The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-05
The New Northwestern Esep,rc--llrtsish
aud American Reciprocity.

Under this heading the New York Her.
did devotes q column or two Of leading edi.
torial TO the subject Of the effect which the
gold discoveries on Frazer River are 70
have on the development Of the Northwest,
and the new empire, whose middle path shall
lie through the districts northwest Of Min
nesota. In the discussion, the Herald makes
free use Of the materials which have been
afforded by the reports Of the meeting held
in this city--and while concedng the ad.
vanlages of the route which il is proposed to
establish from this point TO Frazer River
or rather, which may be regarded NJ already
established. since public attention has been
called to it--ior American emigration. the
editor states that the Canadians will prefer
another route,
The Canadians, says the Herald, are al
ready alive 10 the necessity Of direct com
munication with the new auriierous region,
They have regular line Of steamships from
Toronto 10 Fort William, on the northwest
coast of Lake Superior, and bill has been
introduced into the Canadian Legislature TO
build a route from Fort William to the set
Elements on the Red River. This route will
be nearly all by water; II will avoid the
roundabout way Of st. Paul-savng some
eight hundred miles. The Minnesota people
say that they !" will join heartily with the peo-
Of Canada in the policy OF colonzng the
western districts Of British America" and
that 4" relations Of reciprocal treaty" should
be extended over that portion Of the impc-
rial possessions. Our reciprocity treaty on
" applies now TO Canada, Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and the island adjaccnt
Bot the designs Of the people Of Mime
sofa embrace no such scheme for the diver
sion Of the trade or travel Of the New
Northwest, from tho st. Paul route, M is
here proposed The Herald has evidently
paid but little attention to the map, In max.
ing statement NO wide Of the mark, IN that
which gives the route by Fort William,
from Canada, the preference ofdstanoe over
the St Paul route, Of eight hundred miles
The distance TO Fort William, from Lake
ST. Clair, which ID the Canadian point Of
departure is nearly the same as toSt. Paul.
The time occupied in performing the jour
Dey from Windsor to 81. Paul Is much
shorter than ON the steamboat route TO Fort
William.
Now, st. Paul and Fort William, bcin
at equal distances from the point Of depart
ure, the only difference will be in their re-
spcctve distances from their destination on
Red River.
The distance from ~. Paul 10 Pcmbina
IL about four hundred and fifty miles.
The distance from Fort William 10 the
same point " 800 miles. So that,
instead Of 500 miles, the difference In dis
tanoe between the Fort William route and
that via st. Paul from Canada is only
about 80 miles in all.
There Ia no deion IN the question. ~.
Paul lies for oil the Western and Middle
States, as the Herald says, on the direct
line 10 Frazer river. And the whole project
ola Pacific Railroad from 81. Paul looks 10
q Canadian connection az its nearest outlet
which in liz very inception rebukes the no
ton Of the existence Of route having sueh
advantages in point Of distance rs the Her
aid assumes
II IL sufficient TO say OF the Fort William
route through Rainy lake river, that il is
impracticable, except 10 experienced voy
ayeurs that a. water route ii is naviga.
bic for nothing but canoes, and presents a
constant succession Of difficult portages. and
that it has been voluntarily abandoned by
the Red River settlers NJ u point Of ship
ment for their goods, and the rouG To 81
Paul adopted iDstead-a fact conclusive
upon their respective merits. These consid
erations must effectualy and finally dispose
Of any pre,ensions at up for tina, deserted
canoe route, which ia addition to the diff
cutie, Of transportation through q chan
nj broken with ipnumerabe rapids, and
over country rugged with bills, Is assaiIed
by all the dangers Of navigation through
the stormy waters Of lakes Superior ADD
| Huron.
And the fac. remains that the nearest and
best praa,eabie route Of emigration TO the
grea, country byosd p lies through Min
pzota Premising the measures which
have been taken by the home and colonial
governments for the development Of this re-
gion, the Herald has the following upon the
effect which the new tendency given to pop