, 1856-12-12

lore US q copy OF Il llCUlOElal, WHICH IL Is
proposed 10 circulate for signatures, asking
an appropriation from Congress of alter
nate sections Of land, TO aid in the compile
tion Of Railroad extending to the Red
Biyer Of the North. This river is nayigG-
bic for stCamhoats about five hundred
miles within the United States The wa
ters of Lake Traycrs enter it at a point
where the latter takes a due North course,
and from that point TO the Northern boun-
dairy Of the United States there is sufficient
depth Of water for Steamboating at all sea.
sons. From the navigable waters of the
Minnesota to that point, it is about two
hundred miles The intervening country is
fertile and capable Of sustaining q dense
population but it being remote from navi-
gable streams it will not be settled for a
long time to come. In the language Of the
memorial mentioned, "the vast region Of
the territory of the United States embra-
cling the valley of the Red River of the
North, aud its tributaries, and the region
lying west and northwest thereof which is
almost entirely shut out from any commu-
ncation with the Valley Of the Mississippi,
or any other portion of the United States;
this whole country, embracing an area
twice the size Of any State in the Union,
is entirely tributary 10 the British Posses
sions on the North, excepting a limited
trade carried on with St. Paul by means Of
few OK trains, wich make one or two trips
during the season. This vast and fertile
region is drained by the waters Of the Red
River Of The North, whose head waters
rise and interlock with those Of the Missis-
sippi, running thence nearly west several
hundred miles; thence they take almost
due north course, passing out Of the limits
of the United States at the 'Pembina Set
tlement, thence through Lake Winnipeg,
and other bodies Of water, finally debouch
into ITudssn's Bay--The stream is over
two thousand miles long, about one half Of
which lies within the limits Of the United
States. British Merchantmen, navigating
Hudson's Bay, come up to 'Pembina Set
tlement, and there taking in their cargoes,
sail directly for Liverpool"
From Eve to one hundred miles west Of
Lake Traverse is a salt region of great
extent and richness. In the immediate
vicinity Of this salt region is a small body
of water known as" Locust Lake, being
the head waters Of the james River, tribu-
tary Of the Missouri. A little farther to
the mort west is Mile Wakon Lake, a
large body of water about 100 miles long,
running southeast and northwest. This
lake is susceptible Of steamboat navigation
in its whole length. That whole country
in and around the aforesaid salt region and
Mile Wakon Lake, one Of great wealth,
not only in that mineral, but also in its
agricultural resources, furs, peltries, buffalo
robes, pemmican, &C., the whole of which
is, and ever must remain, shut out from all
commercial advantages with the Missssip-
pi Valley, until opened by means Of a
Railroad, and as consequence, tributary
to the British Possessions Of the North.
Buffalo, in vast herds, range round this
salt region in the season Of grass and are
taken in large number by the Red River
people, from one hundred and fifty thou
sand to two hundred thousand being des-
troyed annually.
The memorial asks grant to Minnesota
Territory Of the alternate sections for six
miles on each side of the proposed route
for the purpose of constructing q railroad
from some point at or near The town of
Henderson, on the Minnesota River, to
some point on Lake Travers; thence to q
point near the junction Of the waters Of
that Lake with the Red River of the North:
thence to- the southern nayigable point Of
Mile Wakon Lake. -.
The salt region referred to above, is one
of great t>extent and richness, and has been,
as we are informed, quite accurately defined
by the Typographical Surveys of General
Government. 1t is now, and always has
been the only source from whence the
British North American Fur Company,
and the Buffalo Hunters depended for their
supply Of salt. If the contemplated road is
built so as to connect it with the naviga-
bic waters of the Mississippi, boats can
load there and proceed to New Orleans
Pittsburgh or any other part of the Mis-
sissippi Valley open to navigation, without
re-shipment. The immense amount of salt
used in this valley, and the annual increase
of the demad, requires q greater supply
and at less rates than can now he procured
the amount required will be double every
five years for the next thirty, in the States
and Territories bordering on the Mississippi
and its tributaries To supply this an
nually increasing demand, there neither
is or can be any adequate supply at any
other than runious prices. For the last
ten years the price Of salt has been steadi-
ly increasing tboughout the whole country
west of the Lakes, until it has become u
almost ruinous bill of expense 10 the pork
packing and other provisions business.
The question, where is the supply to come
from@ has for years been discussed in the
public journals, but thus far no satisfactory
answer has been given. 1t is impossible for
the present manufactures to supply the
: market. Spectators have taken advantage
Ofthis state Of things. Should there be
any early closing of navigation, either
from low water or early ice, whereby the
supply of salt is limited, they take advan-
tage Of these circumstances TO create an
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