The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-31

extracts from letter written by Governor Ramsey
to friend at Harrisburg, dated St. Paul, July ii.
He says.
al have Just returned from the Chippewa coun-
| try, whittier went, accompanied by the Chippewa
agent to make selection Of site for the aRen-
cy buildings Of that tribe, who are soon to be re.
moved entirely from the lands in the State Of Wis
conpin.
al was absent three weeks on this service; and
we determined upon the east shore of Sandy Lake
considerable sheet Of water which lies mile and
half cast Of the Mississippi river, in about latitude
46o 3O-as the proper point for the agency. The
lake derives lite name from Its pretty sandy beaches,
which, like most of the lakes Of the territory.
are variegated with quartz pebbles; colored in all
the shades of red, from bright vermiIlion to a
brown, including, often, many fine specimens OF
| cameOns and agates. The lake shores are billy,
and it abounds in islands and fish. Sandy Lake 10
famous among the UoydgsTs and fur traders, on
account OF being at the western extremity Of the
principal old trading route between the Mississippi
and Lake Superior; from which latter it ia distant
one hundred and fifty miles, in a. nearly straight
| line, due west from the Fond du Lac Of that Git
chez gonna. or very Great Water Of the Chippe-
ways
"The vehicles Of travel and trade in this route
were always, as they are yet, birch bark canoes.
| These were carried from the Mississippi into the
| Lake, whose waters they then pursued, until they
reached the summit dividing the waters flowing into
Lake Superior. Here the canoes lifted out of
the water, sh0ttdered over tedious portage Of six
|
Branch of the St. Louis river down both OF which
| streams they glide and after making two more
and-carrages on this last named river, they float
at last the bosom Of the fountain of the lake.
Such is the universal mode of travelling in the wa
terry regions toward the heads of the Mississippi.
You are aware that portage is the technical term
by which these land carriages between waters are
| generally known in the northwest.
"Whcn Congress awakes from its shameful ndif
ference, and, by ship canal around the Falls of
St Mary, shall open to the keels of the lower lake
steamships the widespread waters of the great
| lakes, have no doubt this Sandy Lake route will
continue to be leading line of trade and travel to
the Mississippi. But wo then to the bark canoe
and the French poydgeur. The sconquering arm
ef steam will probably sweep them Both ftoln the
track
"In selecting Sandy Lake for the agency, was
controlled by circumstances rather than my best
country is The .prtperty at tho Pillaser bands Of
Chippeways. This band is in the reception of a
very petty annuity; and in consequence of being
cut out OF the annuites which their brother Chips
derive from the sale Of their Wisconsin a, other
eastern lands, they appear to 1iarbor luminosity
against the Lake and Mississippi bands Now
with these feelings prevailing to take the latter
into the very heart OF the Chippeway country and
there pay them larger ahd iiiore liberal anniites
than the Pillagers themselves get would be wrong
in itself, and productive only of mischief ] hope
Government will authorize inc to purchase the priv
ilege of coonizing the Lake bands entirely west of
the Mississippi. treaty Of this kind would make
1t better for all parties-tot the Indians, the Gov
ernnent, and the whites.
"In ray route Up on this expedition, in addition
10 the agent and the Boats crews, was acconpa-
MED by our friend Judge Cooper, our interpreter,
and w. r. Corbt, OF Dauphin county, Pennsyva-
MA We took bark canoes at Grow wing noted
point in this region, and proceeded into and through
Gayash or Gull Lake, Lake Sibley, Lake Ecceston,
and Little Boy Lake. into Leach Lake. BY this
route and through this gang lonic cbaiH OF lakes,
the Mississippi can be reached in a much shorter
vel tba byf n nuyip
the river, which here makes great bend, as you
will observe by looking at the map. Lcech Lake
Is situated within the interior of this bend. Its
shores have very crook ed outline, which, with its
nine bays give il ublong circumference of about
one hundred and sixty miles. II abounds in the
finest fish, which the Indians located here catch
with nels in SUMMER, and dry FOR winter Use. This
lorns principal portion of their subsistence; while
,od rice grows in the shallow bays of the lake and
maple trees are found in abundance on its banks
thus supplying the rcd man with the nccessarics,
comforts, and even luxuries Of life. The Cbippe-
ways make great deal Of maple sugar, and are as
fond Of il as are white children. Unfortunately;
their wars and characteristic iidprovidece subject
them often to want and great suffering, notwith-
standing the bountiful provision of nature.
CATER spending day or two at Lcech Lake, we
commenced our return voyage, intending 10 de-
scribe d wafer circle and go back by the coutse
OF the Mississippi. Making portage of half
mile, we once more, after considerable absence,
found ourselves floating its waters, in Cdss Lake,
named from General Cass, whose exploring ex-
petition on the Upper Mississippi, in 1920, ter
minated here, II Is, you know, the great eJpan-
sion Of the Mississippi river, about lag miles from
its source in Lake Itasca. IL IL worthy of note,
that far north 4To 80, the missionaries had
fields Of ,rinfr wheat growing, and ell kind. of
planted vegetation looked fine Cass Lake lie in
several respects pretty sheet Of water7it is full
Of islands, and Is about sixteen mcs long The
sturdy arms Of our posdgeTs sent as rapidly along
it into another beautiful watery ganglion called
Lake Winnebi goshish, a few miles below; and
thence We made our way with all possible speed
down the river 10 Sandy Lake the outlet of which
the Mississippi is 33l feet wide, and thence after
fixing the site Of the agency, TO Crow wing and
home.
On the whole, we had pleasant time; but
think the party, nevertheless, we're well contentcd
when the journey ended II the SUMS rays In
SO northern latitude dc strike the earth more
obliquey than further south, it ia sometimes broil-
ing hot for all for the days longer; and during
the short nights the ground and the atmosphere
have hardly time to cool thoroughly. And il being
a sandy as well a watery region il is a sort of
musketo's paradise, equal TO the bayous Of the Mis-
sisspprs delta; and the animals, assure you, arc
as bilious as a settler In cypress swamp at the
South. ] stood il pretty well, that H. moderately
well; for the German phegm, which forms por-
ton OF my composition, keeps me from being rea-
Oily excited by trfcs But some Of the more
vously constituted Of the party during this Journey
of 600 or 900 miles, nearly gave up the ghost under
the Joint persecution of sand flies, blue bottle flies
and the musketos aforesaid.
Judge cooper, ! am happy TO say, returned
with US, much improved in heslth-indced, n new
man almost, physically, much to my relief and sat
isfacton for few weeks previous to our going
North, he looked though he could not weather
the balance Of the year. trust he Is destined
to live many years, to honor our bench with his
talents.
"Lookng back on the trip, and taking into view
that there arc more Of the sort to come, and
throwing into the pile the trouble and vcration Of
restraining unruy Indians and bad white men,
and my conclusions take the form of a suggestion
II u.s. that If you entertain the idea that terrific
rial government in the North West is a comfort.
able sinccurc or fun in any shape, you will find
yoursclf wonderfully mistaken whenever you get
into such n position, IL you ever do. But however,
try to bear in mind what Napolcon--U think IL
was, or some other great general )-said on being
informed that his troops at certain point
being slaughtered, and that favorite officer was
shot down. Hc paused moment, seemingly
shocked ut the news, and then Immediately, with
great energy, said, DWELL, somebody must be kill
ed, and ordered them TO fire away. Now, some
body must be governor, and do keep firing away
at II with all tho energy can command, making
due allowance for the weather"
Canadian Lumber Trade.