The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-01-09

free and cheap intercourse, and afford
ing ready and easy access to the great
markets of consumption, is question Of
great and growing Importance. 1t is
narrow policy, a very inadequate view
of the question of interest, which holds
as local and sectional any object that has
in view the improvement Of great AFTER
les Of trade. Whatever affects insu-
rance and the cost Of freight, concerns
all mutually who participate in the inter-
change Of commodities; and such is the
magnitude Of the exchange, and the in
timacy ofthe relations between the West
and other portions of the country, that
it would be difficult te find corner of
the Union so obscure and remote as not
to be affected by any policy, which, on
the one hand, should rebound to our ad-
vantage, or, on the other, to our preju-
dice. Those who purchase our exports
are interested IN every tax upon our in
dustry, and they who supply us with
commodities, which we do not ourselves
produce, are concerned in all the facii-
ties of transportation by which their
market is rendered accessible. More
over, in the new States of the West, the
United States are untaxed proprietors of
vast bodies of land. AS these lands are
exempt from the ordinary burdens of
government, and essentially benefited
by these improvements, justice, and a
provident liberaIity, in regard to its own
property as great landed proprietor,
would seem to require that the national
treasury should bear its part ofthe cost,
and make reasonable contribution to
high purposes of utility, and general OBJ
jects of improvement More especially
does this reason obtain in case of remote
territories, dependent upon the central
authority. and wards of the federal gov
eminent; and with singular propriety, in
view Of the ownership of the soil, and the
collateral and consequential advan-
tages incident thereto from every i'm
provement of the channels of commerce,
can we claim liberal consideration and
equal attention for any object of public
improvement, interesting to ourselves,
and within the power of the..governmcnt.
And this majestic river, presenting, as it
does, water conveyance of nearly
three thousand miles, washing the mar
giu of one-third of the States of the I'm
ion, collecting the waters of the icy riv-
ers and lakes of the far north, and con-
tibuting them in vast flood to a tropical
gulf-this inland sea, susceptible with
slight improvement and insignificant cost
of being rendered navigable from the
18th to the 47th degree otnorth latitude
which already bears the burdens of a
/ gigantic trade, and upon which, in few
years, an increasing commerce SO stu
lpendous will be borne, that the magma
ftion reels at the contemplation, surely
pcommends itself to the muniiicent boun-
ty Of the mother government In this
Instance, certainly, the interest ola part
is the interest Of the whole; and each
American citizen has his dividend in ev-
cry augmented public advantage.
The removal of the distractions al
Sank Rapids, Pike Rapids, Little Falls
Pokegoma Falls, could be effected at an
expense not exceeding one hundred thou
sand dollars, and would open navigation
from the Falls of St. Anthony to Leech
and Cass lakes, five hundred miles to
the north. This undertaking was in the
eye Of Congress at its last session, and
partial provision made for it in bill
making appropriations for the improve
ment Of the rivers and harbors of the
country; but for reasons, not here fully
understood, the bill failed, although it is
very probable that at the present session
of the National Legislature, bill, with
similar provision, may become law.
The Improvement of other streams Of
the Territory---of the St. Peters, ST
Croix, and Rum rivers--is also very de-
sirable. 1t would expedite the sale and
facilitate the settlement of the public
lands, and by means of the former
stream, open an easy communication,
almost entirely by water, with the set
Elements on the Red river of the North
On the St. Croix and Rum rivers are
large bodies of excellent pine, indispens-
able and invaluable for building purpos-
es, not alone to us, but TO the communi.
ties resident on the Mississippi, as far as
tuC ouu VI NICAlCO. Ou tncSc, as wei
as on US, small appropriation for the
improvement Of these tributary streams
would confer a benefit not to be meas.
ured by the paltry sum of money which
the prosecution Of the several works
would require.
In common too with the States ofWis.
consin, Iowa, and Illinois, the people
of Minnesota are deeply interested il
the improvement of the Des MONIES ant
Rock Island Rapids. The impeachment.
at these points, impose anonerous ia,
upon every article of our import and ex
port; and repeated surveys have demon
strated that these distractions, consist
ing of lodges of rock, which extend a
cross the river, are of such a character
as to he susceptible ofremoval at a com
paratiyely small expense.
The construction also of ship cana
round the Sault Saint Marie, is al
improvement in which, under the mos
narrow view of the subject, in common
with one third Of the American people
we are obviously, and directly interest
Il + q