The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-07-08
Territorial Road from St. Paul TO the
Iowa Line.
Msssrs. Editors of the St. Paul Press:

Will you allow the following report of our
expedition, to locate territorial road from
the Mississippi river opposite st. Paul to the
Iowa line, through the valley of Straight riv-
er, place in your columns, for the benefit Of
many of your distant readers, who are wishing
to emigrate to our Territory by land:
Mr.. A. r. French and myself, with Mr..
Frederic as assistant left ST. Paul June 18th,
for the residence Of Mr.. Farribault on the
.Owotonna or Straight river; which is the
south fork of the Cannon river. Between the
upper crossing Of Cannon and Mr.. Farribaults,
a distance OF ID miles, we found several hous-
es in process of erection, and II emigrant
wagons that had just come on the trail from
the south; having been as many weeks as they
need to have been days, had they come by the
road which we have now marked. Winding
through praries and belts of timber, crossing
streams and sloughs, without any guides or
definite marks, is rather slow and discOuraging
business to the emigrant. They all, however,
seemed to be in good spirits, we'll satisfied
with the country; and are, no doubt, before
this time, building houses, blowing the rich
prairies, and making butter and cheese.
All the emigrantS we saw on the route, had
good cattle and horses, abundance of agricul-
tural implements, &c. Many Of them were
from Wisconsin, with their whole stock of
cattle, sheep, poultry, hogs, &c.
We found Mr.. Farribault unable to accom-
pany us. Oh account of recent injury, and
concluded to return; but on reflection, we de-
cidcd to 60 through. and mark road from the
settlements on Straight river to the Cedar riv-
or settlement; leaving the measurement and
definite location of the road for future time.
We passed up Straight river then across east
of south, to the Cedar river; then down the
Cedar 10 miles to the first house, which is Ii
miles this side Of Iowa then miles to the
upper fall of the Cedar, where Messrs. Lever
ich e. Nichols are erecting a sawmill The
last house which we left on the Straight river,
Mr.. Sanborn's, is in sec. l6, town lO8, range
20; and the first house in the Cedar river set
Element, Mr.. /. Miller's, is in sec. p, town
EOS, range ID; making Mller's 80 miles south
and IL east of Anburns, a fraction over "a
miles in a straight line, and about 40 by the
road which we marked on our return.
The country between the settlements is first
rate, we'll timbered and watered; and all, ex-
cept % miles of the route, already claimed,
the claimants having notices on their stakes
that they should be on their claims in July.
The Cedar river settlement built its first house
in Minnesota less than one year since, and is
now numbering fifteen or twenty families all
in comfortable and prosperous condition.
They gave us hearty welcome as brother
MnnesOtians and, with true Minnesota spir-
it, left their work to assist US in our eXplOra-
tions.
During our stay, the infant town was chris
tened Austin.
From Austin, down the Cedar to the Iowa
line, there is good plain road with settle
ments the whole distance; and from the State
line good roads diverge in different directions,
to Fort Atkinson, Dubuque, and all the points
on the Mississippi. This we learned from the
settlers, and from Mr.. L. W. Watrous, who
had just come through, and gave us the fol-
lowing schedule of distances from Dubuque to
the terminus of our road, at the point where
the Big Cedar leaves our Territory on its long
journey through Iowa to the Mississippi:
From Dubuque to she germans q miles.
b." Smiths to strawberry Point, Is
&" Strawberry Point to Rbinson's Ford q
a. Robnson's Ford to West Union, 10
" West Union to Cooks, II
&c Cooks to Drinks Upper House on the
Z" Little Cellar by Merry's Ford on the
Big Cedar, to Iowa line, 20
Whole distance, las
Mr. Watrous said that this was not the
shortest route, but having often travelled the
grants. From the Iowa line to St. Paul, (by
the road we have marked through to Mr.. Far
ribaults, and by the old road from Farri-
bault's to st. Pau), is, as near as we could
Judge, lis miles, making 260 from Dubuque
to st. Paul.
Emigrants reaching the terminus Of our road
should enquire for Austin, or, as it has been
called, Leverchs MILL
The road is on the west side of the Cedar,
and crosses some small creeks. To Austin II
miles.
At Austin, Mr.. Nichols will put you upon
the right trail which passes up the Cedar II
miles, to Cold Spring Camp. You are now "a
miles north of the Iowa line, in the S. E. cor.
of Sec 80, town los, range l9.
The course from Cold Spring is north %
degrees vest the scattering oak trees plainly
blazed keep to the right of small lake, then
towards large mound in the prairie. The
trail goes a little to the left of the mound, to-
wards prominent clump Of dead poplars,
across the prairie. AS you approach the tim
rections written on several Of them. Follow
the bazed line of trees, to narrow strip Of
prairie which you cross going due north, to
quarter post, few rods in the timber. You
are now in sec. l, town los. range 10.
The course for nine miles ahead is north
west most of the way thry ugh level oak
grove. A few rods to the left, you can see
through the oaks, lake; fine place for
camping. Here are several cross-trails of In
1ans and others. You will be careful TO fol-
low the newest blazed trail, recollecting the
course, northwest. You have now miles of
oak timber plainly blazed then one of small
shrubs, and thickets OF poplar then two of
prairie, with long poles driven to mark the
trail, which is still northwest, towards dark
green point of oaks. One-fourth OF a mile be-
fore reaching the oaks, you will see fine
creek at your left, and the corner post of towns
LOG and l07, ranges 10 and 20, at your right.