The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-11-12
Louisiana and Minnesota Railroad.

A company was chartered OF the last session
Of our Legislature under the name of Louisiana
and Minnesota Railroad Company for the pur-
pose of. to the extent of our power, co-operat-
ing with the citizens of St. Louis and New Or
leans in their efforts to build railroad from
the latter place to the sources of the Mississip-
pi on the west side Of that stream. 1t was not
expected that beyond the chartering of a COM
pany, and the passage of memorial to Con-
gress for grant Of land in aid of the above en-
terprise, our Legislature or our citizens would
do much. This much however, was done in ac-
cordance with the wishes of merchants and 9TH
er capitalists of St. Louis and New Orleans, who
see in the efforts now making by Eastern capt.
talsts, to extend their roads to the Upper Mis-
sissippi, q probably successful attempt to divert
the trade of that region from its legitimate
channel the Eastern seaboart.
This road is known in Missouri as the sNorth
Missouri Railroad y in which State active efforts
have been made to get the road started. To
show the interest felt in the above work at st
Louis, we extract portion Of very able arti-
Gle on the subject from the st. Louis Republic
can Of Oct. %. The Republican says that this
road is the favorite of the West and South. and
that when completed will be one of the most
important and profitable in the United States -
1t continues:
There is every irducement to push forward
this Road to the State line. That it will he pro-
ductiye of profit and wealth to St. Louis, and
the owners gifts stock, and to the country along
the line, is beyond all question, even if it were
to terminate at the boundary of Missouri. But
that will not be its termination.
This road is, in due time, destined not only
to drain the continents of the mighty Father OF
Waters (the Upper Mississippi,) but more than
that, to penetrate and bring to us the trade and
commerce of the rivers and lakes that discharge
their waters into Hudsons Bay. Few persons
We fear, have consulted the matter with refer
ence to the extension of this road if thew will
do so, they will see some astounding facts Let
us call few of them as they present themselve.
tous.
"From the State boundary of Missouri, as
the road is now projected, it may, 1T compar
atively small cost, be extended up the : alley
OF the Desmoines river. This valley is the lon
gest, most fertile and eruberant of all the trb
utaries of the Upper Mississippi. There is moi
on the Continent q richer or so extensive a DO
dy Of fine land as is embraced in this valley
At present, it is contemplated to extend THU
North Missouri road through the length of th
valley, and strike the Mississippi river in til,
vicinity of St. Paul, in Minnesota Territory
This is all right, and in the existing condition
of the country, its present wealth. population
and productiveness this may he all that prud
ence and clear judgement would anticipate
But there is q country for the extension of this
road far beyond that to which the attention ha:
been directed-to which the white settlement,
have not yet gone
1t is our firm conviction, that in due process
OF time, this North Missouri railroad will tax
ing more westerly direction. Inc constrnctnL
20 the head of navigation on the St. Peters riv
eS, say Lake traverse, or thereabouts thence
to the head of nav gaton, or at least to tho u.o
tiers OF the Red River of the North. and from
thence TO the Lake of the Woods and ,ako Mn
nipeg and thus drain the whole of the interio
British Canadian possessions, even extcndin,
down to the head of HudsOn's Bay
"These may be, and perhaps will seem to ma
ny, very extravagant speculatiOns. Yet We al
tered them years ago, when this road was NO
Snooted; and now there is a certainty of its cor
straetisn, at beast for portion of the distance
will be built from this city to the State line
beyond that its construction must greatly dc
pend upon the legislation and popular feeln
OF tne people OF other States and Territorie:
II constructed through Iowa and Minnesota I
81; raul, as we have good reason to hope an
believe 1t will be, it at once crosses intersect.
and cuts on for st, Louis her legitimate nor
ton OF the commerce and business of ali tb
projected roads that are intended to divert tn
trade OF these sections directly to the East. i
word, it sciN maintain for st. Louis the co,,
mercial pre-eminenee and position ,chicb IN
r assigned her, ,chen He formed the riuers an
the land!
Eastern projects may, for the time, seem
be antagonistic to our interests, and calculate
10 divert trade and business from US, and som
Of their works, as they now are, may have thi
effect hut we have still the channels under GU
control, and at comparatively small expense
may bring it all back increased and facilitate
by the efforts that have been made TO take
away nom US. We believe that the Almighty
4Yh0 "diyided the waters from the Land 81 Iaf,