The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-05-22

f. axo~~. - 49, nak~~a>~l~~a n awss
49,
Hon. u. b. WAmsrnSy, Of H.. from the
Co,rr,;,,.. 49, co,o,uo .. tho uo,. ., p.,,.
,o"' .., ~ ND " y" -
reseh'a'i'es, recently submitted the 'oiio"ing
Report, looking 10 the Improvement Of the
Mjs.;ui,,; and w,,ne.o,, River. rL,eb Vas
a.. :,
'n" ."'ce ~" commute" p'ihc ''"nn"'ss VI
the Whole on the State oil the mon
That they have had the subject Of the eve-
raj PETITIONS under consideration. The Missis,
sppi river is navigable for steamboats, OF large
class from its mouth ~ within few miles oil
the Falls Of st. Anfhony, ia Minnesota Terri
tory, without any considerable interruption
except that occssioued by some scattering sand
bars and BY the Rock Island and Des Moines
rapids In low stages u water
The magnificent rssources of the Territory d
Minnesota have been developed by the facilities
which that great stream has afforded for il
sttIement and impsoyement by q hardy and To-
dusirious race Of pioneers Between Caiena
and st. Paul, daily lines Of frst-class steam
boats ply during the season Of navigation bu,
from 81. Paul. Or rather Fort Smelling, 10 thu
town Of st. Anthony. at the Falls Of 81. An.
thony, there are serious implements in the nav,
igatioa Of the river, which the petitioners think
should h. removed by the general governmeni
IN order To aid ia the settlement OF The country
to facilitate the transportation Of military
stores. Indian goods, &c
Above the Falls Of ST Anthony, and between
them and the Sank rapids, distance Of some
eighty miles. the river is obstructed during the
season Of low water by rocks and other impcd
iments, which il Is claimed, moderate appro
priatop judiciolsly expended, would remove
aud rrpder the navigation free 10 steamboat
and other water crafts during the entire season
Of navigation IN consequence of these OBJ
strueti ona. the large amount Of goods and mer.
chandise which tho government has to send "a
the fndinns, and 10 It's military posts in the
northern and western parts Of Mnnes0ta, have
To be transported by land. at Q great expense
over loug and tedious land route. In view
Of these anl other facts, the legislature memo
rialin Congress 10 make an appropriation oil
forty thousand dollars for the Improvement o
the Mississippi river between st. Anthony and
the Sauk rapids, the points above named; or
in cae CONGRESS should not think proper "a
appropriate money. the memorial asks tina,
public land in the Territory may he donated fos
that purpose.
The committee consider tliss.improy ement d
The p,Ayig,llae 81 ,As Misss.siYs. r.yss aa.s...
jcct oi national Importance. Many appropri
atoms have been made for that purpose from
time 10 time, aud the commercial and agrcu
tural interests or the valley Of the Mississippi
have been greatly benefited by what has a.
ready been done by the general government ID
that direction. The proposed IMPROVEMENT
would add nearly one hundred miles to the
present nayigrble portion Of the river, being
only interrupted by the short portage roun
tho Falls of St Anthony of three fnurth- Of q
mile.
Having no regard to the advantage which
this improvement would be 10 the interests Of
the people who have settled in that portion o.
the Territory Of Minnesota, 10 the facilities
which IL would afford to emigrants who would
then 20 hithc- to purchase and improve TIKI
rahi;r lap.ls xnd the incidental national inter
ests that are always .ubscryed by the settle
ment AMI Improvement Of u new country. the
government has u direct interest in removing
these obstrncticus. so ~ to lessen the cost o
transporting its large amounts Of gook ana
supplies which il has 10 furnish to different na.
tons and tribes Of Indians who inhabit the vas,
regions In the northern and western portions Of
the Territory. and TO tho important military
posts at Fort Ripley, Fort Ridgley and the
military station al fcmbina
In regard to nm appropria,ion of land instead
Of money, as is suggested by the mcmorialists
the committee would not be prepared to recon
mend il, IL they recommend any appropriation
Al all The Minnesota river, longer and bet.
ter known as st Pcters'river, forms q junction
with the Mississippi ut Fort Smelling. Taking
its rise in the southwestern part Of tho Territory
which bears the name by which the river i
now generally known, the Minnesota flows with
a smooth ami hautihl current towards the
father OF waters, through a country of almost
unriyallcd beauty and fertility. Numerous
towns and villages have sprung up along its
banks, and q tide Of emigration is constantly
HOwluR into the valley.
" u reported That thls stream Is easily uavi'