The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-11-27
Eros ~ w aahiussass.
censsaoaaeaee ef the fieAser AMI pemsersi
WASHINGTON, Nov, 10, 1856.


Correspondence Of the PisAeet and pemssraL
i WAsulSoroS. Nov. 10. 1856.
i Col. Ssrus report Of his expedition Il
Pembina has no, yet been received at the Wal
Department The Adjadant General however
has received M interesting letter from him
dated on the 9th September, when he was with,
in aboat thirty mikes Of Peinbina.
think the opinions gaining groand, among
capitalists, that Pacific Rail Road, which
shall cross some part Of Minnesota. is an avail
able undertaking. The wonderful resources Of
the Territory, and the favorable statements Of
Gov. STEVENS, arr most encouraging circum.
stances in support Of the project. Whatever
can facilitate the development Of those rcsourc.
Is, will advance the enterprise. There is
always great rush Of emigration from the old
States into new Territories and il cannot b,
doubted tina, the early organization Of the Ter
ri,ory Of Pcmbna viii hasten the settlement Of
the Red River valley, and Of the country
around the head waters Of the Mississippi,
while al the same time il will not impair. but
rather increase the prosperity of the proposed
new State OF Minnesota.
| Permit mo TO call attention 20 the following
reasons why Congress should aid the ccnstruc.
zion OF the Pacific Railroad. which take from
the last Report OF the Secretary Of War:
The facts Developed by these surveys. add
cd to other information which We posscss, sug-
AZ
regard TO our territory on the Pacific. They
exhibit il AS n narrow slope Of an average width
Of less than one handrc,l and fifty miles Of cal-
tiyatod land. skirtiug the ocean for distance
Of one thousand miles; rich In those mineral
productions which are tempting even beyond
their value, and which would bc most readily
turned ~ the use Of an invader; drained by
two rivers OF widespread branches aud with
sca.por;s lying SO directly upon the ocean tina,
hostile lieet could commence mn attack upon
any one OF them within few hours alter bcing
deserted from land; Or. il fortified against nj.
tack, so few in number that comparatively lew
ships would suffice 10 blockade them.
This territory Is not more remote from the
principal European States than from those parts
VI our own country whence IL would derive its
military supplies, and some Of those States
have colonies and possessions on the Pacific
which would greatly facilitate their operations
against it. With these advantages, aud those
which the attacking force always has, OF choice
OF time and place, an ennmy possessing con-
siderable military marine could, with compare.
lively little cost TO himself, subject us 10 cnor-
nous expenses, in giving TO our Pacific frontier
that protection which il is the duty Of the gen
cral government TO afford.
In the first years Of war with any great
marintimc power, the communication by sa
could not be relied upon for the transportation
Of supplies from the Atlantic to the Pacific
States. Our naval peace establishment would
not furnish adequate conveys for the number Of
storeships which IL would he necessary to em-
ploy, anil storcships alone laden with supplies
could not undertake voyage OF twenty thou
sand miles, passing numerous neutral ports
where an cnemys armed vessels even Of the
smallest size, might lic in wait TO intercept
them.
The only line Of communication, then, would
be overland and by this II would be mpracti-
cable, with any means heretofore used, 10 Turn
ish the amount OF supplies required for the de-
fence OF the Pacific frontier. AZ the present
prices over the best part OF tins routc the az.
pcnsc OF land transportation alone Tor the an
nual supplies Of provisions, clothing, camp
cqupage and ammunition for such an army M
il would bc necessary 10 maintain there, would
cxcevd $40 900, 900 and 10 maintain troops
aud carry on defensive operations under those
circumstance, the expense pr man would be
six times greater than IL IL now, the land
transportation OF each field twelve poun'lcf, with
due supply Of ammunition for one year, wond
cost 81 800 and each twenty.ionr FOUNDER and
ammunition $1,000 and Of sca-coasi gun and
amunition $4,000. The transportation OF
ammunition Tor year for 900 scacoast guns
would cost $4,000. 600. But the expense Of
transportation would he vastly increased by a
war and nj the rates that were paid on the
northern frontier during the last war with Great
Britain, the above estimates would be trebled.
The time required for the overland Journey
would bc from four 10 ak months. la point
Of fact, however, suppss for such an army
could not be transported across the coptipent
On the arid and barren bclts TO be crossed, the
limited quantities Of water and grass would
5000 bc exhausted by the numerous draught
animals required for heavy trains, and over
sach distances forage could not DC carried for
their subsistence.
"On the other hand. lc enemy would send
ont bIs supplies at from sne-scyenih TO one-
twentieth the above rates, and in less time
perhaps in onc-ioErth the time he should oh
tain cofnmaad ~ the tsthmus routes
ANY reliance, therefore, upon furnishing
that part OF our frontier with means Of defence
from the Atlantic AMI interior States, after the
commencement Of h0s,Iiite-, would be vain, asd
the ncgl resource would b. to accumulate ,herc
/ Il 81