The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-05

reorganization of our present municipal system and
to establish its ruins effective federal system.
As to the streets we understand that he has already
introduced a plan for cleaning them, and stands
ready to cooperate with other members to adopt
any system for Immediately cleaning them, regard
less Of expense. Altogether, we congratulate the
in having a gentleman of Alderman Blunt's integ-
rity eloquence, and perseverance in our muuiclpai
co1ncils JUSTICE.
Advices ny the Dog Train Mail
NORTHERN NAIL RoU rss-D1Gs AN DOG TRANs-
JoURNIYINGs IN WINTER.
From the Usvs lAnd Hsrsid.l
EAGLB RIVER. Jan. rs, 1854.
You seemed to be SOLICITORS when left for the
Lake Superior region to have frequent accounts Of
winter life so near the North Pole.
in with its long nights and short days, there s more
leisure for writing than before, and you shall 0cca-
sioraly have the benefit Oft
The first great object OF solicitude at this momens
IL the expected arrival of the first mail from below
know that the revered Col. Lemenowsk1 purpons
to have visits The Lake Superior copper mines with
his horse snc sleigh on pleasure excursion, OUT no
one else has been able to discover route where any
other four footed animal larger than dog can walk
to that lake in winter.
There is no route or trail over which there istravel
enough to tread down the snow aud make sohd
path; and without this horse Is unable to travel.
The nearest point, to W aich teams penetrated In
winter, Is on tie EscanAwba river Of Great Bay
De Noquet, where there are some saw mills. When
the ice is strong enough ON Green Bay, they coms
with sleighs from Noweena, where the stage lines
terminate 70 the mouth Of the Eseanawba, about l2O
miles,
The lumber men have winter road up this river
rs or 80 miles, to their pineries and from thence to
the iron works at Marquette Is only rs or 30 miles
more. This space Is equal to one days travel on
snow shoes, or with dog trains.
From Marquette to the Anse Mission is two days,
with dogs or on foot; from thence to Keweensw
Formerly tie mail left the waters Of Green Bay at
the Meuominee river mills, and followed the lumber
mems road 70 the White Rapids thence on snow
shoes to the Queen Falls, and thence to the Anse
the iron region and its people.
There ia also summer trail not used Ia winter,
from the Big Bull Falls of the Wisconsin river by wsy
of Lac Vieux Desert to tho mouth Of the Ontonagon
river, about 16O miles in length without cabin on
Again at the west end Of the lake there is travel
summer and winter from the mills at the falls Of the
81 Crox to La Pointo The ira aers also cross from
Lake Superior at Fond du Lac, to the Mississippi Of
Sandy Lake and at Growing River, where the dis
lance is not 80 great from La Pointe to st. Paus
by way Of the falls at the ST. Croix
Such are the dreary and lengthy routes by which
Lake Superior may be reached by men and dogs in
winter.
Notwithstanding this, the government has pro-
vided ell its Inhabitants with winter Is well
ner mails oan come BY the way q Green Bay the
the frat trip OF the season reaches here in about
eight days rom NavArino. Itpurporss to come once
There is another mail route through Canada, by
which letters from the eastern part of the United
States will reach us.
The Brissh mail from Toronto to the Sault st.
Msrys is very regular and takes United States mat
ter snlSssh TAs E fssnSs soaK re h nSTs a
the Woods and Lake Winnipeg and the Red river,
crossing the continent to Oregon. From the Sault
to Marquette is &c ni-monthy mail route, and there
1t connects with the Green Bay mail
The denizens Of La Pointe are &C inundated BY q
snow shoe mail from the Falls Of the st. oroix, on
the waters of the Father Of Waters.
Such are the frozen spaces over which score Of
Indian half breeds and their dogs carry and draw the
letters and papers destined for our amusement aud
pounds, and walks 80 70 SO miles. His two dogs go
before him with sledge or sled, with fat board
bottom, and draw $50 to 800 pounds
This load, however, is not all letters and packages.
All men must eat and an Indian in particular. He
must carry half axe or hstchet, plenty Of blan.
kets, and something for his dogs to eat, as well -
himself. What can be more desolate than such q
journey Yet many persons nom here,m trip
Sometimes they have the trail Of q previous party
but the SNOW which falls almost every day. soon OBJ.
literates their footsteps. Perhaps there IL line Of
bszed trees which they follow, but more often they
ground or by the sun, il it should occasionally peep
out through the msts and snow Of winter sky.
Thus they 60, from the drst dawn of day to the
twilight OF evening, over lakes and mountains.
through swamps and thckets, that in summer would
be impossible, but now smoothed up level with
snow.
The universal evergreen trees are bending to the
ground, with load of snow on their branches that
frequently 0bstruct the way.
This dismal procession Of Indians, white men and
dogs 60 in single file, few feet apart and for hours
they rsve! on Of the height Of their speed without
word or laugh.
Ia Ton u,uch Of a <aoL 20 cIaa~ ouav kho cco-
start fire, heat the water thaw the bre ID, and pre-
pare forest meal TO stop Tor it at noon But 1t even.
Ing, when the shades Of byperboreau night begin
to gather among the branches Of the trees and the
look about for sheltered place. In some ravine where
there u water, and some dry wood for 6re, and
there deposit their load OF blankets and provisons
They ecrApe away the snov With their snow shoes,
down 70 IN, the ground thos making wal Of frost
Some cut wood for the night, others break of the
bouehs Of the pine, balsam or cedar, and lay them
| down fer bed. Another procures some birch bark
thath dry and soms dry sticks and some one striking
u sme, with its grateful heat enlivening the place.
IL Ia also necessary to build lodge or house OF
bcughs overhead, to keep OF the falling snow, under
which they all gather and cook their supper With
great elee. II camp Of Indians has been passed
during the day there will be seen some fresh vent
son, that will occupy the best position around the
re suspendedupon the sharp points OF Timber sticks
~ IN tine ground, and leaning toward the heat
There may De, however, only sone salt pork, ham
and hour, made edible BY means Of . short handled
Gyingpan and some water.
would astcDish city people to see the quantity Of
such materials that disappear on such An occasion
The meal or rather the feast, Is really intended for
tho whole OF the next twenty four hours When il ID
fnished, the party begin to unpack their feet and
their blankets.
The various articles that the feet are sandled In for
winter are 80 numerous and so peculiar, that must
defer the description until another time.
The blankets being we'll spread, the flre made for
thb night the dogs fed an the dishes washed, the
crowd, animal, and mortal, Indian, and white,
doubles itself together In most frisody contguity,
and goes TO sleep Long before daylight the inmates
sounds that issue from IL are English Frcn,h, and
Indian, and all grades Of language composed Of
niYfNIa of them AL Thu 40 NsL~s dn.n