The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-10-01


Fort Aux Ceires, and passing through an
inferior country in respect 10 wood and wa
ter
The road from Fort Ridgely fellows the
Cotton Wood River. for some distance, in u
southwest drction then proceeds west
warlly until il strikes Lake Benton passes
over the Cotcau DIES Prairie, r,a the natural
roadway, called llolc-in.the Mountain, and
crosses the Big Sioux River, two miles be
low the town of Medary. The road is laid
out from the Big Sioux to the james River,
IN n direct western direction. and crosses the
latter stream few miles north of Sandy
Hin River, From this point, It's course is
due west to the Missouri.
Col. NoBlEs informs us, that between
Fort Ridgely and the Missouri, by the road
laid out, horse cannot travel two hours,
without finding water. Springs lakes, and
STRAINS are plentiful on the route But il
the traveller DIVORCES, either north or south,
from the line of road marked out. he will
find water scarce, and Of very poor quail
ity
The road from For, R,gely to Missouri, is
good one and q high, buggy or heavily laden
wagon can be driven over it, without dn-
Guilty Al point On the road is the grad
higher than eighty feet to the mile, and this
: ,:sys.s.s -s.>,y eeeara n ascending The high
prairie between the James River and the
Missouri.
But two bridges, both over the Cotton
wool River, will be necessary on the road.
Good fordng places have been secured at oil
the streams. and wherever il was advisable,
the bottoms of the rivers were paved with
boulders. Particularly on the Sioux and
James rivers, safe and convenient fords have
been selected. Care has been taken TO con
struct u safe road over all the swamps and
! low lamb.
To designate the road, mounds have been
constructed, from three TO five feet In
heighth. on the side Of the road, its entire
length. These mounds are placed at inter
walls Of quarter and half mile and nearer
together, wherever il is deemed necessary.
/ This mound building was the most laborious
work performed on the expedition; nearly
twenty five hundred were constructed be-
tween Fort Ridgely and the Missouri
The party did no. design proceeding lar
Their than the Missouri this season. They
reached that river the latter part Of August,
and started on their return on the first OF
September, improving and completing the
road M they came eastward. The entire
read 10 the Missouri will be completed about
the 10th Of October.
CHARACTER 90 rng COUNTRY.
Between Fort Rdgcy aud the james
River the country is excellent; ], resembles
with the exception Of the absence Of timber,
the general appearance Of southern and
middle Minnesota The praircs are rolling,
and water is plentiful and good. The valley
Of the James River, Col. NoBi.rs represents
"a a paradise for the grazer. II II from
one to three miles wide, devoid Of timber
yet with growth Of grass, IN
eanalled in the country, in extent and rich
ncss. There is nothing 10 prevent the entire
country between Fort Ridgely and james
River being densely settled, but the scarcity
Of timber. The land is very rich aud water
is plentiful in lakes, running streams. and
springs.
Beyond the james River tho character
Of the country changes. u il entirely
devoid Of TIMBER, and water ia scarce and
brack;sh and saline 10 i,s character. This
continues until the streams cmp'yin2 directly
into the Missouri are reached. Wood then
becomes more plentiful and exists IN mni.
Gent QUANTITIES 70 meet the wants Of the
settlements.
Col MONIES has ~ the work allotted 10
him, bat To complete the portion between
Fort Look Out and the South Pass. dc
,ance OF $50 miles.
The james River AT the point where the
read crosses il, il navigable for a small class
Of steamboats. This is about one huDdr-l
mIs4 from the month. Col NOBLE ~ Of
opinion it is navgabIe for the same class Of
boa,s oJ,e hundred miles north ri the road
crossing. The river is narrow, eropked,
deep and sluggish.
THE yrrypirros.
. Col. NomEs .paks in The higbes, terms
Of the conduct Of the persons competing the
e1psiitioo. Not a single case of sicknss-
has occurred, nor an accident 81 serious
character Good feeling has prevailed from
the start. among the members Of the party.