The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-04-08
MINNESOTA.
ny THE EDITOR OF THE PIONEER,

With a hurried pen, we proceed, this
week, to delineatc a hasry sketch Of Mime
sofa. The eastern boundary Of our Terri
tory, is as follows:
Beginning in the Mississippi river, at the
poln, where the line of 43 degrees and 80
minutes of north latitude, crosses the same,
THENCE running due west Oh said line, which
is the northern boundary Of the State of
Iowa. To the n. w. cornsr Of Iowa; thence
southe'iy along the western boundary of
sad State, TO The point W here said bounda-
ry strikes the Missouri river; thence mp the
middle of the main channel OF the Missouri
river, To the mouth OF the White Earth riy-
er; thence up the middle Of the channel Of
the White Earth river 10 the bonn larry line
i@tueen the possessions OF the United
States and Great Britain; Whence east and
south of east, along The boundary line be-
tween the possessions Of ihe L. S. aud
Great Britain - Lake Superior; thence in
a straight lIue to the nOythernino>t point of
the State of Wisconsin, in Lake Superior;
thence along the western boundary line Of
the State OF Wisconsin TO the Mississippi,
river; thence down the main channel Of The
Mississippi, 10 the place of beginning.
This is IA vast area-ce, iainly large enough
for Il State, extending through more than
six degrees of latitude, and in width, from
the Missouri on the west, to the ST. Croix
on the east; that is, il extends east Of the
Mississippi river. The portion lying east
iof The Mississippi, or between Wisconsin
and The Mississippi, Il comparatively narrow
segment, has been bought Of the lud. ans,
and Is our present home; bat of the part
even on the east side, all the northern por-
ton, still belongs to the Chippewa Indians;
and embraces immense forests Of hardwood
aud of pine, through which the Mississippi
and il tributaries, rn'l their dark solitary
waters; while all the land west Of the Mis-
,issippi, belongs TO the Sioux, being en-
braced IN the treaties negotiated last sum-
,ner.
NAvIGABLE WATERS OF MIHEEsorA.
In the north, is Red RIVER, Sluggish
dect river, nav gable for ia,teaux and Dur
ham boats, and doubtless for steambOats;
but what Is the real capacity of that river
for navi CATION, we tlo not know Ii rises in
Minnesotl, and flows northeast, that river
aud The Mississippi, flowing off IN opposite
directions, and The portages between their
waters, being very short.
The Missouri river, not navigabie for
steamboats,, rs far up as the Minnesota line
ordinarily, without the removal OF obstruc-
tons.
The Mississippi river. navigable always
when open, to Fort Sneling, which is four
miles AMI half south west Of St. Paul! and
yet up the river. At Fort Smelling the Min
pespta (St. Peters, pours in its deep, quiet
volume. being a stream of about the same
SEE as the Mississippi, which COMES hurry
ing down from the Falls Of ST. Anthony
n,ne miles ahnve, to DIN it. below the prom
ontory, on which sits Fort Smelling, ike Il
lazy oI! setinel,
The Minncsota river, - natigahie orli-
nariIy, to Traverse des Sioux, 100 miles;
and extraordinarily, another 100 miles and
more; aud how much more. God only
knows. it seems about the same thing, Is
lar u,, as you choose To run II hoat-gener
ally deep, rather narrow, rather sluggish.
aud very crooked; suitable only for short
boats IN any stage OF water; ana very like
ly IN low water, not nav igable at nit wit. -
out Improvement, above the Rapids, thirty
nile, above It's mouth.
The SAINT Louis river, en,tying into the
west end Of Lake Superior, i navigable TO
the Fall, twenty miles, for large vessels.
The Saint Cruix, is navigabe from its
mouth nearly 10 the Fall. Of ST. Crox, so
miles; hui is shallow above Saltwater
Boats such rs now navigate the Mississippi,
therefore selt0ni go above Saltwater.