The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-12
MINNESOTA AFFAIRS.

Conversion or RIvER.-An odd propo-
sition has been laid before Congress- to drain the
Mississippi river Of its surplus waters, into the
Hudson Bay. the only compensation asked being
ihs lands reclaimed by the subsidence Of the
Father Of Waters" The man who undertakes
this WORK, has another speculation in view; which
is nothing less than pumping the Atlantic ocean
into the Pacific, for the purpose Of recovering the
treasures Of vessels that lie sunk in the bottom
He must be suffering with hydrocephalus, or drop
sy on the brain.
our streets the painted Sioux, striped over like SO
many wild zebras of the desert, and derde their
uncouth appearance and shocking taste, it is well
enough for US to know what manner Of people
our own ancestors were. DIsraeli informs Us,
that our primitive ancestors, distinguished them
selves, in pride or simplicity, Birth or Brton
Birth sgnifyins stained, and Bri,hon stained
man. The prediloclion for colCring their bodies
induced the civilized Romans to designate the
tribes who were driven to the Caledonian for
ests as Picts, or painted people
ST.. PAUL HYDRAuLIcs.--As the supplying
Of our whole town with good water, is subject
Of the highest interest and importance to all, we
do not intend to let it rest, until the work is ac-
complished. We will briefly state our plan. If
any body can present better one, we will cheer
fully publish it and urge its adoption and imme-
date execution. ...u I'M
Our plan is this: To make reservoir, in fact,
pond, at the junction Of Fourth and St. Anthc-
ny streets, sufficient to supply the upper end Of
the town with water, by the stream that there
crosses the street; reservoir that will raise a
head of water, sufficient to carry the water over
flowing from it, through the whole length of
Fourth street. For channel to conduct this wa
ter down through the middle of Fourth street, the
surface should be removed from the ledge, (Which
spreads over the whole plateau, at a uniform
depth Of about one foot,) and walls Of rock laid
in hydraulic cement, so to make canal three
feet wide and two feet deep 10 conduct the stream
down Fourth street. This aqueduct ought 10 be
Mastered with hydraulic cement and covered " ith
a stone arch. The walls and arch ought then to
be covered well with saw-dust and the road 6,-
ished over it, 1--WE should say. good plank road
| as that will be the principal western avenue oil
the town. At the Court House square this aque-
duct ought to open into a capacious reservoir Of
covering; from whence the aqueduct should be
continued down Fourth street to Roberts; and the
stream there passing into another reservoir. the
remainder Of il might be conducted to Third st
or portion of it, through Roberts street to Sixth
street, and thence down through Kiitson's addi-
ton. This plan seems 10 US, entirely feasible
1t may cost more than laying an iron pipe; but il
seems to US preferable, on many accounts
First. 1t would afford far more abundant
supply of water in fact, water enough for 81, 00C
inhabitants.
! Second. The water would not be impregnated
with iron. atN
| Third. As the stream would be so much larger
than an iron pipe would afford passage for, there
would be much less danger Of its being frozen up
In fact, why should it freeze, an? more than il
its natural channel. if kept freely running'
Fourth. 1t is way Of doing the work, {,
which every man in ST, Paul can contribute, VIII,
is able to work, without expanding any money.
We are in favor Of asking Lieut.. Simpson t,
make survey and an estimate OF the work, with
GU. delay; and then we are in favor Of having
done-right straight along .f' 81. =.
| IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIssIssIpPI RIy
En.-Mr. Sibiey, on leave, introduced bill pro
viding for the survey Of the Mississippi river abov
the Falls Of st. Anthony: which read frs
and second time by its title.
Mr.. s. moved that it DO referred to the commit
tee on Territories ta o&e
Mr.. Durham said that all other bills of thi
kind had gone to the committee on Roads an
Canals. He moved its reference to that commit
tee. -4 Hrat.. .sa.a .H.
The question was first taken upon Mr. Sibley
motion, and it was not agreed to.
The question was then taken upon Mr.. Dun
hams motion, and IT was agreed to.
So the bill was referred TO the committee O
Roads and Canals. I...4 ga
INDIAN SCHOOL AT RED WING.-Thi
school is in charge Of Mr.. NV, Hancock.
In his annual report to Mr.. Mclean, Sioux Agent
Mr.. Hancock says:-"Since the first Of April
we have been able to keep up regular school
the number Of pupils has been somewhat les
since the treaty was made than before. The Who'll
number enrolled was 56-boys 81; girls 25 TIL
, highest number that have attended school in
day is AZ; the average number per day, fror
April Ist to August S0th, is fraction over TWEEN
ty-one. Reading, spelling, writing and singing
have been taught both in the English and Dahcot
languages. Commendable progress has bee
made by all the pupils in proportion to the tim
spent in school. . tu
The girls have been employed during porto
Of their school hours in knitting and sewing, ur
der the direction Of Mrs. Alton, with the foIlowin
Garments completed for themselves: Gallo
dresses, IL; short gowns, Qndlan style, } 4; shir
IL; pairs mittens, 3; several pairs Of siockin,
and mittens are begun. but not completed.
A Sabbath school was organized the first Sal
. bath in May, which still continues attended b
about the same number Of scholars as the da
school.
i OAK Grove MIssIoN.-This mission
six miles up the Minnesota river; and is ur