numbers of foreigners who emigrate from nearly all parts of the old country, yet a large portion of the emigration is from the Eastern and Middle States, and they have shown that they are alive to their own interests by establishing free schools based upon New England principles. The first school in town was taught in 1847 by Miss Bishop, from the east, whose services were secured through the agency of Ex-Gov. Slade of Vt., whose efforts in the cause of education in the west, are too well known to be alluded to here. The building used for the first school house is described by Miss Bishop as "a mud-walled log house two by twelve, with a bark roof, three six light windows and a door which I must stoop to enter. The building had once been a stable, afterwards a blacksmith shop. On three sides, pins had been driven into the logs, and boards placed across for seats. A chair was appropriated for my use. A blackboard hung against the logs, and a cross-legged rickety table occupied the centre of the room. Of the first nine pupils two of them were white, and when those in attendance numbered forty, only eight of them were Americans." There are several parochial schools sustained by the different religious societies, the design of which is, to impart instruction in connection with the religious form and belief of the particular denominations. There are several select, and also incorporated schools and one college, which bids fair to take a high stand among kindred institutions.