The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-12-20
Facts and Fancies.

The Pioneer, some weeks since, con-
tanned an article disparaging the encour-
agement by tie Western people, of the va
rious lines OF railroad now tending towards
the eastern bank OF the Mississippi. We
do not refer TO this for the purpose of
entering in;o any discussion upon the sub
jcct; but merely to remark that the loco
motive is approaching us-and approach
ing us rapidly-let the policy of hurry
ing it along be true or false. Two roads,
each contemplating different but contin-
uous route to the eastern sea ports, are
now running race which shall get into
Chicago first. The one contemplates a
connection with New York and the Mis-
sissippi at Rock Island, 10y passing along
the southern shore Of Lake Erie, and con-
Meeting with the New York and Erie
road at Dunkirk. The other connects
Galena, and perhaps in short time, will
connect Prairie du Chen or Prairie la
Crosse with the Michigan Central, thence
through Canada to Niagara Falls, and so
on TO Albany, Boston and New York by
the old line. Should Minnesota stand
idle amid all these enterprises of the peo-
pie south and east of us? We say no,
emphatically. We were about the first
editor, if not the very first, some two
years ago, to advocate, at some future
period, the building of a railroad from St.
Paul to the Fond du Lac Of Lake Superb
or. But let us not ask too much at
once. Wisconsin is alive to the impor-
lance Of connecting us with her ports on
Lake Michigan; and during the present
session Of Congress will press strongly
for grant of land, to construct a road
from Fl. Winncbago, or that vicinity. to
some navigable point on the Mississippi,
or lis tributaries, above Prairie du Chen.
Let us join her in the enterprise, and
have the terminus at IViIlowrivcr. The
country through which tie road will pass
is almost entirely unsettled but is rich
in agricultural and mineral resources
1t would settle up rapidly if the grant
was once obtained and the Government
would lie largely the gamer by the oper-
alton, in thus making accessible so large
tract of interior country. The vital in
tcrcst of that part of Minnesota east Of
the Mississippi, if not the whole Terri
tory, is to have direct and convenient
outlet to the great lakes. Let the talked
of line by way Of Dubuqc bidc its time :;
but have our Legislature mcmorializc for
road across Wisconsin.
A gentleman in Indiana, who wishes to
know something of the politics as well
as the topography, soil and climate of
Minnesota, desires 10 take two papers
published here. one Wing and one Dem
ocratic. We, Of course, send our own.
ana will fill up the order with the Pho
neer, which, besides its being Democratic.
contains about as much local information
weekly, rs can well be crowded into a
double medium sheet. 1t was the first
Democratic Journal established in the
Territory, and has the support and conf
dence Of most Of the old Democrats here.
There is another publication in St. Paul,
which claims to be 50 the only Democrat
ic paper in Minnesota;' but, judging by
the influence it has in controlling political
matters here, Democracy is at very low
ebb cut this way. 1t mus,crs among its
particular alherents, little faction of In
dian traders, whose head quarters are in
St. Paul, but who operate chiefly upon
the Indian frontier north of us a detach-
ment of hungry political pace seekers
from the States, who have come here to
/ teach g the true faith" to older and bet
ter captains than themselves and few
honest soldiers, who constitute the rank
and file, AMI have been captiva,cd by the
syren song OF Democracy. This faction,
which, to put it into the Democratic
breechcs Of the Territory, would cut just
such figure as would Calvin Edison
dressed up in suit of Fa'staff's clothes,
gets most beautifully cleaned out " once
year, and sometimes twice, just as it
happens whether we have one election
or two. lis organ is called the Demo
crat, after the fashion of the wrcckcrs
on the New Jersey coast, who, in stormy
nights, when the tempcst-tosscd mariner
is in distress, hang lantern about Il horse
neck, and lead him along the beach,
| fO decay Shinc ,ppp tho hro., lore for ,,,,r