The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-12-23

The Green Bay, Wis, Advocate, gives a very
sensible article, upon the expediency of laying a
railroad from that point st. Paul. and on the east
Toronto. The distance Of this line fom Minnesota
to Buffalo would be but about 600 miles. The Ad-
| vocatc discourscs thus:
We conceive this 10 be pro ect Of considerable
magnitude, and if ,ccssfuy carried forward 10
completion, a work Of vast importance to Northern
Wisconsin and Minnesota. Designed, as IT IS, To
serve the double purpose Of forming and extending
the shortest ard most direct line OF communication
with the eastern seaboard and of opening thorough
fare through and To rich reg lion Of country vet
comparatively destitute Of any feasible outlet inlet
it cannot fail to command liberal share Of the
cling and transporting business which is swell
ing the principal channels of Western commerce
Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota at present seem
to be two great centres Of attraction, which the
eyes of all emi grating Europe, and large numbers Of
the shreMd, enterprisng, Specializing soma Of New
England are turned. Thousands annually pour
Ing into them and tens Of thousands at this moment
are either preparing TO emgratc, or are Oh their way
thither.
Tbs dense population and the rotten governments
OF the 'oid world combined with other causes, are
annually driving hundreds Of thousands from their
'resides to our shores. Accustomed to habits OF
dustry and iruyaty at home they naturally seek the
Tree, open soil Of the West, where undismbed, they
can secure homes for themselves and helitages for
their children.
Thus from various causes, an almost countless
multitude OF human beings annual, pushing west
ward. Let any one who doubts II go down upon our
great western thoroughfares, and witness the ire
mendous tide of human beings and business that is
night and day rolling through them, and he will he
satisfied. STEAMBOATS, and railroads bearing their
thousands daily, and stages without number arc
pressing the turf in every direction. Still! every
year instead OF diminishing, only swcs ten fold the
,,onster he. No one dreams of its lcsseninr no
one can believe !, will ever STOP until the vast ma
chine Of its nriad .inds and muscles, with its null
hilarious and stup, ndous enterprises stop. But on
the contrary all believe Ii must ,4aw on, swelling con-
sanlly until the regions OF the Northwest shall
be covered over like the states OF New England,
with millions Of industrious, enerprisiDg, co'ntry
loving citizens. Then, and not ill then will this
ocean tide cease to roll and swell. No! we forget
not even thea will cease. The tide of commerce
VIII never cease while men have minds to calculate
and muscles 70 execute.
In view, then, of all this should we not be gener-
Gus to others while just ourselves! NAV we
not consult the interests Of millions, while we con
suit our Own, IN producing cheaper and expe-
ditious communication through which at least "A part
OF this immense tide may dow! Surely, in doing
so, we cannot render ourselves obnoNious to the
charge Of selhshness and what if we do! The
work itself Will vndicate our motives and an age
of progress justify the means.
We want a1d the people OF Minnesota AMI North
ern Wisconsin want, feasible means Of conn,u-
nlcaon with the Eastern world, and with ourselves,
whereby we can communicate and make our OK
changes 18th each other and the cast, without spend
ing Il month or having it cost IA mint. We also have
lit'a pride IN furnishing TO old friends and
neShDors who chance occasionally to as aud
the thousands OF Industrious strangers who come here
in search of homes and fortunes, convenient cheap
and expeditions means Of conveyance.
Other western towns and cities have these privi-
legcs. Chicago, Milwaukee, Racine and a host Of
esser satellites have them. Fond du Lac to-day, is
tuegin9 away Justify at the oars of industry and Gu
tegprise tn establish one, and why NAV not We Of a
higher latitude and healthier atmosphere have one
too. We can II we mil. Our pride of location has
not all flown, we hope. feelings become quite
stccicd to the unscrupuous ieors and of our
more fortunate and more prosperous neighbors No.
we have some PRIDE, some public spirit, and some
enterprise left; which, when properly enlisted, is
abundaaly capable Of carr ing forward a scheme SO
ail-nportant ourselves and the north west gener-
ally, and Of no greater magnitude than this
But the road, the hnc It's objects and it, advant-
apes.
The proposed railroad from this place to St. Paul,
Is Designed t. connect 10y line Of steamboats, with
the Penetang,shene c, point on Georgian Bay) and
Toronto Railroad, which Railroad connects by
steamboats, again with either the Oswcyo and Roch-
road, the Buffalo and New York Railroad. thus
forming a complete line Of communications with Bos-
ton and New York, which is at least ,opr htndrcJ
miles shorter than any other route vet known or os-
abiished, from this place to that city. The distance
from here 10 Penctan rushonc is about 800 miles by
the usual steamboat route, and the Railroad from the
latter place Toronto tortv-iive mics long, which.
by the way, is in state OF progress, and is be
completed by the opening ot gation next spring.
From Toronto To Buffalo by the present il about
80 miles, making in all from here 10 Buffalo a dis
lance Of about 400 miles. Now what is the distance
from here to Bnffalo by the present route! BY the
lakes. il Is a, least 900 miles, bv lakes and Railroad
about 500. Therefore at least 400 miles IS saved bv
the proposed route. in going to Buffalo Viii any
in these days Of progress, say that this is not an
item worth saving, and object worth securing 20
the large and rapidly ncroa ;ng bus Of the north
west! We think not, and the people OF Northern
Wisconsin and Minnesota viii think not when they
once look at it. Already two of our most prominent
citizens have offered to subscribe 100000 each to
stock of the proposed road when the necessary steps
are taken preparatory to its commencement, and AN
agent of the Penetangushenc and Toronto Railroad
Co., who visited this place few days ago. offered
to construct (The rest CT this article is lost.)
We have not vet seen ''The course Of true love
&c.," quoted in connection with the follow ing recent
scene described 10y the Cumberland, Md, Telegraph
1t would suit, however. a pair arrived in our city
and miyht have been seen vending their yay tn the