The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-11-29
state boundary Question.

This question is beginning to agitate the
public mind considerably. We copy the
following from the last number of the Min.
ncsota Democrat, Minneapolis:
The next session of our Legislature will
probably be one of great importance to the
people of this Territory. it seems to be
conceded that upon it will devolye the i'm
portant duty of inauguratng the necessary
proceedings for the formation of State Gov
ernment. BY the most rapid movements we
shall not be able to set the wheels of State
government in motion before we have at
tanned to population of ut least 100000.
There have been, and still are, influences
against a State organization. 1t is not ap.
pretended, however, that those influences
will be exerted SO much against the forma
ton of a State from our present territory, as
udon the size, form and boundaries it shall
assume. Men will be found who, without
moments hesitation, will sacrifice the inter
ests Of a State, if by such means the petty
interests Of their own can be promoted. MOI
is it to be supposed that parties who have
fed upon the means supplied to territories
by the general government, will not be upon
the lookout for some new and convenient
field of operations. No one who has long
resided here can fail to see that we are not
destitute Of men who stand ready to engi
neer the affairs Of new Territory, which
they hope to have formed, embracing por-
ton of the present surveyed and settled
land. -.f... .....
The object and desire of those men, is to
divide the Territory by an east and west
line, crossing the Mississippi at some point
near the southern boundary Of Sherbnrne
county, and cutting off from the State Of
Minnesota the counties Of Sherbune, Ben
ton, Morrison, Chisago, Pine, Lake, st. Lon S
ltasca, Cass, Pembina Todd, Stearns, and a
part of Ramsey, to form part of anew Ter
rtory. These counties contain population
| Of from l5,0QO to 10000, and embrace all the
! pineries, the west end of Lake Superior, with
| its mining region, and the fertile valley OF
Red River. 1t is only necessary to look at
the map TO see that such division Of our
Territory would deprive the new State of its
most important resources, especially for
trade, commerce and manufactures.
This Territory will make two States of re-
| spectacle and convenient size and form, pre-
serving natural and easily defined boundaries
to each, if it is divided by line commencing
on its northern border, in the centre of the
channel of Red River, thence running south
mp the channel of said river 20 the mouth of
Bots dc Sloug River, thence up the channel
j Of the last named river up and through Lake
Traverse to its most southerly point; thence
due south to the Big Sioux river, and down
the channel OF the same to the northwest
corner of Iowa. Al that portion Of eoaatry
| lying east of this line should iorm the new
State Of Minnesota. It's dimensions would
be 1856 miles in length, from north to south,
| with an average breadth of from ITS to lSO
miles, conta ming about GS,O 900 square miles,
OF which at least 1000 square miles are coy
cred with the waters of its numerous lakes
and rivers, 1000 square miles are embraced
in its swamps and prairies, which are unfit
for agricultural purposes, and at least 5000
square miles in the northq1n and northeast
ern po;tions as too rough, broken and noun
famous to be of much value. Indeed, with
this appare; tly large Territory, our agricul-
tural resources can never equal Illinois, Iowa
or wisconsin. 1t is apparent, therefore, to
every impartial observer, that we must re
ly, in some measure, upon our CONNER cial,
mining and manufacturing resources, How
! important, then. to secure 9. colnm2rciol out
| let upon the lakes. What Lake Michigan is
to Illinois, Lake Superior will be to the State
which secures its northwestern shore. No
uninterrupted navigable water projects so
far into the interior OF North America. To
lose this would forever paralyze our COM
merce and throw the profits of our agricultu-
raj industry into the lap Of our more saga
cious neighbors. We shall want the benefits
of the railroads hereafter to point to the wes-
tern extrcmities of Lake Superior.
So much we offer as Introductory upon the
subject of the new State of Minnesota. 1t
is time the people were heCinpic:SS 70 think
seriously and carefully upon the question,
else run the risk of being oyertaken by the
watcbful hosts who only desire their own az
grandizement.