The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-06-19
Great Emtegprtse..A Railroad from
the mtnnesOsa Ia the Ned River.


We find in the Dubuque rapers lensthy
memorial 10 Congress asking fpr grant Of
public lands to aid in the construction Of a
railroad from the Minnesota river 10 tbe valley
Of the Red River Of the North.
The building Of a railroa,l between the points
mentioned. would tend to the development Of a
country in regard 10 which hut comparatively
little il known at present The Red river trad~
Is in liz infancy ~ yet and the great requisite
Tor its speedy and large increase, consists IN
providing proper faeilites Of communication
and travel
The trade on the British side Of the line Il
already very large. but is mainly, il no, alto.
gethcr, carried on by cireuitons routes through
British America, with the Canadian cities A
railroad connection Of the Dayigablc waters Of
the MiDoesOta with those Of the Red River
would divert great portion Of that trade TO
this city and our eastern markets. The popu.
lation 81 the British settlements on the Red
River is estimated al seven or eight thousand
duets and cattle, all articles Of consumption
are transported TO The Red River hy way Of
Iiudson's Bay.
The American settlement numbers, in POI,
nlation. two or three Thousand sons. Oar act
tiers possess certain advantages over thoe on
the British side of the line. but the settlcmen,
has been stationary for several years owing 10
repeated Indian dclredations The estah
llshment II IL military post at Pembina this
summer will remove Ibis obstacle to the growth
OF tho American settlement.
One argument IN favor d grants Of public
lands 20 aid in the construction Of railroads
which is often used, may be applied with pc
culiar forco I" the policy OF granting lands to
..<ssss ..- 49, IS -s-y-.sss sss-,, ,Ap
Minnesota River TO the Red River The reas.
oning We refer to is that which justifes such
grents on tbc ground that they increase con.
tignous government lands in valac by opening
up channels Of communication through them.
The country lying between the Minnesota Kiy.
CT and the navigable portion Of the Red River,
M yet is totally unsettled, Notwithstanding il
ia uDequaled in point Of rchpcgs and fertility
by any hand IN the Territory. Travellers
every way competent 10 judge, speak in glow
ing terms Of the fertility Of the led River val
ley, and confidently predict that il will be the
great grain growing region oi the northwest.
or this We have no doubt, when proper means
OF intcrcommunication are provided but until
that period arrives we are afraid the country
in question viii remain IN its present state
unknown. unsettled and undeveloIed. The
interests of the government will be promoted
to greater extent by n grant Of lands to MD
in the construction of raiii 10 the Red
River than by any gran, wh.e. has been or
will be made ios ii ia only by providing such
facilities for travel and commerce, that govern
mcnt will find market Tor It's lands in tina,
region. Lei the shrill scream of the locomO-
tive once wnken the solitudes Of the Red River,
and rush Of emigration will he witnessed to
that portion Of Minnesota. not exceeded in the
history Of the settlement, of any part of the
Territory.