Sauk Rapids frontierman. [volume] (Sauk Rapids, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1860, 1857-04-02

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T.HURSD AY. APRIL q, 1857.
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LETTER FROM GOV. STEVENS.
The following letter. 81 inquiry from
Gov SlevensswaS lsceived4 this morn
ing /. shows The interest the Cover
nor nor still feels in the progress of a Rail
Road 70 the Pacific by the northern
route. The interests of these two terri
tories Washington and Minnesota are
identified. What is for the advantage
of one has an important bearing
upon the interests Of the other. This,
Gov. Stevens well understands, and we
are fortunate in having SO energetic and
influential man as he, il as well as a
man Of 50 much experience, on the
Pacific end Of the route, 10 advocate
this important measure. =
OLYMPIA, w. r.. Feb. 2, 1857.
JEREMIAH RUsssELL,-DEAR Sal
have received regularly your paper, and
have read j: with much interest. Everything
pertaining TO the developemsnt of Minnesota in
terests Us here, for to that rapid deselopement
will 30 OWING the construction Of the rail road
over the route which explored in the year '5s.
Many causes have retarded the development Of
this Territory, the principal cause having been
the indian war. For two years there has been
no emigration across the plains, to this Territory
and to Oregon. hope there may be some emf
grafton this season for though our Indian diff
cultiss are not yet settled, we have Military
Posts inthe Indinn country, and a force available
to push in advance 10 meet emigrants Another
year we hope for large emigration, both BY the
Northern Passes and the South Pass.
desire much to know how the Settlements
are advancing. from Sank Rapids and its vicinity
to the Red River and Pembina. 1have been in
formed that settlers located last Spring at Light
ming Lake, and that some few pioneers have
probably gone as far west as Pike Lake Let me
know how they are getting on-the progress
which will probably be made in settlement the
present year,-and whether anything has been
done to improve the ronte? Also, whether emf
grants will probably come to the Upper Mississ-
ippi Cat and above Sank Rapids) from Lake
Superior, the present season?.
!. Any information you can give me in relation to
the development Of the country about and above
you, and to the westward, viii be tha nkfully re-
ceived.
remain truly yours,
ISAAC /. STEVENS.
Settlements have been made on the
route explored by you, seventy miles
west Of Sank Rapids. An expedition
left this part ofthe country last fall,
and made SettIeme9l on Red River.
Two or three other companies left but
a short time ago, to explore and make
settlements in the same region Of coun-
try, and we have no doubt but that the
country on your route between this and
Red River, will BIZ lined with settle
ments before the dose Of the present
season.
Nothing has been done by Govern
ment to improve the route. Two years
ago, a Bill was introduced in the House
Of Representatives, at Washington,
making an appropriation Of fifty thou
sand dollars for aI emiprant road. on
your route from othis place to Fort I'm
ion. It failed for reasons heretofore
stated in this paper; and, which were
published at the time in other territorial
papers, over the signature Of the Hon
II. NJ. Rice, our then and present Del
egate. Mr.. Rice stated in those paper,
and subsequently made the same state
ment to US; that no objection would be
made to the Bill, and that all the next
Delegate would have 10 do, to insure its
passage, was to call it up. Mr.. Rice
was our next Delegate, but we have
heard no more about the Bill or Appro-
priation. *
All are expecting q large emigration
here, and above this, the present sea-
son; but not BY the way Of Lake Supe-
rior. Roads have been commenced, to
connect that point with Sank Rapids.
Little Falls and Grow Wing, but none
Of them are completed or passable.
There no doubt. will be efforts made to
complete them at an early period. The
country in the vicinity is fast being taken
up. The valley Of Sank River, which
did not contain . settler, if we recollect
rirhf when unIlr axnedifinn lafi Ca1,L