MINNESOTA (ante). In 1680 a party of French fur-traders ascended the Mississippi to the falls of St. Anthony, where they formed a settlement. Louis Hennepin, a Fran ciscan priest, accompanied them, and gave the falls the name which they have since borne. This was the first white settlement made within the limits of the state, and it soon degenerated by the adoption of Indian manners and habits. In 1763 the territory was ceded to Great Britain; in 1766 it was explored by rapt. Jonathan Carver, of Con necticut; and in 1783 it become a part of the United States, and was included in the north west territory. In 1805 a tract of laud at the mouth of the St. Croix and another at the mouth of the Minnesota were purchased of the Indians, but the region was settled slowly. In 1820 fort Snelling was built, and two years later a mill was erected on the site of Minneapolis. In 1823 the first steamboat ascended the Mississippi to the falls of St. Anthony. Some time before 1830 a, small colony of Swiss settled near St. Paul. It was not until 1838 that the Indian title to lands e. of the Mississippi was extinguished, and a settlement was commenced at Stillwater in 1842. In 1849 the territory of Minnesota was organized by act of Congress, thd w. boundary being the Missouri river. The popula tion of the territory at this time did not exceed 5,000. Two years later the Indian title to the lands (except the reservations) between the Mississippi and the Red river of the north was extinguished, and from this time the settlement, of the territory was rapid, immigrants pouring in so fast that in 1857 congress opened the way for its organization as a state, and it was admitted to the union May 11, 1858. The new state grew rapidly in population, wealth, and intelligence. After the breaking out of the rebellion, 1861. the Sioux Indians, taking advantage of the absence of great numbers of able-bodied citizens, attacked the new settlements, massacring families, burning villages, and driving the almost defenseless inhabitants from their homes in a state of utter destitution. The assault had for excuse the injustice which has marked, the whole of the United States in its dealing with the Indians; but there could.be.nd justification for the savage cruelties inflicted Open the whites, nearly 1000 of whom perished. The outbreak was speedily and effectually suppressed, and the tribe removed from the state. Thcce is still
in the state a considerable body of friendly Chippewas, dwelling upon several reserva tions and making no,trouble.
The surface of thoicountry is, for the most part, undulating, with no mountain ranges, hut with IL low, broad elevation in the northern part, which divides the waters flowing toward the Mississippi from those which empty into iludson's bay, and both these from those which find their way to the Atlantic through the St. Lawrence. The divide at its highest point of elevation is not more than 100 ft. above the adjacent country, though it is 1680 ft. above the ocean, and nearly 1000 ft. above the extreme s. part of the state, the descent toward which is so gradual as hardly to attract observation. Three fourths of the state are rolling prairie, interspersed with oak openings, belts of timber, and innumerable small lakes, and drained by numerous streams of clear water. The remaining fourth includes the divide above-mentioned, the mineral tract near lake Superior, and the heavily wooded region around the sources of the Mississippi and the Red river of the north. The state is mostly drained by these two rivers, by the St. Louis, and their numerous tributaries. The chief affluents of the Mississippi are the Minnesota (itself a noble river, with numerous branches), the Root, Zinubrota, Cannon, Sauk, Crow lying, Willow, St. Croix, and Rom river, the outlet of Mille Lacs lake. The Red river has several branches—the Buffalo, Wild Rice, Red lake, etc.; while the Ush kabwaka, Big White Face, Stone, Floodwood, and Savannah are tributary to the St. Louis. A multitude of small streams flow into lake Superior, while the Vermillion, Little Fork, Big Fork, and others discharge into the Rainy Lake river and the chain of lakes which form a part of the n, boundary of the state. The Mississippi is navigable within the state for 540 in., the St. Croix for 53 tn., the Minnesota at high water for 800 in., the Red river for 250 m., and the St. Louis for 21 notes. One thirty-fifth of the entire area of the state is covered with lakes. The largest of these are Leech, Red, Mille Lacs, Ver million, Winnebegoshish, Big Stone, Traverse, Cass, Otter Tail, and Itasca. The navi gable waters of the state have a shore line of 2,700 miles.