The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-05-07
A TRIP TO THE NEW FORT.
The Occasion.

TRIP TO THE NEW FORT.
The Occasion.
The exigencies Of the public service have,
the past week, accomplished that which private
enterprise has heretofore fallen some fifty or a
hundred miles short Of For the past three
years, the people hereabout have greatly
desired the penetration by steamboat Of that
heretofore terra ineognita, the portion Of the
Minnesota Valley above the point attained by
the Yankee during the summer Of 1885, The
region being unknown to boatmen, and the risk
drumming up so high amid the serpentine wind
ings and labyrinthine dells and entanglements
Of heavy timber and underground being con-
sidered very great it was scarcely possible to
expect the accomplishment Of such an under
taking at private expense, particularly as indi-
viduals have as yet no business thitherward
that would justify so great an outlay. But the
preparations Of the government for removing
the Sioux Indians to their new home and the
attendant arrangements for military defence of
the adjacent frontier, have mingled profit with
convenience in exploring these wilds.
The steamer West Newton, Capt. D. S. Harris,
of the Galena and Minnesota Packet Line, a
boat about $50 feet in length, and three hum
dred tons burthen, was selected by Capt. DANA
Of the Quartermaster's department, to make
this pioneer voyage. The Newton was we'll
adapted to the task. Of great strength and
power, and in the hands of skillful men, it was
felt that if there were dangers and difficult
ties in the way Of reaching the destined point,
she would be better able to brave them than
any other craft known in these waters. She
left st. Paul on Tuesday afternoon of last week,
and was detained during the evening and night
at Fort Smelling, taking on board the two COM
panies Of Infantry, which are to form part of
the garrison at the new post, and their effects.
Soldiers and soldiers baggage-soldiers' wives
aud soldiers children-soldiers' stores and SOL
diers' equipments-soldiers cattle and soldiers
dogs, are huddled together, and strewn about
the boat from engine room to Texas We
awake Wednesday morning, and find the New
ton, with heavily laden barge in tow, plow-
ing the placid 'sky-colored water near Good
Roads village. The river is high-some thirty
or forty feet above low water mark. The bot
tom lands of the Minnesota Valley are all under
water, many places of sufficient depth to navi-
gate steamboat twice the size of ours The
morning air comes bracing from the hills, and
the company Of the cabin are out upon the
guards and the hurricane deck enjoying it.
Those Aboard.
Our number is small, and those composing it
OF the most agreeable and intelligent character,
which fact promises that We are to have pleas
ant time it. With us journeys the veteran
pioneer of the American penny newspaper
press, Moses Y. Beach, Esq, and his agreeable
lady, accompanied by their travelling compan-
Ion, Miss Hobbs, an English lady of education
and brilliant accomplishments, and withal one
apparently specially sent to enliven and add
to the charms Of journey into the wilderness,
such as this We regret to find Mr. Beach an
invalid after the laborious years be has passed
In an active and exacting business. But having
Amassed competency by patient toll, he is dis
posed to enjoy it nationally and properly. We
have never met o more affable and agreeable
gentleman OF our profession, ready to impart at
oil times his experience and advice to his youn-
6SA oASsASAS Va tuC Qulll 1ueu we nave the
lady of Capt. Harris, proficient in and enthu-
siastic admirer of the natural sciences, which
promises to be of advantage to us in our re-
searches among the soils, rocks and plants of
the Upper Minnesota. She has as her guest a
we'll known St. Paul lady, whose enthusiasm
for pioneering, and being the first white woman
to set foot upon this and that remote, ut-ofthe
way place is proverbial. Capt. Dana, to whose
energy and determination we are indebted for
having so commodious boat for the trip, with
Capt Monroe and Lieut.. Kelton of the Sixth
Infantry, and Hon. B. II. Randall, who is to be
the Sutler at the new post, together with six
or eight other gentlemen, some of whom are
strangers, complete the list. A very excellent
and desirable company, neither too large nor
too small.
Advance Of Improvement.
We had not assembled the Minnesota since
the title to these broad acres passed from saw
age to civilized hands. The mark of the pion-
eer settler is everywhere apparent along the
shores. Here in Hennepin County is the set
tiement known as Bloomington, clean, tidy
looking place, with farms opening all around.
Presently we are up to Shakope, quite town
already, with busy life and activity thronging
the landing. Quite difference this, since the
summer Of 1850, when We used to land in front
OF the Indian village just below, and all the
boats were compelled to pay tribute to the old
beggar chief for whom the town is named, who
rigldly enforced his custom house regulations,
backed by his young men as tide walters and
executors OF the requirements of a revenue DO
lice generally. Many Of our old St. Paul
neighoors have pitched their tents here The
original proprietor. our old friend Holmes, has
sa'nered about him the proper elements to
make mis- town go ahead and himself rich man.
mere is Robert Kennedy. Esq, with his family,
keeping the new and elegant hotel, a house
nearly or quite as large as the Central, in St
Paul. Back from the river upon most excel.