Minnesota weekly times., 1857-05-02
OUR RAILROAD SYSTEM.


" Land Grant," which you have been called to-
gethsr to dispose of, and of the various lines Of
Railroads which it will be your duty to adopt un-
der that grant. If you will take pencil and turn
to the map, we will endeavor together to trace the
Railroad system of Minnesota u system not
equalled in extent, or compreheusiveness by that
of any State in the Union. We will commence
in Southern Minnesota, our richest and best por-
ton. Here we find the Root River and branches
draining the 6ue agricultural counties of Hous-
ton, Winona, Fillmore, Olmsted, Mower and
Territory. A grant of lands is given, up the val
ley of this river from La Crescent, opposite La
Crosse, Wis.,, via Target Lake, to point of juno
ton with the road from Winona, east of range
seventeen. This will be the New York and Erie
Road Of our Empire State. Like the N. Y. and
E. R. r., it starts from large city, but has its
terminus on the banks of a magnificent naviga-
BILE stream, communicating with large cities below
it, and on the opposite bank with railroads lead
ing to every part of the United States. Follow
ing up Root river from La Crescent, town in en-
bryo as yet. it will pass through Hokah, Mound
City, GAINESVILLE, Houston and Rushfort, to the
junction of the middle and north forks of the
river; thence up the north fork to Chat6eld,
striking the south fork of the ZombrO at Marion;
thence down that stream, and forming junction
with the Winona road at Rochester. This is the
most direct route, and effects junction in range
fourteen.
For the better developement Of Southern Min
nesots and where lands can be secured, the route
will most probably be carried west as far as the
Land Grant will permit. 1t would then follow
up the North fork of Root river to High Forest and
Pleasant Valley; thence striking north west, form
ing junction at Mantorvlle, Sacramento or Wa
sioja. From the junction the route will be down
branch Of the Owatonia river, via Claremont, to
Owatona; thence down the Owal0nia river to
Clinton, where the only outlet to the west will be
up Crance Creek, in the direction OF Swaresey
and st. Peters; thence on to the head waters of
Big Sioux River, South Of latitude As, at Kam-
peska lake, which is in direct line towards the
the Oakwood Settlement the head ef navigation
on the James river, to the west. This road, if
carried onward, will cross the Missouri about
midway between our northern and southern boun-
uoL AZ iobAeuVO 1Vs 1uio WILL ooCuE0 0u0 1ouO
of the whole southern and south western portion
OF Minnesota, and will develope the inexhausti-
BILE resources of those fertile portions to degree
seldom equalled, and never yet surpassed in the
history of railroads in the United States. This
road we claim as second in Importance in our
railroad system.
From Winona, We have a grant of lands west,
covering the same ground alluded to above, to
the west of tho junction, and it will be just and
proper enough for your honorable bodies to char
ter company to construct the road from Vino
ma west, and give that company the lands, if any
can be found, but in the exhuberapce Of our Joy
we will not claim too much nor count on roads,
which will to certainty. always be air lines.
We now pass into the centre of Minnesota and
quote the language of the Land Bill: &c From
Saltwater, vis st. Paul, and St. Anthony, to a
point between the foot of Big Stone Lake and the
mouth of the Sioux Wood River, with branch
via St. Cloud and Crow Wing 70 the navigable
waters of the Red River of the North, at such
point as the Legislature may determine"
As the Legislature here has power to define the
routes and termini of the roads, We will enquire
where those termni shall be, and the routes to be
adopted What portion of the country most
needs deveiepement and railroad communication
between saltwater and the Red River Of the
North? We answer, the region directly west N.
W. of Minneapolis, passing along the north shore
of Lake Minnetonka, through the counties Of Hem
nspin, Carver, Meeker, Davis and Pierce, to the
portage between the head of Lake Traverse and
Big Stone Lake, from which point good steam
boat navigation will be FOUND via Lake Traverse,
Sioux Wood and Red Rivers, te psmbina, Selkirk
tinued, will strike the La Crescent road at its
ing of the Missouri, and each form branch Of
the Great Northern Route to the Pacific. As Min
neapolis is not mentioned in the line OF this grant,
you can if you choose, run the main road up the
Mississippi above ST. Anthony, and cross the river
at Anoka, Itasca or Monticello, thence on to the
mouth of the Bois des Sioux. route directly
from Minneapolis to the mouth of the Sioux
Wood, would leave too large scope Of country
between it and the La Crescent route without an
east and west line Of communication, forcing that
region to depend entirely upon tho uncertain nav
igation Of the Minnesota river.
The country next in order, is that portion lying
the Mississippi and st. CrOix rivers. Here is a
region almost unknown, and certainly uncared
for. Here lands can be obtained. Here ia good
soil-fne lakes and the commencement of tho
pineries. Nov for your " branch road via Saint
Cloud and Grew Wing to the navigable waters of
the Red River of the North.' The mouth of the
Sioux Wood is at the head Of nsyigation of the
Red River. These are the I" navigsbis waters,' -
but if you prefer to strike them further down,
even at Pembins or The British line, so let it be
but remember that you must cross Red River at
its head or down towards the line, as the Plateau
du Coteau des Prsiries extend north in parallel
line to Red River, and about thirty miles to the
west of it, making any extension of the road
across their line impossible. The best route to
the Missouri from the head of Big Stone Lake
and Lake Traverse, and from the mouth of the
Sioux Wood, is to Dead Colt Hillock, which lies
in an opening or pass in the line of the Coteau
des Prairies, thence up the Shayenne along Ste-
ven's route to the Pacific.
Supposing it to be impossible to proceed any
further west than Kampeska Lake, in latitude As,
On the Big Sioux end La Crescent road, on ac-
count of the Coteau between the Sioux and James
Rivers, We still will have two branches of the
great Pacific road passing through cur State to
Lakes Superior and St. Croix on our eastern bor-
der. But whether you connect with the head or
the foot Of Red River, you come in accordance
with the grant, to Grow Wing, thus forming one
half of the communication betxesa Red River
and Lake Superior, and thence descend the Mis-.