Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-07-17
TUESDAY, July II, 1855.
Editorial Correspondents.
THE UP cOUNTRY-D0TzINGs By THE Way
- NO. X.
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ON THE PRAIR1E, June, 1855.
y tt is not my intention to cloy the APP
petites Of the readers Of the TIMES with my
indigestible Dottings-and were it not for the
importance of the present subject, would dis
miss them for themes of more stirring and
political nature, although / question whether
such themes would tend so directly to develope
the resources of our Territory as the one up
on which now propose to treat. Well, let
politics and politicians take care Of themselves
II am out Of the ring, surrounded by no
Rice, sibley, Ramsey nor German clique, but
contemplating one Of the great routes which
must ultimately develope country rich in all
those elements that give strength and stability
to a republican government, and when l pom
der over the matter, all political schemes dwin-
die into insignGcance politicians become
municipalities farce.
"What is the Northern Pacific Railroad and
what do you propose Z" asks man who should
have lived in the 18th century instead OF the
10Th. My dear sir, listen: The Northern
Pacific Railroad, should it ever be built, would
open up vast and magnificent country
unite the head waters Of the great lakes with
the head waters of the greatest river in
the world, and the greatest harbor on the Pa
cific coast-draw the trade Of China and ia
pan into the very lap of America, and bind to-
gether, with bars of iron this great and glo-
rious confcderacy. The desert would be made
to bloom--the weary wanderer, jaded with
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rest his weary limbs, and all along where the
trail of the red man marks the path Of barba-
rism, would bloom and blossom the flowers Of
civilization. These would be the results which
would inevitably follow the construction of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. "Well, what do
you proposes" " PROPOSED" / propose to
build such road, rot in imagination, not on
paper, but in reaity-not to benefit this
ton or that section-not to enhance the value
of this mans property or that man's-but the
property of all, the interests of all, and to do
this, / ask the cooperation Of men of wealth,
of influence, of comprehensive ideas, who,
laying aside party and sectional feeling, arc
willing to enlist in an enterprise the greatness
and grandeur Of which can only be duly appre-
ciated by far off generations.
But l forgot. My last letter left me ramb-
ling on the praiaie, vending my way to the
banks of the Miss ssippi over what is termed
Gen. Stevens Northern Facfi; Railroad route.
have already stated that the country for miles
and miles, on the west side of river, and as far
as the eye could reach, presented one unbrohen,
beautiful surface, admirably adapted for rail-
road while on the right for two miles the prai-
RE is guarded with fine timber, which could he
easily cut and converted into ties. Within a
mile and n half Of the banks Of the Mis-
sissippi, are groups Of young trees, clustering
around vacant spots which seemed to be left on
purpose for beautiful dwellings. As you APP
proach the river to within quarter Of mile
of its banks, thick underwood and all kinds of
trees line your path, and you descend gently 10
nearly the rivers edge, where the eye a, once
catches the opposite shore, which is on the
same grade, and clearly points out the spot
where the great railroad must cross the Mis-
sissi1pi, the only point nature has marked out.
The curtains of night Lad fallen and the
parting rays of the sun still fingered family in
the Wesc sky, as we embarked in slender
canoe, and pushed out into the stream, some
what wearied although highly delighted with
our afternoon ramble, for by it we had gained
information which can only he procured by
careful observation. And this brings me to
Route and the views entertained by those who
have given the subject attention. Gen. Ste
vens in his report, speaks Of it in the highest
tcrms-dwels upon the practicability of It's
construction and the great and glorious results
to follow from it, He ignores the idea that the
SHOWS will in any manner materially impede
its construction, and those who are at all con-
versant with the winters of Minnesota, know
that he is right. The line lie marked out,
crosses the Mississippi River at Sank Rapids,
at the mouth Of Sank River, and bears to the
North West on the Red River trail, until it
reaches the Shan, and thence across tie Grand
Coteau 10 the Missouri, and from thence TO
Puget Sound. The character of the country
he describes as similar to that l have already
spoken Of, and no doubt seems to exist inh his own
mind hut the Northern Pacific Railroad will be
built, and few years will suffice to induce Tie
capitalists Of the East to embark in the enter
prize. AS to the point where bridge will be
erected, there can be no question: must be at
'Sduk Rapids. Points at ST. Anthony, Swan
River and Little Falls, were examined, but
none could compare with the one at Sank Rap
ids and which we insist must be the point for
the crossing Of the Great Northern Pacific Rail-
road. Mr.. Lander, the Chief Engineer Of the
Survey, says: 7.E
"Near the mouth of Sank River the cross.
ing is about 500 feet. BY encountering the
current near the Rarids, an excellent founda-
ton for bridge masonry can be obtained upon
the great ledge Of the section.
have estimated the cost Of bridge at Sank
Rapids, for Road-bcd Of 20 feet as follows:
500 feet Of IIows's truss at 800, SlO,5OO
1853 cubic yds bridge masonry, $l2 $i6,236
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