CHAPTER XVII.

EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1849.-CONTINUED.

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY-FIRST OF JUNE PROCLAMATION-RAPID GROWTH OF THE TOWN-GEN. JOHNSON'S INTERVIEW WITH GOODHUE-FIRST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION-THE CENSUS-POST-OFFICE Matters-FIRST ELECTION-FIRST COURTS-ASSEMBLING OF THE LEGISLATURE-LOCATION OF THE CAPITAL-WM. R. MARSHALL-INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN-ELECTION OF COUNTY OFFICERS-SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED-FIRST BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

N June 1, Governor RAMSEY and Chief Justice GOODRICH, with H. L. Moss, United States District Attorney, and Judge DAVID COOPER, Associate Justice, seated on beds or trunks, in a little room, about eight by ten, in the Saint Paul House, drew up the "First of June Proclamation,” as it is called, announcing the Territorial government organized, and that law and order reigned in Warsaw," (as a jocose old settler used to express it.) It was written on a washstand, the only table that could be procured, which Judge G. has preserved as a relic of the event.

To commemorate this event-the formal birth of Minnesotathe "Old Settlers' Association of Minnesota" hold their annual meetings on June 1 of each year, and their annual banquets at the Merchants' Hotel, the successor of the historic Saint Paul House, the corner-stone of whose new structure was laid by the Association on June 1, 1870.

ANOTHER HOTEL.

As a specimen of rapid building, the Pioneer of June 14, says:

"That very large house, the Rice House, near the upper landing, one of the largest hotels north of Saint Louis, was completed, so far as the carpenter and joiner work is concerned, in ten weeks from its commencement."

This hotel was afterwards called the "American House," and was a famous point in its day. It was opened to the public on June 28, by Mrs. RODNEY PARKER, formerly of Charlestown, Massachusetts. The hotel burned down on

December 20, 1863.

SKETCH OF THE TOWN, JUNE, 1849.

The clever work of Mr. SEYMOUR, before quoted, gives a very readable picture of Saint Paul, about the middle of June:

"On the 13th of June, I counted all the buildings in the place, the number of which, including shanties and those in every state of progress, from the foundation wall to completion, was one hundred and forty-two. Of the above, all, except about a dozen, were probably less than six months old. They included three hotels, one of which is very large, and is now open for the accommodation of travelers; a State house, four warehouses, ten stores, several groceries, three boarding houses, two printing offices, two drug stores, one fruit and tobacco store, one or two blacksmith's shops, one wagon shop, one tin shop, one or two baker's shops, one furniture room, a billiard and bowling saloon, one school house, in which a school of about forty children is kept by a young lady, and where divine services are performed every Sabbath by a minister of the Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, or Baptist persuasion. There is, also, a Catholic church, where meetings are held every alternate Sabbath. At the time mentioned above, there were twelve attorneys at law, six of whom were practicing; five physicians, and a large number of mechanics, of various kinds. There was not a brick or stone building in the place. There are, however, good stone quarries in the vicinity, and clay near the town, where persons were employed in making brick."

The rush of immigration to the Territory about this date, seemed to have set in quite briskly. The Pioneer, of June 28,

says:

"On Wednesday of last week, three steamboats arrived at our landing. They were all heavily laden with merchandize for this point.”

ITĖMS.

On June 25, Gov. RAMSEY and lady came from Mendota in a birch-bark canoe, and commenced house-keeping in a neat white frame cottage which stood on Third street, about where BEAUMONT's store now is. The Governor's office was

kept in the same building, It was afterwards called the "New England House," and burned down in the spring of 1860.

"An adjourned meeting, for the purpose of consulting upon the expediency of erecting a town house suitable for the accommodation of secular and religious meetings, societies, &c., will be holden at FREEman, LarpentEUR & Co.'s store, on Saturday, July 7, at 7 p. m. A. H. CAVENDER, Secretary."-[Pioneer, June 28.]

