The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-01-27

have been completed, with the excep-
ton of the contemplated one from Men
dota TO the mouth Of the Big Sioux river.
The appropriation for this improvement
is considered inadequate to the work,
aud an additional appropriation is re-
quired before the survey will be entered
upon.
The road from Wabashaw to Mendo-
ia has been surveyed, but the unexpend-
ed balance of the appropriation is in
sufficient to justify The commencement
of operations in its construction.
The road from Point Douglas to
Fort Ripley has been rendered avail
able ut all seasons of the year; and
bridges, with suitable approaches, have
been built over Coon creek. Elk river
and Rock creek. This road is a mill
tary and commercial thoroughiarc, by
which the Chippewa and Ninnebago
Indians, the troops at Font Ripley. aud
the traders at Pcmbina and Selkirk re-
ceive their supplies.
The road from the Mississippi river
to Long Prairie, heretofore almost i'm
passibic IN seasons of high water, has
been much improved; and bridges have
been built at the two crossings of Swan
river.
Twenty four miles Of the Point Doug
las and st Louis river road have been
constructed, opening from Saltwater
northward, for that distance good
highway. Tie extension Of this road
is required to bring into market the ex-
tcnsivc and richly-woodcd, but mac
ccssibie region, lying north Of the Ma
rinc Mills, and open to settlement and
the enterprise of our lumbermcntracts OF
valuable land now lying waste for want
Of means Of communication with them.
AT the last session Of Congress bill
passed the House Of Representatives.,
making further appropriation for these
various works, but it was not reached in
the Senate. Late udviccs, however,
! from Washington, bring the welcome
information of its passage, at the pres
ent session, in that body.
! The circumstances by which we are
disappointed in the occupancy Of the
Capitol this winter are much to be re-
GREETED. The Commissioners, both Of
the old and new boards, have used ev-
cry effort to hasten thc completion of
the building; and lnasmuch as money
has at al times been in hand applicable
to the payment Of the work as il pro-
crossed, there should have been no
avoidabc delay.
! The contractors fer tie erection OF
the territorial prison at Saltwater, have
fulfilled their contract; and as far as
examination has been had Of the work
1t appears highly crctitable to them.
There has hceu drawn from the cap
itol fund in payment of work upon the
building and salary Of commission
9}5 50; leaving balance of ss2,063-
Is III the hands Of the present treas
urer.
! From tie prison fund there has been
expended, in purchase of site, con-
struc;ion of building, and expenses of
commissioners, the sum Of s3l7,S-S -,
showing in the hands of the present
treasurer Il balance OF S22,lil %.
Inclosing the prison ground, filing
up the low land between the front wall
and tho lake, erecting a few necessary
workshops, and constructin. some half
dozen more cells, viii require an addi-
tionai appropriation of eight or ten
thousand dollars. 70 complete the
Capitol according to the original plan
and enclose and ornament with trees
the surrounding grounds. will also re-
qairc further appropriation Of ten
thousand dollars. These sums it was
The generous purpose Of Congress 70
appropriate at It's late session. A bill
for this purpose passed the House of
Representatives bat from mere want
OF tine, ii is believed, was not acted on
by the Senate.
The report Of the board Of building
commissioners will soon be laid before
you. respectfully refer YOU to it for
more detailed information in regard 10
the expenditure of,he funds and the con-
dition Of the buildings.
The reports Of the Auditor and
Treasurer "ilIsprcsent youa full state
ment Of the financial condition of the
Territory. Returns from the entire
Territory arc as We, incomplete; but
the following table sufficiently indicates
the incrcace in the assessment Of 1852
over that Of the preceding year:
c,,,,:o lTxhlc propi'raA hlc prop iTerTaxiTrr Tax
ISL 1852. 1881. 1879.
Ranscy, 50, - 90, Si,ct0 20 Gel SEE llSIobOS2
Benton. tl..I5 90 1913, 40 CO 81 ~ lG3 II
A.r.l.. lEI IL