The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-24
The Pieneer Correspondence.
cn.respondence Of the Pioneer
In Camp on route 20 Kettle River.


DEAR SIa:-One of the numbers Of The
Pioneer" has reached us here "in camp, :. and
we read with avidity flor we were all newspa
per hungry the, notice Of the route which NC
are now locating and marking out from St
Paul by the way Of Little Canada and the
Rice Lakes to intcrsect the Point Douglas
and St. Louis River Road near Kettle River
Our journey at present has been one of con
siderable magnitude. At the Rice Lakes We
spent some ten days, and constructed good
substantial bridge over the stream that con-
meets the lower lake with the one above. The
width Of the bridge is about twelve feet, and
seventy-fve feet long, built entirely Of Tam
arack. The piers are driven firmly into the
mud aud rest on the solid ground; in places
we had to drive the posts through seven aud
eight feet of mud. Although roughly con-
structed it is nevertheless safe, being well
pinned with solid oak pins and bound togeth-
er, so that st. Paul citizens and visitors can
now explore the country north of st. Paul,
with as much ease as any other part of the
Territory, and they may rest assured that they
will be well pleased with a visit to this Sec
ton of country, general description Of which
we purpose giving on our return. An error
in your account of who were the Commissio-
ners appointed by the Legislature, needs cor
rection; they were Messrs c. r. Knox, james
Starkey, and D. L. Inrpin; Mr.. Turpin having
declined, James Y. Caldwell was elected ~
eli that vacancy, and he accompanied rs as
FAR as the Rice Lakes and spent some few days
in assisting at the bridge, but on Sunday last
be went to St. Paul, and at present has not
vet returned to camp. To the untiring en-
ergy and skill Of Samuel Madden, OF st. Paul,
are we much indebted, for he worked early
and late to complete the bridge, and what is
more praisworthy, his services were entirely
voluntary-all honor to him. We are now
about 10 miles above the bridge, and find the
country beautiful and level nature certainly
designed it for highway, and from indications
ahead about the same description Of land con-
tinues for many miles. Our party altogether
consists of ten men, and two teams with camp
equipages, provisions, &c.
The boys have fine times when in camp
shooting and spearing fish, and hunting ducks
and geese, which abound in great numbers
Fer three or four days we had focks of pig
cons flying all around us, and we made great
havoc amongst them; sometimes as many as
nine CT ten being brought down at
single shot; but they have disappeared, for
what purpose we must leave to the zoologist
or ornithologist to explain. 1t would do some
Of our St. Paul folks good, to see our worthy
citizens Knox and Starkey, working their way
with the rest, Ia pioneer, with axe in hand.
Knox in an old straw hat, ragged pantaloons,
and bronzed visage; yet at supper time not
forgetting his duties as alderman in the gas
tronomic art, and the Democratic nominee for
Mayor (Starkey) taking long strides to keep
up with Alderman Knox-not in q political
race, but race of progress -of assisting to
open out and develope the beautiful resources
of our lovely Territory. We must not forget
the valuable assistance we derive from our
worthy Surveyor, B. Densmore, of the firm Of
Crehorc and Newhall.
These few lines are hastily written, and if
they are worthy any attention from you, you
are welcope to make such use of them as you
please. Faithfully yours,