The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-12-04
Nuoles' Expedition.


osrespeaaanes q The f'sassr saa hmerfs,
Sr. PAul, Nov. Is. 1856,
Ia my last communication lett you al "iiok
In the Mountain since which Mr.. Nonlss has
rvaarued from the big Sioux" after having
explored that stream sufficiently to enable him
satisfactorily TO designate the point where. with
. tritling expense, a fine crossing for the roat
can b. made The river bottoms at this poiu,
are wide, extending on either side by gent,
Ascent To the high prairos. Us Il designed by
nature To snswcr the purposes tor which they
have bccn s,lcetcd. Wehavc here laxurient
growth al fine timber. another important dcsid
cra,um. OF which other routes to California arr
sadly deficient The prairies between this point
and Hole in the Mountain, over which the road
has been located, are high and rolling, tho soil
Of which is admirably adapted Tor the construc-
ton OF roads, ~ well NJ Tor agricultural purpo'
So. with tair supply Of timber and water
lors IN rnS MouNrAiN.--llerc W. have
erected large storehouse, IN which We have u
quantity Of provisions. tools aud implements
tor road making, STORED for spring operations,
We have also erected stable Tor aocoinmala
ting our horses, stocking 1t with hay drawn n
distance Of sevcnty-fvc miles. To complete
the whole, We have blacksmith shop well sup
piled with tools, &e.. for our expedition, lett IN
charge Of gooi man. This point derives It's
name from deep mvine passing through u
large, high prairie. known rs Coteau fcrcc,
through which runs small s,rcam Of water
having for Its source lake OF the same naiue
In the immediate vicinity, twelve miles in length
aud three miles IN width. The banks or hlalls
on either side Of tho STREAM arr high, prccipit.
ous. and, with one exception, Inaccessible Tor
road purposes, that exception with its counter
part upon the opposite side. furnishing easy III
gross aud cgro~s 10 the valley below. licr
will be an important depot until our road Is
completed TO the Missouri river.
On tho 18th instant, leaving thrc men In
charge Of our provisions. Nc, we started for
st. Paul by new route, passing bctwen the
head waters OF the big Cottonwood and Red.
wood rivers. following ,lssa Tie former until
near It's mouth This Is, also, an excellent route
through level, and very rich country, inter
sIcrScd with numerous lakes, many Of which
arr skirtcd with bodies Of fine timber uiiording
M unlimited supply TO emigration IN well NJ
TO settlers. some idea can be Termed ~ 10 the
feasibility Of this route, when | say, that on
our return, after hard drive out, heavily load.
ed, We averaged about forty miles travel per
day. aud that. too, In ditm line from Fort
Rsdgrly 10 the South lass In the Rocky Noun.
tains Passing down the Mime. o,a river
through numerous small and thriving toWns
We arrived at ~. Paul on the 10Th lust, khcr
an absence Of about six weeks. A humber OF
teams will bc employed during the winter In
hauling supplies M far on the route NJ practi'
cable, that no unnecessary delay may occur IN
the spring 10 rtsrd active operations. There
will aIso be employed from sixty to ON hun
drcd lAborers. divided into four or fivo parties
each under the control Of competent man.
receiving his instructions from Mr., Nonles,
who will, In pci ~, supcrintcnd tho entire
length Of the toad. ALLOWING no placr TO be
abandoned until fully completed.
II will be- seen that Mr.. NopIks has used
every cxertion 10 accomplish nil that could be
accomplished this fall, in which he has succeed
ed beyond his most mnguinc expectations, u,
being ~ late 10 the season, before be- received
his instructions from wAshington). Much
praise Is due him Tor the sucossiul manner In
which he has. thus iar, prosecuted his operations.
II Ia true that this Il 10 bc Military Road,
bu, every citizen In Minnesota Inns an interest
in its speedy construction, N IL passes through
and throws open, and easy Of Access for settle.
ment, hitherto almost unknown portion of
our Territory. cxcelling In richness and depth
Of soil, ~ well IA In many other agricultural
dsiderata, any portion Of our beautiful Mime.
sofa have yet seen and when VIC look back
10 the rapid development Of other portions OF
our beautiful Territory. much interior in many
respects that go TO make up an agricultural
region, II requires no prophetic vision 10 see
along the route Of this road, the garden Of
Minnesota. Already upon this route arc u
number u large farms under n good state Of
cultivation. with herds Of cattle upon them that
would do credit TO large aud well improved
farms In older portions of the West. The act
tiers arc Of that intelligent. hardy, and enter
prising class, ~ necessary 10 the rapid develop
ment Of The resources Of any now country, aud
] congratulate them upon having 30 important
a thoroughfare located, aud It's spedy con.
struction guaranteed through their portion 81
The country, afording them many iacities
which they have heretofore unknown.
Yours, &c., VoYsGRr