The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-01-14
The 81. Anthony Express and the Territorial
Roads, Agafn.

Roads, Again.
We are glad to perceive by the last Express
that its editor repudiates the idea of having in
= former number intended to reflect in the
slightest degree upon the capacity and honesty
'ofCapt. Simpson, as government officer in
the charge Of the General Government roads in
the Territory. He says
"From his acquaintance with him, he sup
poses him fully competent to discharge the du-
ties ofhis station, knows him to be gentleman,
and believes him incapable of doing anything
dishonest or dishonorable, either officially or
individuality
This is all very well. But it appears 10 lis
that the editor of the Express in the sequel of
his remarks, does not express himself in such
manner as to make it fully appear that he is
disposed to do this gentleman full justice. For
instance, after excusing himself fer his nisre
presentation of the amount of the appropria-
tion for the Point Douglas and Fort Ripley road,
by saying that he had been misinformed on that
point by gentleman whom he supposed to be
we'll informed upon such matters, he holds the
following language -
"But even of the expenditure Of this sum
($20,00e) we see no adequate practical results.
The sum of $500 is accounted for 1.-THE cost of
Rum River BRIDGE: when and on what has the
remainder been expended. The other three
bridges were not expensive structures"
Now this is all.with the surveys, that the Ex-
press would represent as having been accom-
plished by the appropriation, and this right in
the face of our statement, and what the Express
cannot gainsay, that in addition to the survey
and bridges referred to,ttrentyeight miles Of the
IrOrsf portions of the trlole route have (at a
cost Of s., l53 4O) been made, including the nu-
merous small bridges. Why he persists in with
holding this fact from the public when it has
already been brought to his attention, is a cir
'cumstance he can best explain himself He GER
tainly by go doing cannot expect to be regard
ed by his readers who are acquainted with the
facts, as DESTROYS Of doing either Capt. Simpson
or the General Government full justice.
The editor of the Express can see no practical
benefit from the surveys of the roads he would
rather, as il would seem from his remarks, pre-
fer that the ,choie amount had been applied to
the construction OF the road, or at any rate that
the location should have been made by
the whole country az to be able TO point ont the
proper location for Government road, without
weeks and months spent in making preliminary
surveys"
Now we aver that these surveys are Of rerv
Important character, and important because
PRACTICAL; that is, if the practical character of
measure depends upon the degree of its suit
ableness to the end in view which, in this case
is the obtaining from Congress of appropria-
lions sufficient TO complete the roads. How
Gould the department at Washington otherwise
press upon Congress the construction of these
roads throughout their entire length, except as
they had been surveyed under General Co
sernment authority and by disinterested Gene
raj Government officers? Does not the EXPRESS
know that the easiest way to defeat an apnro-
priaton in Congress for any such purpose as
harbor or a road, is for a member to get up and
say that there had been no survey and esti-
mates made of such harbor or road or that the
survey and estimates had not been made by Of
fcers of the General Government, but by citi-
zens interested in the harbor or road?
Again, as regards the reflection which the
Express would seem to make upon the Gcu-
erai Government officers, that they had spent
weeks and months in making preliminary sur
reys to find out the location of road which
men in Minnesota, familiar with the country,
could have made in much shorter time. VIC are
assured upon the very best authority. that no
preliminary surveys for weeks and months have
ever been made by the General Government en-
IA xlx~x
been made but these conducted as they are
rapidly. and with but trifing expense, are sure
ly precautionary measures, which no good en-
gineer would ever fail to make and which even
men in Minnesota, familiar though they might
be with the country, would not hesitate to
make
typographical error IN former article made this