Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-07-11
TERRITORIAL ROAD FROM ST. PAUL TO THE
IOWA LINE.
MesMs. Editors of the 81. Paul Press:


Will you allow the following report of our OK.
pediton-to locate Territorial Road from tn,
Mississippi River opposite st. Paul to the lows
line, through the valley of Straight Rivers
place in your columns, for the benefit of many OF
your distant readers, who are wishing to emigratt
to our Territory.
Mr.. A. r. French and myself, with the Messrs
Fredcricks as assistants, left St. Paul June 18th
for the residence of Mr.. Farribeault, on the Owo-
tonna or Straight River, which is the South fork
of the Cannon. Between the upper crossing Of
the Cannon and Mr.. Farribeault's, distance Of
Is miles, we found several houses in process OF
erection and IL emigrant wagons, that had just
come on to the trail from the south having been
as many ueeks as they need to have been days, had
they come by the road whichwe have now marked.
Wandering through prairies and belts of timber,
crossing streams and sloughs, without any guide
definite marks, is rather slow and discouraging
business to the emigrant. They all, however,
seemed to be in good spirits, well satisfied with
the country, and are no doubt before this time
building houses, pioughing the rich prairie, and
making butter and cheese. All the emigrants we
saw on the route, had good cattle and horses,
abundance Of cows, agricultural implements, &c.
Many of them were from Wisconsin, with Their
whole stock Of cattle, sheep, poultry, hogs, &c.,
&c. We found Mr.. Farribeaut unable to accom-
pany us, on account Of recent injury, and con-
cluded to return, but, reflection, we decided to
90 through and mark road from the settlement
on Straight River to the Cedar River settlement,
leaving the measurement and definite location Of
the road for future time. Wepassed up Straight
River, then across (east of south) to the Cedar
River, then down the Cedar, 10 miles, to the first
house, which is IA miles this side of Iowa, then
miles, to the upper falls Of the Cedar, where
Messrs. Leverichs & Nichols are erecting a saw
mill. The last house which we left on Straight
River, Mr.. Sanborn's, is in sec. l6. town. los,
range 90 and the first house on the Cedar, j.
Miller's, is in sec. 27, town. 103, range l8; max
ing Miller's 80 miles south and II east of San
born's, a fraction over 81 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, well timbered and watered, and all
except about 25 miles Of the route already claimed,
the claimants leaving notice on their stakes that
they should be on their claims in July. The Ce-
dar River settlement built its first house in Mime
sofa less than one year since and now numbers Is
or 20 families, all in comfortable and prosper
Gus condition. They gave us a hearty welcome
as brother Minnesotians, and with true Minnesota
spirit, left their work to assist us in our ex-
plorat;ons. During our stay the infant town was
chris;ened Austin. From Austin down the Cedar
to Iowa line there is a good plain road, with set
Elements the whole distance; and from the State
line good roads divergc in different directions, to
Fort Atkinson, Dubuque and all tile 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 following 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
NissisSipn :