The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-10-06
From the Weekly Wisconsin,
Northern Pacific Railroad Route.

NO1tneTN faCluC EdlIfOaO ROUTE
It's feasibility Discorries of Coal.-Hwd ef Btfa-
Owe favored with the following letter from
son Of Ex-(ioy. DoTY, Of this State, who is attach
ed to the eXplor ing expedition of Gov. SrEvENs.-
1t merits to be read with the more attention. nasmuch
the ST. Louis Republican has been recently pub
lshne letters from of the expedition, to prove
that the northern route is favorable for the pur-
pose of constructing railway. Young Doty civil
engineer, and close observer his eXpercnce of the
route wold show that the country is favorable one
for railway. The St. Louis papers have n natural
object in representing that the northern is
feasible. We ackno~ ledge that we fee some inter-
est, too, because if the Pacific road pursues the
norlhe n route, it is probable ihat the roads dverg-
ing west from this city will be on the line Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. Few fully estimate
the gigantic influence which railway Oregon and
California must exert upon the towns, cities and
States, ON its route. 1t will be the railroad OF the
world, Only to-day, but for all time to II
Is therefore prize worth striving for by New Orleans
Memphis, st. Louis, Chicago and Milw
Camp Cushing, one mile below Fort Union,
North side of Missour, river, nearly oppo-
size the mouth of The Yellow stone.
To JAMES DCAEE DorY.--Wc reached this
point on the afternoon of the lst August; our train
consisting Of 50 men, u wagons, 200 mules and hor
ses, and 10 yoke OF cattle, being rs, condition
alier performing journey OF i25 miles from Saik
Rapids, in 46 davs. IL the last niue day. we made
$50 miles.
The country between here and Sank Rapids, from
which point ! date departure, June 10th, is en-
trey prairie country. For 250 miles the country
Is very beautiful, having abundance Of wood. water
and grass, aud s good farming county; SOIL sandy
loan. After crossing the Chevenue, the country is
destitute Of wood or so miles, but there plenty Of
water and grass. We then came TO belt of timber
on the upper crossing OF the Cheyenne, up to tins
point it has been rolling prairie, with occasional! table
lands; here cross broken country for 20 miles,
then strike paieau extending e. the vicinity OF the
Moose River; - iterrupted by " coulets,' deep
ravines, with sna streams in the valley. Ia most
Of these are found WOOD, oak, ash, black and white 4;
/ elm. bass-wood cottonwood and hickory. Passing
these in about ten miles, we kept the Moose river in
sight to right, and travelling magnificent
! plateau perfectly level, made to The
Yellowstone, north so degrees west-west-and then
due south.
Approaching the Missouri, leave the plateau,
and entering broken country travel down successive
valleys, until reach the Missouri, this point; |
have hesitation ia pronounc,ng the route from St.
Paul to this point he test em grant road for the same
distance Yards Oregon, of any road travelled,
We came through with II ur-horse mule wagons,
Of which was broken, compelled
to detach the mules in descending any h. euplcy
extra in ascending II is FIRST rate route
FOR "A railroad: granite and limestone be found
in sufficient qualities. and nexbaustibe supplies of
the best gravel. There are, doubt, coal unes of
good coal upon the route specimens OF several pounds
weight were found in many of the rayines the
Moose river, and also upon the Cheyenne The sum-
NIT level between the Missouri and Mississippi is on
" 1900 feet.
The country from Sauk Rapids to the Il wer cross
ing of Cheyenne river is generally very beautiful; it
prairie country dotted over with great number
of beautiful ht,e lakes, and crossed by many SINAI.
streams; around many of the larger lakes splendid
groves Of burr-oak and all along the river bottoms,
belts Of heavy timber and at all these points is an
abundance Of good grass. These lakes and rivers
abound in fish Of large size, OF the various species
common to waters, Il. e., Wisconsin) Here are
also found millions OF ducks, geese swans, pecans,
san hill curlews, grouse, and all the varieties
Of ployer; species seen 10 great numbers, was
very beautiful il is larger than pigeon, body snow
white, neck and head light red, wings Jet black, bill
and legs very long, feet semi webbed. Many elk
we're seen and our hunters killed two; they are
large as one of our mules, and weigh from 400 10
1000 pounds. Saw many signs of buffalo, but met
with none until reached the Cheyenne river; here
our hunters killed solitary bull. left behind 'y the
herd. The second day after this came among the
buffalo, anu hunters killed eleven tten tasted
for the first time what regard the most delicious
Of all meat fat buffalo COW, ribs, hump, endervin
and tongue, not forgetting the marrow bones. Two
davs after this, came to an elevated table land,
crowned by lofty Buttes mounting 10 the summit Of
the highest the that burst upon our view was
enchanting, wonderful.
Beneath Us lay vast plain, stretching far away IN
the south and 9es' 10 lofty hills and bounded on the
north bv the blue hills marking the OF the Red
River 80 miles distant. And this plain literally
covered with buffalo. AS far the eye could reach,
il was one black Of buffalo. Hundreds Of thou
sands cannot express their numbers. 1t sigh
well worth the distance TO behold. The train halle
while party went forward to clear the way. Final
ly attempted the passage, and paid dearly for 1T.
When we had advanced some two miles, a herd OF
Eve hundred buffalo cfSrged directly upon our right
flank hundred guns we're fired at them, we chsrs-
ed them 10 front but made no impression-they con-
tnued their course and passed directly through our
pack tran foar led mules and two hor broke away
and oined the buffalo. Fleet horses despatched
after them, but it impossible to dsengage them
| fror, their nsR friends, rad so re los, them.