The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-01-31

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THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 20, 1857.
namov,l OF the Seat Of Government.
In the following communication, St. Peter
nresents her claims to become the mture
capital of Minnesota. We, as representa-
tives of proper feeling upon this SUBJECT
are willing to present the claims OF st fe'er'
and all other towns that have like preten-
sions to make. Our columns are open ior
respectfully written communications upon
this subject from any quarter:
For the Mipnesotian.
The Future Capital Of Minnesota.
1t cannot have escaped the observation
of the people of Southern and Central MIN
nesota, that the natural point for the future
capital is st. Peter, situated as it is, ABOUT
ninety miles from the Iowa line on the noutn,
the same distance from the Wisconsin line
on the East, and the line Of Minnesota as
proposed, on the West, and about ninety
miles from the farthest settlement on the
North.
If the State of Minnesota is bounded on
the North by lat. 46 deg. 80 min. on
the East by the St. Croix and Mississippi
rivers, on the South by Iowa and the Mis-
souri, river, on the West by the 81 thdeg. OF
longitude, or by the Missouri river up to the
46 deg. 80 min. lat, St. Peter is in the CEN
ire of the State and population as near as
need be. No sane man can deny that the
tide of emigration is going West from the
Mississippi river, and generally keeping
South of 46 deg. 80 min. hence the heavy
body of the population Of Minnesota must
be West of that king Of rivers, and mainly
South of 46 deg, 80 m;n.; and soon it
will be seen that the great mass of the popu-
lation will be even West Of the gath deg. OF
long, and mainly West of line running
from the Northeast corner of Sibley county,
South, to the Iowa line.
The Railroad men of the United States
are all looking for investments in roads run
ming East and West from the Mississippi
river, where they are to connect with roads
leading East to the great commercial centre
of the continent Who will pretend that the
Railroads of this country will not mainly run
East and West? Who that thinks can es-
cape the conviction that the destiny Of our
future commerce, intercourse, travel and
trade is to be East and West across the con-
tinent? The Railroads are all struggling to
get to the Pacific from the Gulf Of Mexico
to the head waters of the Mississippi river,
and these projects arc on the tongues of cv-
cry statesman, and in the columns of every
newspaper, all eagerly interested in bringing
before the public a favorite route, and estab-
fishing its claims for preference. Texas is
m wing, Arkansas is moving, Missouri is
moving, Iowa is moving for Railroads to the
Pacific. The American commerce of the
Atlantic coast is struggling to shake hands
with that Of the Pacific, by the central land
routes. English capitalists and English
travellers, and mechanics are not idle specta-
tors to these new developments of Ameaican
enterprise and industry; all these see that
if they can cross this continent from New
York to San Francisco with the speed of 400
miles per day, and save trip of six months
around Cape Horn, they will be brought into
weekly communication with the East Indies,
instend Of the twelve months required by
tho prerent modes. All three of the late
candidates for the Presidency of the
United States were compelled to yield to
public opinion, and favor a railroad commune
cation across the continent to open up new
world of commerce to American enterprise
The age and era has been baptized in the
blue waves of the Pacific, and who can say
that every new enterprise does not tend
Westward, and hasten to meet and battle
itself in its life giving waters. Minnesota,
too, has become inspired with the idea of
railroad connexions east and west, and no
power but the interposition oDvine Provi-
dence, can prevent the early establishment of
line between Dubuque and the Valley of
the Minnesota and Upper Mississippi rivers !;
between Prairie du Chen and the same riv-
ers ; between La Crosse and the Root River
Valley route, to the same rivers, betweenWin-
ona on the Mississippi and the same rivers
west; between Red Wing, Wabashaw, Hast
ings, and St. Paul, west to the upper Mime
sofa and Missouri rivers between St. An
thony, Minneapolis, st. Cloud Monticello,
Watab, Little Falls: Crow Wing and Lake
Superior-each of these routes commencing
on the eastern and northeastern line of
Minnesota, and running west and west
ward. As the population goes west, Mime
sofa will begin to feed and supply the new
settlers, and thus find steady home market
for the surplus produce, as Illinois, Iowa and
Wisconsin have, in supplying the new and
non-producing emigration to Minnesota.
Chicago and Lake Superior are the central
points from and at which the thoroushfares
are to start and terminate on the north and
south of St. Paul, and the latter will be from
her central geographical position, the central
point on the Father Of Waters, to, through,
and from which, the Central, Eastern and
Wastarn rAilroode oro 70 rod:..a