"THE PUMP.-Within the past week the citizens of Saint Paul have erected in the lower square, a pump. Of course, nothing could be more desirable, or to the city more appropriate. For what is a town without a town pump? It is a church without a bishop. How will a stranger know when he arrives in our steepleless city unless it has the centre marked with a pump. A town pump is useful on numerous accounts. It is the centre exchange, where merchants and financiers do the fiats of commerce. It is the place for placards of advertisement—a reference for details of information upon all doubtful questions-as when we say 'inquire of the town pump.'. It might do for the stand of a temperance lecturer. It might answer as a whipping-post for rogues of low degree, and might perhaps subṣerve a patriotic purpose as a ducking engine with which to quench the heat of over-zealous officeseekers."-[Ib.]

"STOP THAT ROOTING UNDER OUR FLOOR!-We are no Jew, but a gentile, or the rooting nation under our editorial sanctum, instead of a respectful notice with our pen, would get punched with a sharp stick. Not that we would find fault with the pigs, for it is all owing to their bringing up. But really, our equanimity is somewhat ruffled, if our chair is not jostled, by the movements of their hard backs under our loose floor."-[Ib.]

Speaking of the pigs rooting under the Pioneer editor's floor, makes apropos an anecdote related by Gen. R. W. JOHNSON,* (in his Old Settlers' address,) who came to Fort Snelling in 1849, as a Lieutenant in the army: "The boat had

*Gen. RICHARD W. JOHNSON was born in Livingston county, Kentucky, February 7, 1827. He was educated at West Point, graduating in the class of 1849, and was appointed to a command at Fort Snelling, with rank of Second Lieutenant. He came here that season, and resided in this State several years. On October 30, 1850, he was married, at Mendota, to Miss RACHEL E. STEELE. When the rebellion broke out he served in many important battles and campaigns, and was severely wounded near Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864. For this cause he was ultimately placed on the retired list, having then attained by successive promotions, the rank of Major General, and commanded the District of Tennessee, &c. He soon returned to Minnesota, which he had always considered his home while in the army. Served as Military Professor at the State University 1868-9, and then removed to Saint Paul. Gen. J. is now President of the Chamber of Commerce, and a leading promoter of all our civic interests.

tied up at the levee.

Taking advantage of the delay, I

wended my way to the Pioneer office, and was kindly received

by Mr. GOODнue.

During the conversation, I observed a hen on her nest under the table, and I ventured to ask him if he designed raising his own poultry." He replied, "that he had

eaten all her eggs, and the old fool is setting on a couple of brickbats, and, if she hatches out a brick yard, you may bet your last dollar that hen is not for sale!"

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

The Fourth of July was celebrated by the patriotic Saint Paulites in a very spirited and becoming manner. Early in the forenoon a procession, composed of the Territorial officers, civic societies, (what there was,) and a few "invited guests," with our own citizens, making about 500 persons in all, headed by a military band from Fort Snelling, formed in front of the Saint Paul House, and, according to a programme in the Pioneer, marched through "a number of the principal streets," (as our newspaper reporters would say,) although said streets were then a jungle of hazel brush and scrub oaks, to a grove on the site of the present Rice Park. Here Governor RAMSEY presided, with Messrs. SIBLEY and RICE as vice presidents. Rev. E. G. GEAR, Chaplain at Fort Snelling, read an appropriate service with prayers. The Declaration of Independence was read by BILLY PHILLIPS, in his most pompous and rhetorical style, and Judge B. B. MEEKER delivered the oration, filling six columns in the Pioneer. The procession then re-formed, and marched to the American House, where a dinner was partaken of, followed by numerous toasts and speeches. The day wound up with a grand ball at the American House, and fireworks. FRANKLIN STEELE acted as chief marshal of the day, with A. L. LARPENTEUR and WM. H. NOBLES as aids. And thus ended the first Fourth of July celebration in Saint Paul.

Gen. SIBLEY, in his address on the early history of Minnesota, relates, that one of our prominent French citizens, on being asked how he liked the proceedings, said "Fore GOD, dat speech of PHILLIPS was ze best speech made to-day." And it is said that "speech" secured BILLY D. the appointment of Prosecuting Attorney by the County Board soon after.

THE CAPITOL AND TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

The Pioneer of July 5, notices the arrival of the Secretary