The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-01-10

The following interesting extracts from /.
letter written by prominent citizen of the
Seikirk Settlement, on the Red River of the
North, in March last, demonstrating the ef
forts OF the settlers there to deyelope the re.
sources of that country, we copy from the
Toronto Colonist: = - ~
I'VE are beginning to feel the contagious
influence of progressive p' oximity to our 90.
ahead neighbors, (the people of Minnesota y
and We are about to line our pockets or burn
our fingers by the all prevailing influence Of
steam. A steam engine is next summer to
De brought from st. Paul, (the capital of Min
nesota,) TO the ihead-waters of Red river
there to be put on board boat to be built on
the spot, and when brought down, is to be
applied to propelling said tug, or to grind
corn, or saw wood, or to make shingles. as
interest or convenience may demand. This
is TO oe done by joint stock company, of
winch am shareholder. Our hopes are
humble, but our effort is well meant. I do
not expect my pocket to benefit, but l hope
TO see laudable enterprise and intelligent in
dustry promoted, and in the general prosper
lty OF the settlement, hope my young rep
resentatives may participate. - -.
Among the many schemes devised for our
social improvement, there is one in which I
'eel much interest, and would risk much to
promote; viz the manufacture Of beet root
sugar Between f3; 900 and $4,000 are an
nuaily spent for sugar in the colony alone.
besides what is consumed in the surrounding
country. Tea and sugar are now important
articles of Indian trade; and if supply at
lower price could be afforded, the quantity
consumed would be inealcuajly greater
Herein, think, there is a reward fer enter
prise, but have much ignorance to contend
with You know the difficulty we have in
importing from York Factory the quantity of
sugar required for the settlement, and YOU
would confer lasting benefit on your conn-
try in general, and on myself in particular, if
you could afford me information as to the
manufacture Of beet-root sugar, or point out
any source from whence could obtain it.
The settlement, though of course very
far behind you in Canada, in the race of i'm
provement, is advancing gradually. Agri-
culture is extending, and ready market
may now be found for more than we are vet
able to spare. Machinery, in small way,
is becoming more and more valued, and there
is prospect of prominent settlement be-
ing formed at Pembina (situated in the Uni
ted States, close to the boundary line, y which
will a few years be connected with the
Mississippi by the filing up of the lnteryen-
ing, country, and from thence, for MANY
years, will there be demand upon us for
more live stock than under the present sys-
tenn we can raise. We are beginning to feel
the want of improvement, and that is always
one step in the right direction. - is pre
pairing trip to St. Paul, to bring threash-
ing machine. -
The company show no sympathy for the
progresstre character Of the age, adhering still
to the old routine but fear, not with much
advantage, as the Red river free traders are
spreading over the country: some with ad-
vantage to themselves, but all to the injury
of good old H. B. c." eiaa5 ~ -