Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-07-11
Whole distance.


Mr.. Watrous said that this was not the shortest
route, but having often travelled the road, he Sc
lected it as the best one for cmigrants. From
the Iowa Line to st. Paul (by the road we have
marked through to Mr.. Farribeaut's, and by the
old road from Farribeaut's to st. Paul. is, as
near as we could judge, lis miles, making 26O
miles from Dubuque to st. Paul.
Emigrants reaching the terminus OF our road
should enquire for Austin or Leverich's Mill, (as
it has been caled.) The road is on the West
side Of the Cedar, and crosses some small creeks,
II miles, to Austin. At Austin, Mr.. Nichols will
put you the right trail which leads II miles up
the Cedar, to Cold Spring Camp. You are now
"a miles North of the Iowa line, in the 5. +. cor
ner of sec. 80, town. los, range IL. The course
from Cold Spring is North Is degrees West, the
scattering oak trees plainly blazed,, keep to the
right of a small lake, then towards large mound
in the prairie, the trail goes little to the left OF
the mound, towards prominent clump OF dead
poplars across the prairie. As you approach the
timber the oaks are again plainly bazed, and di-
rections written on several of them. Follow the
blazed line Of trees to a narrow strip OF PRAIRIE,
which you cross, going due Northto quarter post
few rods in the timber. You are now In sec. l,
town. los, range ~. The course for miles
ahead, is North West, most of the way, level
oak grove.
A few rods to the left you can see through the
oaks q Lake a, fine place for camping. There
are several cross trails OF Indians and others ];
YOU will be careful to follow the newest blazed
trail; recollecting the course, northwest. You
have now six miles of oak timber plainly marked,
then one of small shrubs and thickets of poplar,
then two miles of prairie with long poles driven
to mark the trail, which is still northwest to-
wards q dark green point of oaks. One-fourth of
mite before reaching the oaks you will see fine
creek at your left, and the corner post of Towns
LOG and IO7, Ranges 10 and 20 at your right
From this point you will steer north half mile
into the edge Of the oaks, when the poles Of ff-
teen or twenty Indian tePees are IN s!gnt, and
| from these YOU have plain Indian trail bearing
little west of north to Straight river settlement
ten miles; from this point to the upper crossing
| of the Cannon on the old roadto st. Paul. There
are some 40 or so houses erected or in process OF
| erection. and information can be obtained Of Mr..
Sanborn. Farribeault and others, which will d.
rect you to St. Paul, Shokapee, Mankato, or any
| points on the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers
As have before stated, the distance from the
last house on the Ceder to the first house on
| Straight river, is but forty miles. Our wagon
was heavy and made . plain trail, which can be
easily followed; but / have been particular in
describing the land marks that there might be no
possibility Of mistake. The only real difficulties
! on the whole route are at the crossings OF the
Cannon and a little creek one mile this side.-
These are on the old road to Mr.. Farribeault's,
and are crossed by loaded teams daily; but real
" the streams need bridging by somebody at once
From Austin to the crossing of Straight river
distance of thirty miles, there y not stream
that q teamster would call hill. On cur return
we counted thirty emigrant wagons in travelling
ten miles south Of the Cannon, with men, womez
and children, COWS, sheep and oxen too numerou
to count. VIZ. w. fNcH,
Clerk Of Commissioners.