The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-29

contract Tor building anu running an exper-
mental steamboat, which shall he ready 10
start by the first of May next; that $4,000
have already been subscribed by the people
Of Selkirk settlement, md that Il Ia proba.
bic that all may be expected from the Ga.
madam Government. A Committe was
also appointed to apply to the State legis-
lature for aid and the whole matter seems
now to be in such a shape, that II is proba
ble that oil tho plans and expectations OF
the originators OF the enterprise will soon he
realized
From theS. !. Evceiag Post
Tux Errxcr or rnK FRAzsa RivKR DIS.
ooykRIEs.--1'hat the Pacific Railroad was 10
oa ssa; On , sDa:ae.s saase. .s;e farther soa.h
the better, has been forgone conclusion
with the government for some years. Mon.
ey enough has been spent In the explora
ton of southern routcs--all but two or
three Of them being through Tcsas--to
build many miles OF the roal from ST. Paul
TO Pugc, Sound. One million of dollars
spent In Texas engineering, seven hundred
and tiity thousand spen, in printing the sur
veys ten millions paid by General Gadsdcn
for strip Of desert territory outside Of our
own boundaries, since railroad was i'm.
practicable In that section Of country with
In them, q quarter OF million spent for
wagon road over the said dcscrt. another
quarter OF u million spent for l.actrian cam.
els aud l,edouin dromalarics 10 be used
where there was little water, another quar-
ter Of million spent Tor digging Artesian
wells, where water was 10 scarce that even
camels could not live all these items, add.
ed roughly amount 10 twelve millions Of dol
lars. and are exclusive oi the sum we shall
soon have to pay for organizing Arizonia
into territory, and for supporting the
Utah troops yet 10 be sent into that region
for the protection OF the settlers and the
Southern Pacific Railroad
The gold discoveries on Frazer river did
not enter into the account when Secretary
Davis determined 10 push the southern route
through at all hazards aud any expense. II
is to be feared that they will disturb his cal.
culations, and that, too, whether the gold
mines there prove IN be Of limited extent. or
form part Of the same geologic structure
common 10 the California gold districts and
the country between The Mexican war
the discovery Of gold In California, the To-
land trade with New Mexico, together with
the influence Of a government for mnny
years managed In the interest OF the south.
ern portion Of the Coniederacy, have united
in directing attention TO the practicability
Of reaching the Pacific by more southern
route, TO the total neglect Of the one which
Lewis and CIarkes expedition indicated No
long ago m 1904. and Coy. Stevens sur.
vey proved practicable In 1853, In spite
OF limited means and Official discountc-
nance.
The gold discoveries in Frazer river will
not merely call together In the northern
part Of Washington Territory population
anticipating by decades the slow Increase
from natural emigration, but will also direct
public attention 10 the eastern States TO the
most practicable route 10 the Pacific II Is
an astonishing fact that over fifteen thou.
sand persons have deserted their homes Ia
California, and put of by every means Of
conveyance for Frazer river and we should
not be surprised il the next steamer an.
nounod that number doubled. Itisa more
significant fact, however. and especially 10
the people this side Of tbs Mississippi. that
public attention is being directed 10 Gov.
Stevens route from H. Paul 10 Puget
Sound a. the most practicable, il not the
only practicable, line Tor the highway be.
tween the two oceans