The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-05-20
at Point Doug las, and leads to the falls or rap

at Point Douglas, and leads to the falls or rap
ids of the st. Louis river of Lake Superior
The former appropriations required the road
10 terminate at the falls or rapids of the st.
Louis river but it is now proposed to change
the road, and instead of having its termination
at that point, to have its termination at the
mouth OF said river, at its connection with
Lake Superior.
The reasons of this change are these If the
road terminated at the falls or rapids of the St.
Louis river, it would not terminate at good ma
vigatiOn, and would involve the necessity of
transportation around the falls of the st. Louis
river. IL, on the contrary, the terminus is at
Lake Superior, then the road terminates at
good navigation, and saves the cost and trOu-
bic Of transportation around the falls, and will
be OF great convenience to that section Of the
country, which is rapidly becoming settled
There is another fact in favor of this change of
termination. 1t is this that the lands in the
neghborhood Of Lake Superior where it is pro-
posed by the amendment to have the road ter
inmate. have been reserved by the President of
the L. States for military purposes This is the
most important amendment that has been pro-
posed, and it meets, as understand, with the
appreciation Of the settlers in that section Of the
country, and with the arprol alton the officer
Of the government here, who have given the
matter investigation and consideration. Twill
state that all Of these roads are of n military
character. The one from Point Douglas to
Fort Gaines is necessary for the convenience OF
the Government, because it terminates near to
the Chippewa agency. The one from the mouth
Of the Swan river terminates ut an important
point near the Winnebago agency. The road from
Wabaslaw to Mendoza is also Il military road,
which will be of great convenience to the Co
vernment.
will detain this committee but for q few mo-
ments longer. principally Tor the purpose of
reading short letter from the civil engineer
| at Minnesota, Mr. Emerson. which he addressed
to the Delegate from that Territory, cxplanato-
ry of the reasons for the change of location Of
the first named road. He says:
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, Dec. %. 1853.
SIR,---Having been engaged for the last three
wears upon the survey of Government roads in
this Territory, as y civil engineer. | wish, re-
spectfuIly, to recommend to you change in
the terminus OF the Point Douglas and st. Louis
river road.
This road is now surveyed. and located on
the St. Louis river, above nayi CATION on Lake
Superior. and cannot be approached from the
Lake without going into the Indian country.
There is no advantage whatever to be deriv-
ed from its present location on this river
whereas, if it should be changed, SO as to run
to the mouth of the St. Louis river. it would
terminate at a good harbor on that lake, and be
OF great advantage 10 Tue ScttlcTS VINO VIII
soon be upon the borders Of this lake.
have no doubt but what the expense of max
ing the road would be much less on the pro-
posed route than US now located.
Very respectfully. your obcdient scrvt,
&. l.. EMERSON.
Civil Engineer.
Hon. II. VI. RICE, VI. C.
| do not know that there are any other facts
having a bearing upon this matter, which need
be stated; and will simply say in conclusion,
that. from the investigation which | have given
to the subject. have become perfectly satisfied
of the correctness of the provisions OF the bill.
Mr.. LETCHEE. / hope the gentlemen will re-
tain the floor for few moments. until ] can
PROFOUND to him question or two for informa-
ton. notice, in this BILL that all these appro-
prations are for the continuation of the roads,
and not one for the completion of a single one
them. The information desire is what these
roads are to cost! How much more in addi-
ton to the appropriations heretofore made, and
to the proposed one. will be required, in order
to complete them?
MIR. FAIRLY. stated in my remarks. which
presume were not herd by the gentlemen from
Virginia, that for the completion ofthese roads
the sum of S64, 900 will be necessary.
Mr.. LErciIER. In addition to the present:
Mr.. FAIRLY. In additian. The estimate of
the whole cost of these roads is SlS9000.
Mr.. LETCHER. That will complete all.
Mr.. FAIRLY. 1t will. If this appropriation is
made next year or at some future time it will
be necessary to appropriate STA thousand
more.
The question then recurring upon agreeing
with the amendment reported by the committee
it was put. and the amendment agreed to.
No other amendment being offered to the bill,
1t was laid aside to be reported to the House
with recommendation that it do pass. !
ENGLISH JuRIEs.-The following interesting
piece of legal intelligence We find in the papers.
The Surrey Jury should have a place in history
as dispensers of justice alongside the twelve
men who tried Matt. Ward the other day in
Kentucky -
Late English papers give an account of the
trial, at the Surrey sessions, of a man described
as farm iaborcr. before the chairman and
full bench of magistrates who was indicted for
stealing turnip, the property of a gentleman
residing at Gladstone. The only interest in
connection with this charge was its frivolity,
and the curious method in which the jury init
mated their appreciation of the fclonious intent
The prisoner was seen by policeman to take
up in field belonging to the prosecutor. tur-
nip. When the prisoner observed that he was
detected in the act, he cut the turnip into two
pieces, and threw them away. The evidence
of the fact was clear; and the chairman having
explained that the taking of turnip out of the
ground amounted only to misdcmeanor, whilst
the taking it off the ground constituted telo-
ny, the jury, after short consideration, return
cd the following sapicnt verdict - We find the
prisoner guilty of taking the turnip, but we do
not think he meant to steal it, On being in
formed by the magistrate that this was virtu-
ally an acquittal the foreman of the jury ad-
ded-'W believe he took the turnp to eat it
because he was hungry, and threw it away
when he saw the polceman'-to which the ma
gistratc responded, That is verdict Of
guilty = and turning to the prisoner, sentenced
him, in pursuance of that opinion, to seven days
imprisonment. This adds our authority, may
be taken as sample of the majority of ninety