The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-10-08

7 ihS' btipic un.ikHt. Ndut ia Win tnt
Key City, Capt. Worden, coming up, at Ia
Crosse slough, by which the Ben Coursn was
instantly sunk. The Key City was uninjured
Two persons are known TO have been drowned.
The Coursin was worth about 81, 800, and will
be total loss. The following particulars of the
collision are furnished by the officers of the
Key CITY:
Steamer Key City. James worden. Comman.
der, ON her last trip from Dubuque TO st. Paul,
left La Crosse al \. VI Oct ith. In crossing
from Lat ro,se slough TO the Minnesota bluii,saw
the steamboat Ben Cour-in, Capt. Campbell,
descending. Blew ourwhistle twice, the signal
TO pass TO the left She answered correctly
/ On approaching, found she was making to the
right or between Us and the shore. Fearful
Of a collision, our engine was Immediately
stopped. reversed. and set TO backing. She
struck u and being much the Trailer boat of
the two, sank Immediately. There was no
room for boat to pass between Us ana the
shore. and if she had not gone ont of her course
would have passed in safety. We Immediately
ran alongside, and did everything in our power
TO make the rescued passengers comfortable.
Two persons, man and wife. who were asleep
! in wagon. are known TO have been lost. They
with their children who were saved, got on
board the Cour-in at Wabashaw, and were go
ing to Prairie du Chen.
The Cour-in now lies in about fifteen feet wa
ter, and will prove total loss.
The CITY CmARrER.--A proposition was sub.
mitted on Tuesday afternoon. to employ the
City Attorney to prepare charter for the city,
to be submitted to the Council for examination.
and upon being approved TO ask its passage at
the hands of the neat gi-la,ure; but it was
voted I5Ni, hIaihy be- ,use Tie 1efk iiiieyion;;
( Council had appointed committee on this sub
ject. We have our doubts. whether Council
have acted in tie most proper manner On this
subject. The present charter is very defective,
aud a new one IL necessary. lii this very ne.
ccssity which leads us to think, its getting up
should not be left TO a committee, for commit.
tees are proverbialy do nothings, and we fear
the one appointed on this subject will not be
{ an exception. But as the Council has marked
Out the course an occasional stirring up will
be necessary, TO keep them in mind Of the i'm.
poItant duty.
. TIE AGRICULTURAL FAIR The managers of
the Agricultural Fair have secured the consent
of Council to enclose portion Of Waba-haw
street, adjoining the Capitol square, for the
holding of the Fair. We think the society
could have obtained more suitable grounds,
but they have undoubtedly obtained the most
central location. There will lie probably
enonghroom fog the exhibition. We have not
learned that there will be abaloon ascension:
nor have We been informed OF any other ar.
rangements to make the Fair ass oil with cred
il TO the Territory and the city. We hope st.
Paul manufacturers viii show their handiwork
Our merchant. would do well 20 .how of their
finest goods on the occasion.
Wharf IMPROVEMENTS. The cost Of filling in
dirt and improving the wharf this season wa.
presented 10 Council on tuesday afternoon. in
bill for Nash. The amount was IL ,G0i, and
viii be paid oat OF the wharfage fund. of which
here is very hand some sum IN the Treasury.
There j a great necessity 10 have the wharf
property Mechanical: and we trn,t the Coun.
I'll wall authorize tia. 20 h. done before navi.
CATION closes, 80 that by next season, boats
will find dry and solid place upon which to
land their freight- yhe objection to entering
into new contracts canno, apply 10 this work.
a. There j. = handsome revenue now on hand,
raised from steamboats,. which We apprehoni
should be applied for no other purpose, than
improving the Levee, and paying the indeb,-
cdncss of the city Tor the grading Of the whaus.
Tbs measure woald give universal satisfaction
to business men. and few day labor toa
large number Of men who will need it before
winter sets in.
Tnk FEo-r.- Wednesday morning. the Goth
of September, may be set down as the
time when the first frost of the fall of 1857
made It's appearance. The leaves and grass
were sin and beautifully coated. Last year.
the first tros, appeared ten days earlier We
have the satisfaction OF knowing. that the corn
crop il fully ripe. and that scarcely particle
OF soft corn viii De tound in the territory
The farmers Of Minnesota have nothing TO fear
from early fall fros,s. asst IS clearly demonstrs.
ted that the Eastern and middle States are Wis.
tied quite as early with frost, and very often
before Minnesota suffer-. a. has been the fact
This year.
RsrUBiI,AS CousTY Cosy E>rio>.--Ths body
meets at the Court House this afternoon at2
o'clock +. N. The following Delegates have
been chosen from the wards named:
Fast Hard p. +. Furber, q. ". Moore, W.
II. Shelley. X. Marvin, &. II. Schlrmeier and
H. +. Slaughter.
Second Hard J. X. Humphrey. y. J. March.
B. +. Irvine John y. Davis. A. Il. keifer and
4. J. Taylor.
~,Isr P.UL MERCANTILE LIgeAKY As-o,il.
rio>.--.A general meeting Of tn. Sain, Isul
Mercantile Library Association. was held at the
Court House. on Wednesday evening. 3o,h sept.
called 10 order by the President. Constitution
and bylaws read, also the Subscription Lists.
exhibiting very gratifying progress embracing
the names Of some Of the most prominent Of
orr citizens. and subscriptions TO the amount
OF some seven to cigh, hundred dollars. he
sides large number Of works OF different