The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-01-10
Territorial News.

WnosA.--We CLEAN the following items
from the Reprab4nan.
Doc. Hudson, our energetic mail agent on
the eastern route, came into town ON Monday
evening with very large load OF back mail
matter. lie had very narrow escape from
drowning while 10 transit on the i,e at la
Crossc, which gave way under him, and the
paper bags, fortunately were the only ones
much damaged. We saw them opened, and
such mass OF frozen literature would have
been appropriate TO the Polar regions.
We learn from q gentleman direct from
Stockton's, that the house and a storehouse 3D.
joining, Of our esteemed friend, was entirely
consumed by fire yesterday morning. The FIRE
originated 10 the partition, AID was communi-
Gated by the stove pipe. II broke out at 4 A.
H., aud In few minutes the happy home Of the
estimable family was u heap OF ashes. The
furniture. bedding, twenty tons Of hay, and
provisions, were ell destroyed and the loss IL
estimated At $4,000, which we hope 10 hear
was covered by insurance. We extend our
heartfelt sympathies u our kind friends in their
trial. and only wait TO know In what manner
we can best serve them.
The Argus is in favor Of military road from
winona to Fort Ridgley We extract the FOL
lowing from its article on the subject:
A good military road from Winona to Fort
Ridgley is one Of the necessities Of Minnesota.
There can b. no question about the proprety Of
ia establishment. The army service demands
il. In case OF Indian bostilitics upon our wes-
tern borders, the want Of such means Of trans
portation for military supplies will be- most seri-
ously felt. The commanding position Of Vino
m makes her the best point for the eastern tcr.
mination Of any military route passing west
ward from the Mississippi through Southern
Minnesota. a glance Mt the map Of the Terri.
tory will convince the public of this. The
maps. however, are imperfect. They do not
faithfully portray the surface Of the country
They do not show the natural advantages which
Winona really Possesses above neighboring
towns in regard To lines Of travel from the Mis-
sissippi 20 the West and Northwest. The more
accurately maps Of Minnesota shall he drawn
the more plainly and incontrovcrtibly will the
enviabc position Of the town appear. Give us
anything like decent thoroughfars and vast
amount Of western travel will concentrate and
distribute its tides here. II is not 40 much ior
tho interest Of this place, then, that We a,lyo-
cate the construction Of a government road from
here to Fort Ri,lglcy. II Is because this is OBJ
viously the place for it to start from in its pro
grcs~ westward The road however, in some
shape, should he built without delay. The con
dtion Of the Indians upon our frontiers is an
unpleasant thing for Minncsotan to contcm-
plate, II is not to lie denied that the red men
are in an irritable state Of feeling, OF course
they cannot wage war successfully with the
whites. But they can burn, plumber and d,s-
troy much property before they are whipped
They can make the borders too hot to hold act
tiers FIR while. II would bc disgrace To the
government II they should gain temporary
success because stores needed by our troops for
the prosecution 81 the war were delayed in y
roundabout course Of transportation to the scat
Of the struggle The proposed road will not
cost great sum. But If its cost should amount
to u large expenditure Of money. there il still
no excuse for the government, Al peace, rs
the United States are, with all the world abroad
our defence at home against savage foes may
very Justly tap the plcthoric treasury Of the
nation, Besides the cost Of military roads to
the distant outposts Of the army il indirectly
paid tcniold to the country by the rapid spread
Of civilization along the skirts Of these national
highways. The gun-carriagc, tumbrel and am.
bulance may never roll over them--thc tramp
Of armed iorccs may never bc heard upon them
but the wheels Of the cmgrants heavy laden
wagon will rattle over the pathway. and the hum
Of busy people is soon heard around thu hitherto
isolated FORTRESS tn which the read leads Soon
the post IL no longer needed, but the expense Of
maintaining il is saved The dismantls,i forti-
dcation becomes. perhaps. the nucleus Of an i'm.
portant town, and all this many a year sooner
ior the building Of the military road.