The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-01-24
Facts and Fancies.

of Lieut.. Simpson, of the Typographical
Engineers. before the Minnesota Hlstor-
ical Society, was very large. 1t is fact
worthy of commendatory note, that in no
place of its size, even in the oldest set
tied parts of the United States, do the in
habitants evince more good taste and re-
fnement, in taking an interest in every
thing tending to the culture of the moral
and intellectual faculties, than here in St.
Paul. The address was graphic, con-
sise and well written narrative Of a mill
tary reconnaissance into the country of the
Navajo Indians of New Mexico, executed
under the command of Col. Washington,
Of the third artillery, in l84o. Lieu
tenant Simpson was attached to the COM
mand as Chief Engineer. The narrative
abounded in information, new we imagine
to most of the audience, concerning the
pueblas or Indian cities of that region, and
the ruins of the habitations of former
race, which once dwelt in the country,
but have left no positive trace of who
they were, or whence their subsequent
abode. The only conjcctureis is, that they
were of the same people who reared the
cities and temples farther to the south,
the ruins of which are presented to our
view by Stephens and other Travellers
Lieut.. S. also gave graphic account of
the canons, or mountain passes of New
Mexico; inscriptions upon rocks by the
early Spanish adventures hot springs
found near the base of the Cordileras VOL
canic remains, SC. But as the address
will doubtless be published by the Socie-
ty, we will not attempt sketch. 1t was
well delivered, and excited great interest
throughout.
1t is somewhat singular, that the Audi
tor Of the Territory should have fallen in
to the error of censuring the people of the
unorganized counties for not paying taxes.
1t should be we'll known fact to that Of
ficer, for it was officially communicated
to him by the Register of Ramsey county,
that the Commissioners thereof refused to
employ assessors or enforce collections in
the unorganized counties attached to her,
for the reason that it would ':cost more
than it would come to-" 1t is also a fact
equally well known, that there is no tax
able real estate in the unorganized coun-
ties. which accounts for the small amount
Of assessments to which the inhabitants
are liable. But to say these people, with
the exception, perhaps, Of a few belong
ing to the Rice Winnebago Fur Company
at Long Prairie, have ever refused to pay
tax when called upon, is downright SLAM
der. 1t is the duty of public officer to
present facts in official reports, which are
intended for solid information whereon to
base legislation, and not to substitute there
for visionary theories and demagoguical
partisan clap-trap, instlled into his brain
by gassy bar-room politicians. We should
have thought better of Mr.. Auditor Nc
Kusick than this, and he would have known
better, had he bestowed proper reflection
upon The matter. Under the circumstan-
ces, we think the Council did right in ex-
punging his erroneous statements from the
record. There is nothing like bringing
public officers up to faithful discharge
of their duty.
We learn from Mr.. Powers, who has
been on a three weeks business recon-
noisance upon the road between St. Paul
and Prairie du Chen, that there are less
impediments to travel upon that route than
he had expected to find. He says it is the
best natural road he ever saw, and very
small amount of labor would render it con-
veniently passable at all season. 1t is of
great importance to the interests Of East
ern Minnesota, that this road should be-
come familiar to the country below U.S.
1t is the most eligible highway to our bor-
ders in the winter season, both as regards
practicability of travel and distance. Per-
sons from the East who have come over
it this winter, speak of the trip as being
as pleasant winter journey as is afforded
by staging in any part of the West. Once
let it be known that there is Il good route
into Minnesota in the winter season, and
numerous arrivals from below will not be
wanting. The members of the Wiscon-
sin Legislature from the western part of
the State, will endeavor TO do something
for this road the present session.
t. Al. II