Iron and copper ore of excellent quality arc found in the section bordering upon lake Superior, and iron also in the s. and s.w. portions of the state. Gold and silver iht moderate quantities are found in the neighborhood of Vermillion lake, but the region is so wild and inaccessible that the mines are not worked. The n. portion of the state, along the Red river valley and the basins of the lakes and streams which form the ii. boundary, is one of the finest regions in the world. The prevailing forest growths in this region are the calk, beech, elm, and maple. The n.e., or mineral, portion of the state is less productive, though it yields fair crops. Much of it is covered with a heavy growth of pine, spruce, and other woods valuable for timber. The three fourths of the state lying s. of the highlands is a country of unsurpassed fertility. About one third of all the land surface of the state is covered with forest. A tract on both sides of the Minnesota river, over 100 in. long and of an average width of 40 m., is known as the Big Woods, wherein are almost every species of deciduous trees found anywhere in the northern states. On the prairies have been planted more than 20,000,000 of forest trees, the state tempting the owners of the land to this species of culture by liberal boun ties. The hardier fruits, such as apples, crab-apples, pears, cherries, plums, grapes of the northern varieties, strawberries, raspberries, currants, blackberries, etc.. yield abun dantly. For peaches and the tenderer sorts cf grapes the seasons arc too short.
Among the wild animals most common are the gray and prairie wolf, bears, wild cats, raccoons, foxes, gophers, woodchucks, deer, rabbits, and squirrels. The priueipal for bearing animals are the otter, mink, beaver, and muskrat. Feathered game is abundant, including ducks, wild geese, pigeons, grouse, partridges, and wild turkeys. The smaller birds are of numerous kinds, many of them distinguished for their gay plumage or the melody of their songs. The climate is less rigorous than might be expected from the High northern latitude. The winters are indeed long, hitt the air is dry and the tempera ture even, on which account the state is a common resort of invalids, especially of those with pulmonary complaints.
The number of miles of railroad in operation in the state at the close of 1878 was 2.608—all constructed within 17 years. The total earnings of the roads in 1878 were $7.431.190; amount of earnings over expenses, $2,958,871; passengers carried, 1,590,649; tons of freight, 2,496,559: state revenue from the roads. $180,000. The whole cost of the roads built before 1875, including real estate and equipments, was $95,312,171.
As an agricultural state Minnesota is not far from the front rank. The growth of wheat (mostly spring-sown) is immense, the yield per acre being larger than that of any other state e. of the Rocky mountains. The grain crops of 1873, stated in bushels, were
as follows: Wheat, 26,402,485; oats, 12,544.536; corn, 6,457,368; barley, 669,415; rye, 96,877; buckwheat, 20,445:—total, 46,200,126. Other crops in the same year were thus reported: Potatoes, 2,195,138; flax-seed, 100,853; tons of hay, 144,712; tons of wild bay, 78:3,619; lbs. of hops, 57,291; sorghum syrup. 53,226 galls.; lbs. of flax, 1,227,547; lbs. of tobacco, 28,324; number of apple trees in bearing, 3,832,038; bushels of apples, 20,307; lbs. of maple sugar, 189,952; lbs. of honey, 184,266; lbv of )901, 529,856; lbs. of butter, 10,140,811; lbs. of cheese, 1,031;510. The locust plague inflicted great injury upon the growing crops for three successive seasons; beginning in 1874. The insects, coming in vast swarms from the Rocky mountains and settling upon thriving fields, in a few hours devoured every vestige of vegetation. In 1874 the losses from this souroe were estimated as follows: Wheat, 2,646,802 bush.; oats, 1,816,733 bush.; corn, 738,415 hush.; potatoes. 221,4,54 bush. ; and other crops in relative proportion. In 1875, in 16 counties, the losses were: Wheat, 1,432.573 bush.; oats, 842,965 bush.: corn, 500,958 bush. In seven counties, in 1875, the bounties paid for the destructjon of 56,836 bush. of the insects amounted to $78,505. The live stock in the state in 1875 were: Horses. 167,313; cattle, 467,568; mules and asses, 5.257; sheep, 162.807; hogs, 141,810. The number of farms in the state in 1878 was 60,816, covering a tilled area of 3,429,164 acres. The early sugar cane is extensively cultivated: the syrup produced in 1877 amounted to 140,150 galls. The product of 1878 is not accurately reported, but it was much larger than that of 1877.
The water-Power of Minnesota is so abundant and so thoroughly diffused as to afford in every part of the state all the manufacturing facilities that could be desired_ In 1870 the number of manufacturing establishments was 2,072, with a capital of $11,806, 738: producing goods valued at $23,396,097; persons employed, 9,726. The principal lines and their productions were as follows: Flour, $6.282.959; lumber, $5.058.157; sash, blinds, and doors, $1,162,482; carriages, wagons, etc., $525,780; machinery, loco motives, etc., $2,051'.283; agricultural implements, $304,575; blacksmithing, $559.501; boots and shoes, $529,204; printing and publishing, $350.386. There has no doubt been a great increase in manufacturing industry in the last ten years, but accurate statistics are lacking. We know that in Minneapolis alone, in 1874, goods were manufactured of the value of $15,000,000. The flour manufactured in the state maintains the first rank. The assessed value of real estate in 1879 was $229,791,042; of personal property, $57,193,455.