The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-02-11
New Emigrant Route to the Pacifc---LaFse
Meeting of the Citizens Of Minnes ota.

New Emlgrans Ro..e to the Pacific---Larse
Meeting Of the Citizens Of Minnesots.
At q large and respectable meeting Of the cit
liens of the Territory, held in the Hall of the
Houee of Representatives, in st. Paul, on We'd
nesday evening, February, 1854,
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. E.
Rice, and on his motion. Hon. Judge Chatfeld
was appointed President of the meeting.
Joseph R. Brown was then appointed Secre-
tary of the meeting.
Hon. W.P. Murray and Hon. n G. D. Taylor
were appointed Vice Presidents.
| 8. p. Fulsom, Esq, was then appointed Asst.
Secretary.
Mr.. Rice. in few brief and pertinent re-
marks, explained the object of the meeting, and
then called upon Hon. VIM. II. Mobiles. who
gave full explanation of the feasibility and
advantages of an emigrant route through Min
nesota aud by way of the South Pass, and No
bles' route to California and Oregon. During
his remarks the utmost interest was manifested
by the audience.
| Mr.. Mobiles having resumed his seat,
| On motion of Mr.. Wilkinson, 4 Committee,
consisting of Messrs. Wilkinson, ID. Olmsted,
Owens. Rice and Marshall. was appointed by
the Chair to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of this meeting.
During the absence of the Committee. Messrs.
lie Due, Mastcrson and Ames scverally spoke
|
different routes for railroad and cmigrant ira
vel between Minnesota and the Pacific. and the
general advantages which these routes would
confer upon the commercial prosperity OF this
Territory.
Mr.. Wilkinson. from the Committee appoint
cd to draft Resolutions, reported the following
preamble and resolutions -
Whereas. The vast emigration which is con-
tinualy pouring into that portion of our Repub-
10 Iii, no Do t1-c y,
jected to the most uneXamplcd hardship and
suffering, from the want of a well-defned, direct
and easy emigrant route from the Mississippi
river westward across the plains, and through
the vast mountain ranges over which they are
obliged to pass. ind achereas, The several
routes which have been traversed by cmigrants
heretofore, present obstacles of an almost in
surmountablc character. having been located
more with reference to the cupidty of those
who seek to profit by the great tide of emigra-
toa than to the comfort and advantage of the
cmigrants themselves. find rhereas. it appears
that route leading from the head Of navi ga
ton on the Mississippi river. to Fort Laramie
and across the plains. would furnish greater ia,
cilitics to emigration to California than any
route now known; therefore be it resolved,
lst That this meeting humbly solicits the
aid of the Government of the United States in
establishing an emigrant route in Minnesota, by
the way of Fort Ridgely, Fort Laramie. Soda
!. Springs. Mobiles Pass, the Humboldt Valley and
the Willamette Valley to the Pacific ocean,
I'd. That by rendering aid to this enterprizt
the Government itself would greatly promote
its own interests by establishing a military
road between important military posts and by
, greatly facilitating travel between points now
deemed remote from each other and cXtremel
difficult Of access.
Sd. That the great tide of emigration which
, is continually flowing from the United State
across the great American plains, in justice de
mands, and has ght to expect that somt
feeble effort at least will be made on the par
of the Government, to render their emf grafton
to the distant Pacific as easy and direct as pos
sble
4th That should any railroad communication
be effected between the two great Oceans. tn
great length of time which must neccssaril,
clapse before its completion, still leaves it ne
cessary that something should be done to opeI
q wagon road route for the benefit of the gov
eminent and for the protection of the emf
grant.
5. That the route known as the Mobiles emf
grant route. leading from Saint Paul, on tn
Mississippi river by the most direct and cligbl
line to Fort Laramie, and from thence via No
: bles' Pass of the Sierra Nevada mountains t
: the Pacific. presents inducements to emf grant
and travellers passing from the valley of tn
c count of the facilities afforded on the route
n the hcalthfulness of the climate, and the short
moss of the distance. which are unrIvalcu b.
any other known line. and deserves the especia
c attention and patronage Of the citizens of Min
3 nesota and the inhabitants of the valley OF th
Mississippi generally.
n 9Th. That for the purpose Of carrying or
A the objects of these resolutions the Hon VIII
t lam T.. Mobiles is hereby appointed as the agcn
: of this meeting to proceed to the city of Wash
: ington. and to take such steps as to him shall
$ seem advisable to effect the objects and purpo
: SEES herein contemplated.
It'll. That W. G.. LcDuc. Edmund Rice, Ben
: Thompson, Charles II. Cakes, b. +. Hoyt Loui
d NJ. Oliver, r. P. Russell, and John Rollins b
V appointed a committee to raise $500. to dcfra,
= the expenses of Vim. ii. Mobiles in carrying on
the objects of this meeting.
~ The question then recurring on the adoption
of the preamble and resolutions reported l.,
the Committee, MessrS. Wilkinson and Rice. il
II eloquent language. advocated the measure
: contained in the resolutions. as having an i'm
pOrtant bearing upon the prosperity Of thi
Territory.
+ Hon. Martin Mcleod also made few YER
u pertinent remarks, during which he gave YER
I fattcring description of that portion of tn
Il route lying between ST Paul and the Missonr
: river over which he had frequently Travelled
The preamble and resolutions were thel
j unanimously adopted.
On motion. the proceedings of the mectin.
were ordered to he signed by the officers. am
e published in the several newspapers of the Ter
u ritory. and also that copy be forwarded t.
0 Hon. Ii. NJ. Rice. our Delegate in Congress.
On motion, the meeting then adjourned, sin
3 die.
0 A. C. CHATFIELD,
President.
W. r. MURRAY.
5 y. c. ID. TAYLOR.
Vice Presidents.
JOSEPH X. BROwN. Secretary.
l S. Z. FOLSOM. Asst. Secretary.
COTIMBrs, Jan. u.
AT Railroad Convention held at Columbu
on the 18th inst. twcntY-ciCht Commands Mcr,