The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-29
For the Minnesotian.
PHILADELPHIA. March 18th. 1856

-~iAAASoooo'As
PHILADELPHIA, March 18th, 1856.
MEssRs. demonstrating watched in si=
lence the movements of the Supreme Court
at Washington, relative to the Minnesota
and Northwestern Railroad, projected from
Dubuque, through Iowa and Minnesota to st.
Paul, L ask the privilege of an insertion in
your Misunderstanding sheet, of the follow
ing brief view of this subject.
TO portion Of the citizens of st. Paul.
and few capitalists in Wall street, this pro-
jected Railroad may seem clear as specula-
ton. Although the writer has no pecunary
interest in st. Paul, lie thinks it but justice
to the mass of people living in and about that
city to give in this article the plain state
ment of few facts as they actually exist
During the summer of '55, several gentlemen
Experienced travelers) and myself made
the tour of parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa,
Minnesota and Wisconsin, and actual survey
proves clearly to us that if the Dubuque and
St. Paul road should be built, it would give
st. Paul a stroke Gas commercial city from
which it could never recover. Every one
who has surveyed the lands in Minnesota
will agree with me when I say that the dis
trict lying south of latitude 45a is the best
land for agriculture in the Territory. Every
days experience shows this fact: that this
part of the Territory is being taken up and
settled upon. The district of which here
speak is the only land from which tie city
of st. Paul can expect produce for tie assist
ance and maintenance of city which bids
fair to become the largest city in the North
west, provided capital shall be directed in
the proper channel, which ask the people
of St. Paul, if it would not be to construct
a road from tie Great Lakes, (Which are tie
source of the Des Moines River) to the city
of st. Paul. The country through which it
would pass, is level; and road could be
built with less cost than any otEer road in
the Western States. A straight line road
will find but few streams of any magnitude
to impedeit, and could be built with few OK
ceptions ON the surface of the country
through which it passes. By this road tie
produce of the best land within the Terrific
ry will be brought to St. Paul; whereas, if
the Dubuque Road should be built, the pro-
ducc of this district would undoubtedly be
carried to point on tie road near the Iowa
line, and from thence bid adIeu to NIinncso-
70 oil r.
Another objection to the Dubuque Road is
that during winter it would be continually
closed with snow, and would require the in
come Of the summers business to keep it
open. All experience proves that roads con-
structed over prairie-wLere, perhaps, but
few miles of woods can be found to shelter
it are closed by snow at every change OF the
weather during winter. 1 do not say that
this Iowa Road should not be built but ask
the citizens of st. Paul seriously to consider
the Importance of a road from the head wa
tiers of the .Dcs Moines to st. Paul, before
they urge capitalists to commence the con-
struction of the Iowa Road. 1t is of very
little consequence to capitalists what direc-
ton the road takes, so that it pays large
dividend, as it is on their part an affair of
speculation. feel safe in saying that ii men
interested in the progress of St. Paul would |
present the true interest Of their city to cap
itallsts of Wall street, it would be as easy
to secure the capital for the Mississippi and
Des Moines Road as any other Railroad
Any one can see that it would secure to St.
Paul what it cannot prosper without The
produce of the Territory without which I
cannot see how they could expect st. Paul
to be city much larger than it is at present.
have no doubt but every citizen of St. Paul
is anxious to have road by which they can
at any time have communication with the
Southeast. The road through Iowa was one
IF the routesj it has been spoken Of and ABLY
argued in the Supreme Court of the United
States, but SO far without success.
There is another road which / pronounce
superior in every respect to the Iowa route.
It is well known to most of your readers
hat road has been surveyed from Hudson
o Lake SUPERIOR and that the report of the
surveyor is daily expected. There is every
eason to believe that this road will be built
$ soon as possible. That it will greatly inn
'rove the country through which it will pass
ma De an enterprise much needed, (consid-
ring the low stage of water in the Upper !
overs, whichis every year becoming more
iarmlng) no one will deny. This road will !,
ring to Hudson large lumber trade from :
region at present lying dormant for want
this road. In view of the moves that
ave been made, 1 consider it most import /
Mt TO the city of St Paul, to let no opportu- d
ity pass to secure the capital for the con- v
truction of road from st. Paul to Hudson, I
hence to Rush River-crossing it at a point Y