The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-07-08
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1 For the Journal. -a-
Minnesota Wanted-PoH-


want of room obliged me to omit these
subjects.
10 afford facilities for the settlement of
new countries, the quickest and cheapest
modes of conveyance are requisite. "Time
is money" and but few in this age OF inn
provements in steam power are content toI
travel at no greater rate by the day than can
be accomplished by the horse. The Missls-
sippi can now be reached from various points.
wholly by railroads, or partly by steamers
and the river is there navigable to the capital
Of the territory but at low or even common
stages of the water there are distinctions
above st. Louis which ought to be removed,
particularly at the rapids at Keokuck, and
at the head of Rock Island The removal Of
these would greatly facilitate commerce and.
cheaper transportation. Congress has al
ready made appropriations for commencing
these works, but considerable more will be
wanting to complete the objects.
The Minnesota river is a winding stream,
passing through delightful and fertile coun-
try, and is navigable for middling class of
steamboats, to Fort Ridgley, 200 miles above
its junction with The Mississippi; but ex
cept when the water is fully at common
height its navigation is obstructed, slightly
at various points, but particularly at the
rapids, 50 miles above Fort Smelling. 10
remove all these distinctions and make such
improvements in the navigation of the river
as The commerce on it at no distant day will
warrant, might require an expenditure of
Sl50000; but one third, or even One-fourth
of that sum would remove the main obstruc
tions so that it could be navigated to Fort
Ridgley. except at the verp lowest stages OF
water. The saving to the government in
making their disbursements to the Indians
and in sustaining the garrison, and the say
ing to individuals in transportation on the
river, would in one year very nearly or per
haps entirely pay the whole sum expended.
The territory wants an extension OF the
Chicago & Galena railroad up the river to
St. Paul, and from thence to the st. Louis
river, near the west end of Lake Superior;
the latter. a distance of only about l30 miles,
is Of the most immediate importance, open
ing as it would direct communication via
the great chain of northern lakes with New
York and Canada. The bill which has re-
Gently passed the house of representatives,
makes a liberal donation Of lands for these
roads, and they are destined at no distant
day. to be built; and with the line of these
roads will follow the telegraph wires. The
aid which the government might afford in
vastly more towards settling the territory
and developing its resources than the passage
Of the homestead bill. The completion of
he canal at Saut st. Marie, connecting the
navigation Of Lake Superior with Huron,
will make an important extension of inland
commerce, the effects of which will be i'm
medately felt in Michigan, Wisconsin and
Minnesota. Another projected improvement
is the great Atlantic and Pacific railroad,
passing through this territory, The partial
reports of Gov. Stevens's exploration afford
such light upon the subject as leaves but lit
tie doubt that the route through this terrific
~ to Pugets Sound is the shortest, easiest Of
construction, and cheapest of any other one
which has been examined A more central
route, if the government undertake to extend
aid to any considerable degree, may perhaps
stand better chance than this; but event
ually road must be built over this route
Application has already been made to gov
ernment TO open an emigrant road
The politics of territories are always
measurably controlled by the federal govern
ment, if they see fit to do it. The late adj
lnnistration was however SO much absorbed
in one ideG that more was thought of that
than of the friends by whom it had been
brought into power. But there is not much
DANCER that the nreSent one will not take