The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-14

ment reuctanty. onaceouat Of pressing engagement.
but strongly recommended another Engineer living il
that quarter,a Mr.. Thos. Clark, who had during the
summer been in his employ. They would be, accor
ding to Mr.. Newton, in St. Paul on the 9Th Novem
Der, when he would introduce Mr.. Clark to my &C
quaintance Matters teing thus, thought 1t best to
wait until 1 could sec Mr.. Newton and Mr.. Clark
BY the l1th Nov they had not arrived, and receiv.
ing no letter from them, concluded that it was nv
duty to look another quarter for asrstant. Al
Engineer. by name VIM. Rock, had applied to me
from Red Wing for employment, % that next day. on
the l2sh Nov, repaired to that place and secured
bis services. Mr.. kock 10 now engaged in locating
and surveying the extension, work necessary b~fors
Il can be put under contract; and a. soon a. il il
completed and the maps and estimates made, propo.
sails Tor constructing it and other portions Of the road
(accordng to recent instrictions) will be invited.
In regard to the Swan River and Long Prairis
road, il would have been a false economy and preju.
dica to the just attention which the roads ALREADY
referred to required at my hands, to have put it un
der contract ut the same time did the others; and
therefore have left it for more opportune season
say next spring. 1874 Tg..ft .
In regard to the Mendoza and Big Sioux River
road, the supervision Of was only given to me by
instructions from the Department, received in the
early part Of September and as there was involved
IN It the appointment oil suitable person take the
commence any work upon it until could further hear
from the Department; and when did hear, Oct. s,
the season had become too far advanced for me to
commence the work efficiently and economically. 1t
has, therefore, been suspended until next spring. when
it will be carried on continuously during the whole
working season. The PIT. Douglas and St. Louis
River road may probably be constructed BEST part
in the winter, on account Of the marshes and swamps
which il crosses freezing over, and thus enabling
teams to pass them which they could not DO At
other periods Of the year. But this is not the case
road. SO Az IA
The second complaint Of the Hon. Delegate is that
have been in the Territory over three years, and
from present prospects the roads will not Be complete
ed in the next ten. All say in reply to this is,
that my reports to the Bureau haye fully informed the
Department Of all have accomplished since have
had charge OF the roads; and if they are not suf-
cient to shield me from the Hon. eentleman's attack
in this respect, it is doubtful if could add anything
to their weight. Suffice it, however, to remark, that
economy, judicious application of the appropria-
tons upon the portions Of the roads most in need of
them, and prom 2titude consistent with these OBJ.
jects, have been the leading principles which have
governed me in the construction Of the roads.
The third complaint is, that have laid out road
between st. Paul and St. Anthony parallel to an old
one over which there 10 great deal of travel, and
have put the same under contract at cost Of more
than $1,000; while few hundred dollars would
have made the old one as good as it could he.
II is true that have laid a road parallel to the
old one; but it because the old is tortuous,
billy and random road, and therefore not the perma-
nent one which should exist between two such PROM
Using cities as St. Paul and ST. Anthony. The one
have constructed 10 shorter by probably mile, and
in its grades very much superior to the other; and
have yet to learn that single person other than Mr.
Rice disapproves Of is location. will further state
that it was located and surveyed by Mr.. c. L. En-
erson, when be was in my employ as an Engineer;
and though the general direction given by myself
never had word from him to show that he did
not agree with in the propriety of location Its
cost, instead Of being more than S. 900, Is Mr. Rice
states, will be less than $4,000, the exact Of
the contracturs bid being 3s97, and it is now, saw
down, completed, and at the contractors price.
He speaks toazthLy Of the other roads being aban-
doaed, and says the people complain. What idea he
intended to convey by the remark that the spare
being abandoned, it is impossible for me to compre
hend But II by it he intends to convey the idea that
the old random roads Of the Territory being aban-
doned for those which have bsen constructed by the
General Government, cheerfully concur with him.
10 regard to the peoples complaining. know Of not
4 solitary complaint, except those which have a.
read, been made direct TO the War Department, and
which have already been disposed of in former re-
ports as the Department 10 aware; how much to my
iiscredit it 10 for it to judge. .. .z.. -l.f..
Filthy. The lion. gentleman asserts that am
very improper person to have charge Of the roads.
To this ! can only say that / am not the judge Of
my own fitness for the situation which the Go7ern-
ment has chosen to honor me with; but a. l am not
conscious Of any Intentional neglect in the discharge
Of my duties and what have done has been with an
eye single to the best interests Of the Government and
of the public, willingly submit my cause to the de.
cision Of those whom tho laws of my country have
set over me as my superiOrs. f-,-
= The sirth and last point in the Hon. genteman's
letter requiring comment, 10 his advice to the War
department that be removed, and that Mr.. c. l..
Enerson, Civil Engineer, well known, as he says,
u the people, and one who would give general satis
faction, be appointed in my stead.
In regard to Mr.. Emerson's fitness for the situation
which the Hon. gentleman solicits for him, is not
for me, in the premises, to say anything about It, 1t
10, however, nothing more than just for to remark
that all the gentleman knows about engineering he
has learnt principally as an apPonee Of mine on the
Gen'l Govt works OF which have had charge
This was his position the roads Of the Territory
until the exhaustion Of the appropriation previous to
the last made it necessary for me to discharge him.
and the griefs Of mind and troubles which he occa-
stoned me while in that capacity, growing out Of his
near relationship with me by marriage; thus being a
Of my confidence, and At the same time
working with designing, and, as believe, evil mind.
this, to root me out from situation which the Gov.
eminent had assigned to me, is the sole cause why
have uniformly refused to have him near me as an as
sstant. . - r ,--..,.s 49,. .-...-........
In regard tothe general satisfaction which the HON.
gentleman states the appointment Of Mr.. Emerson in
my stead would give to the people, have, of course,
my notions upon this subject; but to show you
that there those in the Territory who think diff
erently from the Hon. Delegate, send enclosed, as
accompaniment to this report, letters from Gov Cor
man, Secretary Rosser, Hon. H. H. Sibley and Hon.
Alex. Wilkin, all gentlemen we'll acquainted with af-
fairs in the Territory and quite likely to reflect
the sentiments of the people as the Hon. Delegate.
All which is very respectfully submitted.
J. H. SIMPSON,
Capt. Corps TopI Eng'rs.
Col. J. J. ALBERT,
Chief Corps Top'l Eng'rs,
.-IAsE Washington, ID. c.