The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-01-10


United States and the British dominions
in North America, which, as described
in the second article of the Treaty of
Peace of 1888, had not up to that time
been ascertained and determined, thus
defines, in its second article, the line
of boundary between the British possess
sions and that portion of the United
States, now known as the Territory Of
Minnesota: Beginning at the mouth e
Pigeon river, thence up said river TO
and through the North and South Fowl
Lakes, to the lakes of the height of land
between Lake Superior and the Lake of
the Woods; thence along the water COM
munication to Lake Saisaginaga, and
through that lake thence to and through
Cypress Lake, Lac du Bots Blanc, Lac
la Croix, Little Vcrmilion Lake, and
Lake Namecan, and through the sever
al smaller lakes, straits, or streams con-
Meeting the lakes here mentioned, to
that point in Lac la Pluie, or Rainy
Lake. at the Chaudiere Falls, from
which the commissioners traced tie line
to the most northwestern point of the
Lake of the Woods; thence along the said
line to the said most northwestern point,
being in latitude 40 degrees, % minutes,
55 seconds north, and in longitude 95
degrees, II minutes, 80 seconds west
from the observatory at Greenwich;
thence, according to existing treaties,
due south, to its intersection with the
49th parallel of north latitude, and along
that parallel to the Rocky mountains"
Now that our relations with the people
upon our northern border are becoming
each day more interesting, it is highly
desirable that the general government,
BY some arrangement for joint survey
with Great Britain, should authoritative
ly run and mark the line ofthe 49lh par
aliel. AT present, among the people
resident on either side, disagreement
of many miles exists as to the true line Of
latitude. While the most accurate ir-
struments may not enable the surveyor
to attain entire cxacttude, the mutual
adoption of an approximate line. in no
degree doubtful or disputable, will sails
fly the purposes of each government, a,
avoid matters Of difference, which in flu
turc would be likely to excite a clamor.
or to engender an irritation, at variance
with the best interests of both nations.
1t will be seen, by reference to the re-
cent annual message of the President,
that correspondence has lately tdkeu
place between the British Legation at
Washington and the Department of
State, in regard to authoratatively mark
ing out part of the boundary line be-
tween Oregon and the British possess
sions; and that the President recon-
mends to Congress an appropriation to
detray the expense thereof. on the part
of the United States. If the Legisa-
tnre of Minnesota shall early represent
to the President the Importance of defn-
Itivcly marking out SO much Of the 49th
parallel, rs constitutes our north line of
boundary, it Is very probable that both
surveys may be embraced in the same
arrangement
The agricultural colony within the
British line, commonly known as the
Selkirk settlement, with its centre at the
junction of the Assinneboinc with Red
river. in the fiftieth degree Of north lat
ltude, is a picture of rural affluence and
comfort For miles on either bank of
each OF these streams extend, in village
like proximity, the comfortable tenc-
menfs of the scttlers-their farms. in
closed with good fences, invariably ia
cling the river. The appearance graz
irs cattle. of well built and we'll stocked
barns, of grain-ricks, of churches and
school houses, denote community far
advanced in social comfort, and success
fully employed in the pursuits of hus-
bandry. The earth is fruitful. and Yields
ample supplies for the use of man; the
almost miraculous rapidity of spring
compensates the long months of winter;
wheat rye. oats, barley, potatoes, andthe
different garden vegetables grow in a.
bundance.
1t may be well for those abroad, who.
shivo.ing, dream of Minnesota as an arc
TIC region, and deem her climate inhos-
pItable, and her soil churlish, to reflect
that this settlement lies one hundred
miles north of the northernmost limit of
our Territory. To such, this fact is
commended, as a conclusive answer to
the objection, that Minnesota is too far
north to admit of profitable agriculture.
A portion of the Territory, east of the
Mississippi, chiefly confined to the coun-
try IN the occupancy of the Chippewas,
Is swamp land. which will require drain
age before it will admit of successful cul-
tivaii n. With this exception, it is hard
y an eXaggeration to assume, that in the
entire region, embraced within our cx-
tenslve borders, there is scarcely an acre
that is not tllable.
| was informed by Governor Colvillc.
OF Rnpert's Land. that on Peace river.
which empties into Athabasca lake, in
latitude 81 deg, barley and other cereals
were successfully cultivated