The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-12-11
MILWAUKEE AND La Crosse RAnRoAD.-The

MILWAUKEE AND La Crosse RAnRoAD.-The
ipreliminaries and surveys preparatory to COM
mencing this great work are being rapidly
with the same success in securing stock during
the winter that has attended its operations the
past three months, the whole line can be put
under contract early in the spring. When we
came through the La Crosse Valley, last week,
company OF engineers were on the route, and
had nearly completed their work in that quar-
ter This road can be tapped, by line oper
feasible route, only loo miles in length from
Lake st. Croir. Let the people of st. Louis,
vitality interested in the construction of the
great work west of the Mississippi, bear this
fact in mind. The East will come to us without
scarcely an invitation. The South and South
West, less alive to their interests, appear to
need continual stirring up to induce them
to view these great lines Of improvement in
the proper light Is not this strange, when we
call to mind the fact, that the trade of New
Orleans is already declining rapidly. and that
OF st. Louis is likely to 60 the same way, I'M
less she looks TO it in time?
HE CAPrTOL.-Secretary Wilkin informs us.
that there will probably be nothing to hinder
the Legislature from meeting in the new capt.
toll building at its approaching session. The
Halls will be SO far finished as to be at least
. available and comfortable if not entirely finish
cd. The day of meeting is three weeks from
next Wednesday. In the meantime candidates
for the various Offices setting their traps for
a general onslaught upon the members. Ap-
pearances indicate that the usual number of
gentlemen anxious to serve their country in the
capacity Of Clerks, Messengers, Firemen. &C.,
!, is likely to be increased rather than diminish
ed. Under this state of circumstances, we
would advise members from the country to stay
out of town as much as possible, until the final
hour of meeting
"a HIGH CArER."-People about town with
nothing else to do, have found abundance to
talk of this week, owing to the singular freak
Of the Mississippi in changing almost its entire
volume of water from this side of the chain of
islands opposite the city to the other side
Where the old Father" was wont to pour his
6ood-collectedf from thousand limpid streams
at the base of the high bluff fronting st. Paul,
is now stagnant, currentless pool while over
to the other side of Harriet, Barnes, and Rasp-
berry Islands rOars and PUSHES the angry waters,
swollen by the late thaw, crushing and bearing
down before them ice and every other impede
ment AT the foot of the last named island,
and across the high bar which divides it from
Boal Island, the whole force of the current has
been thrown for several days-cutting deep
channel through the sand of some fifty feet in
width The current sets from thence with Mis-
souri, rapidity across to the foot of Jackson
street, and then sweeps away close in to the st.
Paul shore, as far down as Dayton's Bluff The
effect of this sudden change will be to improve
and extend the lower landing, and to entirely
alter the steamboat channel below and in front
of st. Paul.
! SHARPER.-We have heard of an attempt at
swindling the Government officers on the part
nf Sionx Indian, connected with the recent
money transactions between the United States
and these people, that would do credit to the
veriest sharper who finds home and profession
al employment among civilized and Christian
nations. A few days ago, Mr.. Buck Indian
goes to one of our principal merchants-an old
trader among the trbe-and says II want a
horse very bad, and have no money to buy one
with; you have always been my friend, and
are my friend still. You have traded much
with us, and it is easy to make the officers be-
lieve that owe you hundred and fifty dollars
Now, if you will make out your bill against me
for that sum, and date it back two years, you
can get the money; then when you get it.
wish you to buy me a horse worth a hundred
dollars, and you can keep the other fifty for
your trouble The merchant, to see how far
the fellow would CO. made out the bill as re-
quested which he acknowledged by putting his
mark upon it. The affair of course ended here.
Who says there is no improvement among the
Indians from the ciuilizing influences of the
whites!
fRovIsIONs.-As We expected, when the hue
and cry Of Provisions short at St. Paul. was
raised in Galena, at the close of navigation. we
come home and find that these ideas were all pre-
Dictated upon wrong basis, and that there is
amply sufficient in the country to supply every
one with full and plenty until spring. The
Galenians should be aware that we are now
beginning to produce something within our
own borders and that by another year we will
not, perhaps, be compelled to buy scarcely any
thing of them in this line, and by still another
year we will be able to sell to them. Some as
fine hogs as can be found in the West have been
grown in Minnesota this year. We noticed
lot brought into town one day this week by
Hon. Jas. S. Norris, raised by himself, that
would have been considered fine samples even
in the Cincinnati market-the great pork mart
OF the world. Other farmers on the Prairie,n
we understand, have still heavier animals,
which they intend marketing soon. Beet, poul-
try, wild fowl, venison, &C. are all plenty in