Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-07-24

ample sum 10 complete IL, anu 100, Whnh
eighteen months after the date Of the appro-
priation. This part of tic plan should be re-
| garded as the first section of The grand Northern
Emi.rant Route to the Pacific; and in view OF this
and Of the fact that it would strike at this point,
the head of navigation on the Upper Mississippi, it
! should be built by the Nation. and that without
delay. The branches, though equally important
ito the Territory, might be constructed more pro-
grcssively.
The development and execution of the plan.will
| more than double the facilities for reaching and
pecpling this Territory Immigrants from the
North Western States, the Lake towns and cities,
and Canadas, can reach us without transhpmcnts
for one-half tho oSpense they now incur, and
without any risk whatever of the diseases com
mon among immigrants on the river routes. I'M
migrants from beyond, from New York, New
ENGLAND and Europe, could embark for Nlnncso-
tn from Buffalo and reach our Territory at the
head of Lake Superior, at the same time they
could heretofore Have rcachci Chicago. All could
then go, with their teams or by stage, I'D miles
only, al the tiae il. Minnesota, to this place
| and ST.. Cloud, thcnse down the Mississippi hy
! steamers, or on either Ade Of it By land or on
| waid in the direction of III, Forks Of Grow River,
the st. Peters or Blac Earth Valley. This first
section of tie route to the Pacific thus opened and
travelled, will lead to speedy construction of
Railroad between this place and Superior, form
ing the Lake Branch of the Pacific Railroad, from
Sank Rapids, as suggested by Gov. Stevens.
| Commercially the advantages to Minnesota Of
| this thorou hfare wouli be immense, amounting
TO Il complete diversion from present channels OF
dry goods imports. Since Minnesota was organ-
| lied the goods imported to the Territory have
been bought in s.. Louis aal Chicsso, though
more recently many of our merchants have made
their purchases in New York and Boston, by the
way of Chicago. Chicago receives her goods
from New York, by the way of the Hudson River,
Great Western Canal, an the Lakes, distance
that has already been stated to be as great as
from the same great commercial emporium to our
own harbor on Lake Superior, which as before
announced, is about l20 miles from this place,
the head of navigation on the Upper Mississippi
and geographical center Of the Territory. From
Chicago to Galena by railroad is 200 miles.
and from the latter place to this point, by the
way of ST. Paul and St. Anthony, is about $40
miles more. In other words. goods from Chicago
, to this place are carried by land precarious
|
and this to at the cost of the consumer, then they
you'd be if landed on our own soil at Lake Supe-
: ror, whilst St. Anthony and St Paul would at the
same time get their goods, the one $50 miles and
the other 400 miles nearer, and of course proper
tonably cheaper than they now do. These are
Gred facts md undsn,aly truc.
In the second place, what is the distance dry
goods are ariel when bought in st. Louis? This
noble city, too, receives her goods from the q cat
est commercial center of the Union. New York,
the ma or part Of them being shipped by the way
j.. Of New Orleans, which, though three thousand
five hundred miles, is The cheapest route, and the
residue come principally by the way of Chicago,
the Illinois Canal, and Illinois river; getting
however Il few light, fancy goods by Railroad
, transportation Add, now, to $500 miles, 9l0
more the distance from st. Louis to Sank Rapids,
and you have in round numbers f. 40 miles Of
transportation ana numberless transshpmcnts to
pay, for all thc goods you buy that come this route,
and they have formed large portion Of all you
have consumed since you have been in the coun
try But take tho nearer route by which st. Louis
receives her goods from the Empire City. BY this
they are first shipped to Chicago. From Chicago
to Lasallc, by the Illinois Canal 96 miles, thence
down the Illinois and the Mississippi to St. Louis,
$50 miles more, i'll all 10 miles almost due south
, from Chicago to the place OF wholesale to oar
merchants. This dst:nca added to 90 miles, the
t distance from ST. Louis 10 Sank Rapids, makes IL
transportation, and most difficult and uncertain
one, TOO, OF 1856 miles beyond Chicago before
goods reach their consumers, or 1876 further
than it would require to get goods from ST.
Louis harbor in Minnesota! Ada to this the CON-
missions and costs Of transShipments at Chicago.
Iasallc St. Louis, and by lighters over the Rap
ids at kcokuk, and perhaps Davenport, and the
numberlcss other delays the lower Mississippi,
, ana you can form some idea of what your goods
S cost when they reach their destination. Can any
t presentation lie more eloquent 10 prevail on Con-
! gress to open this thorougLfa9c, any rcfuta-
5 ton Of the absurd and barbarous usage of ship
ping goods to this Territory by such circuitoas and
costly routes, be more irresistible than the simple
5 statement of these facts and figures? When, be-
sides, it is rccolccted that the great God of Ma
! ture has has given the nob!est Lake harbor on
the continent, penetrating more than 200 miles
, further west than any other Lake harbor, and a
continuous chain of inland with almost ocean
depths, thence to the River aud Gulf of St. Law
: renee Oh the one hand, and to the great CONNER
t cial emporium Of the New World on the other!
But lest forget the occasion that has elected
these remarks, will state briefly the bearing of
this plan or system, of roads upon farming ag-
, riculural interests Of Minnesota.
You have all, doubtless noticed the fact that
it is all along rivers ana more particularly
! our roads, such they have been, that the first
farms have been opened and the first settlements
in Minnesota have been made, AMI that these
thoroughfares thar The character of the soil,
have controlled tho movements and location of
immigrants in the Territory. No sooner has a
road been projected in almost any direction, than
our people are in motion to buy up the land and
occupy the country the lin. of the proposed
route even in advance Of its construction. \
system Of Roads, like the under consideration,
would people with energetic farmers every Sec
ton district of land to be penetrated by its
branches. Every quarter section of even third