The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-08-06
T II E MINI ESQ TIA n
Saint paul, satnrhag, ausust s, 1855.


St. Paul is now the acknowledged centre of
trade, not only for Minnesota, but large por-
ton of adjacent Wisconsin. The position she
has assumed she can keep-must keep-will
keep. She is the farthest point north on the
Mississippi reached by steamboats, from below,
and, as q matter of course, all commercial inter-
course carried on north of her must go by some
other conveyance save that which, after port
age Of nine miles around the Falls of st. An
thony, for few weeks each year, can lind
channel by means of small steamers, as far up
the Mississippi as Sank Rapids-seventy-hve
miles. Westward, we have the Minnesota RI
yer, the most navigable tributary of the Mis-
sissippi above the Illinois, and quite equal to
that with the exception of early spring and late
fall. .NUth-,cesfDdrd lies a vast producing
region, hundreds of miles in extent, which we
must reach, partly at least, by artificial means.
It will not do to await the building of thc Pu-
gets Sound Railroad, for that may never hap
pen, especially as the FIRST reconnaissance of
the route appears to have falienintO miserabiy
inefficient hands,7rand if it should happen, it
will be long while, comparatively, after this.
We want some direct and easy communication
with the Red River Valley, and want it now
as soon as it can be opened.
How can it be opened? This is question
we are now about 10 consider, briefly of course.
During the recent visit of The Red river ira
,lers to st. Paul. we learned that the project is
seriously entertained of building Steamboat
to ply between the head of navigation on that
stream and lower Lake Winnepeg. the recepta-
Gle of its waters. Lake Winnepcg is one hun
dred and twenty miles below Pembina 1t is a
large lake, it will be remembered-too large
perhaps for navigation by ordinary steam craft,
suitable for our Western rivers. But here, at
the mouth of Red river, we meet the commerce
of Hudson's Bay, which comes up through Mel
son river and across the lake. Here, also, we
are in the very centre of the Hudson Bay Com
pany's operations; and we have also full COM
mand Of the vast farming region within the
British border, along the banks of Red river,
including the Selkilk Settlcment-a settlement
already of five or six thousand agriculturists,
and rapidly increasing.
Now, ietus come over upon American SOIL
Red river, ascending from the parallel of forty
nine-Our northern boundary-is navigable at
least five months in the year for steamboats,
drawing three feet water, to point within sir-
ty miles of the head of navigation on the Min
nesota. as attained by our packets the present
season! Allowing-which We must-that the
Minnesota is uncertain of navigation up to that
high point more than two months in the year,
we can fall back upon another certain and sure
route. A good road, over high and dry practi-
cable ground, can be opened direct from Fort
Smelling, one hundred and fifty miles only, to
the head of navigation on Red river! These
are facts which it behooves St. Paul to think of
now, when she is looking to the extension of
her trade throughout this vast northwestern
region. What have we to do with opening land
communications to the South on the west side
OF the Mississippi-what have we to do with Du-
buque or any other of the meddlesOme one-horse
towns below! What do we in the South when
we should serve our interests in the North? If
they want us, let them come for u.s. We want
ed the trade of the West up the valley of the
Minnesota-we went after it and procured it,
and must, as natural reward for our energy
and enterprise, hold it. We now want the en-
tire trade Of the North-eXtended as it will be
through the facilities of steam navigation
and we must also go for it.
Did any one ever stand upon the eastern bluff,
sklrtlng the Mississippi opposite Fort Smelling:
measure the elevation from the water; the short
distance to the opposite bluff-almost of exact
corresponding height-and calculate the vast
advantages here afforded of bridging the riv.
er! 1t can all be seen at glance. without the
practical eye OF the engineer. Here is the
point, then, for our Red river road to cross
so iar above high water mark, that the tallest
cn.mneyed steamers on the river can pass up
10 Meeker's Landing, three miles below st. An
.nony' whenever they please. Thus we will
nave no quarrel with our neighbors on that
head. This should always be avoided. as a mat
Ter OF course, if possible.
lne beneficial influence of even the present
small land trade, annually carried on between
o.. raul and the Red river Valley, is sensibly
ley In our midst. The aggregate amounted
inns year 70 perhaps forty or fifty thousand dol
iars only. By the channel of communication
we have pointed out, it is capable of being in
creased to almost any extent.
One Of the greatest misfortunes that has ovor
oeiaiten st. Paul, or Minnesota since its oroan-
lzation as Territory, was the defeat Of tho
femolna Treaty, in the Senate of the United
States, last year. Its defeat on the ground of
governmental economy was an exceedingly
penny wise and pound foolish operation
a NV more. twill have soon to be negotia-
seu over again, at much greater cost than at
Ms' But if defeated, as we really believe it
~as' from motives of personal interest Or nor.
sonal sp'te' which actuated the breasts of some
o' our own citizens, the act was siufnl as we'll
~, s ,oo.'sni and as the natural result of all pub
NC transgressions, the whole people are destin
Cd to abide the disagreeable consequences =
but let us rather endeavor to remedy the er.
rors OF the past by prompt and decided action
I'm