The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-01-21
try from east to west, to secure the aid and in

the starting point shall be located: but when
We come to consider that the location, by the
bill, must be Immediately west of some State
We see plainly that it is contemplated to carry
the road south of Minnesota. Inasmnch, howe
yer, as this proposition can only act for the pre-
sent as feeler' upon the country, we prefer
to wait, previous to cOndemning or approving
it. and see what new developments and opin-
ions it will call forth. AS yet we can perceive
no great manifestations brought out by lis in
PRODUCTION either one way or the other. This
is doubtless owing to the fact that it is new !;
and editors aud statesmen have not yet made
up their minds liz regard TO it.
In the absence Of any thing further from Gov.
Stevens than what has already been published
/ ly to be found in great abundance On his route
we propose to urge the importance paying
some attention as we pass along, to the
route through the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
discovered two OF three years since by or fell
low-citizen, Hon. ". ii. Mobiles, now member
of the Minnesota Legislature. This route is
now attracting considerable attention in Cali
fornia and elsewhere: and we are constrained
fully to believe a fact which We greatly doubt
cd at the time of Mr.. Mobiles return, eighteen
or twenty months since, that his route is the
only practicable Pass, north OF the Valley OF
the ella, for q railroad through the Sierra Ne
vada range We wish not to convey the idea
that it will be found impractcaLic to pass the
Cascade range in Oregon or Washington We
only speak Of the portion of these mountains
bearing the name Of Sierra Nevada which in
tervcnc to Distract the traveller to the Pacific
coast, after he passes the Great Salt Lake Val
ley.
| 1t is now proposed to open an cmigtant road
/ from st. Paul to California and Oregon by this
route. That the country hence to Fort Lara
mic is better timbcrcd and watcrcd. and better
adapted to the sustcnaHce Of man and beast i'll
every particular, than any of the CID Travelled
routes, there is not the slightest ground of
doukt. These facts are confirmed by all the old
traders and trappcr, who have travcrscl those
regions ior the last hundred years. The route
only needs to be opened to become the favoritc
one Of the country. The point Oh the Mime
/
grants 10y means Of Steamboat navigation, is
nearer to Fort Laramie. by many miles, than
ST. JOsephs or Council bluffs: and when we
come to take into consideration the other i'm
portant advantages named, it is easy to con-
ccive that this route must soon become all It's
friends claim for 1.-THE great tboroughfare, for
the land cmgrant at least, if not the iron horse,
between the Eastern aud Western slopes Of the
continent.
! Mr.. Mobiles has introduced into the House Of
/ Representatives memorial to Congress, pray
ing an appropriation for a survey and location
OF this route to California. 1t is c matter of
the greatest Importance to Minnesota. and in
/ fact to the whole country, that the memorial
should not only speedily pass our Legislature.
but that it should receive the early and favora-
bic attention Of Congress. Wehore the matter,
neither here nor at Washington, will fail to en-
list the attention it deserves and that at car
ly day next spring, corps of engineers will be
upon the line from the Minnesota river to the
foot of the Rocky Mountains. We conclude by
giving q brief statement touching this matter.
from Mr.. Mobiles himself, which We find in the
Pioneer Of this week -
SHAKorEE. Jan. !. 1853.
Editor minnesota Pioneer In pernsng
your paper of Dee. lst. i find all article in an
swer to the Minnesota Democrat, relative to an
eTai grant road from ST. Paul to California and
Oregon. in which you seem to differ with the
editor and myself as to the point at which the
Missouri should be crossed. So far as the route
to the Missouri is concerned, my personal know
y Al.
hest information | have been able 10 obtain
from those acquainted with the country south
Of the Minnesota, am inclined to think your
views are correct. Beyond the Missouri, how
ever, l think Your recommendation Of a route,
direct to the Great Dcnd of the Swcctwatcr is
objectionable. as | believe Fort Laramie should
be made a point. as it affords many facilities
for obtaining supplies. &c, which is important
to the cmigrant This is the only objection to
the route you propose, as am myself aware
that it is much the shortest.
In my letter to the editor of the Democrat.
published some time since, gave my views in
relation TO the practicability Of an emicrant
route from Saint Paul to California and Oregon.
and the many advantages that route possesses
over all others, in distance, in health, in sup
plies of wood. water and grass. and in the ia
yorablc location of the country over which the
: route would pass and from my knowledge of
the country. am convinced that my views are
correct. and that the cmigrant either to Cali
iornia or Oregon will, by the proposed route
through Minnesota. save much in time and cx-
pcnsc and what is of much Importance in the
ability of the cattle to make the trip through
without becoming worn out by fatigue. priva-
ton. and over-eXcrtiOn.
You are aware that the routes generally
Travelled by the different fur traders. were made
in an early day. TO pass from one post to anoth-
er. without regard to any line of route from
one country TO another, and hence We find trails
lcadingin every possible direction, as far west as
Fort Hail and the Snake Indian country. and
thence TO the Pacific. The emiSrant followed
those old trails, where they could be made to
answer. until more thorough knowledge of
the country led TO improvements. For instance.
Capt Bonneville was the first to open a road
from the Missouri river to Fort HALL and tray
elcd about l200 miles. The distance now tray
elcd is not over 1000 miles, and by the proposed
route will not exceed 900 miles. From Fort
tall to California, or the summit of the Sierra
la fI., IL -.