The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-14


were wanting in m adequate supply Of A.
mospheric moisture.
With these facts Of Genealogical eapaci-
" established, AZ the whole tenor and sig
nifcance Of American research ON this point
clearly shows, 1t may he easy to understand
the descriptions Of those who have Travelled
there. and To connect the somewhat meagrc
accounts yet written. II Is most surprising
that % little II known Of the great Islands.
and the long line Of coast from Pugets
Sound 10 Sitka, ample N liz resources must
be even for recruiting the transit commerce
Of tho Pacific, independent Of its immense
intrinsic value To the region bordering
the northern Pacific the finest maritime po-
sitios belong throughout ts entire extent,
and no part OF the west Of Europe exceeds
II In the advantages u cqnabie climate, fer
tile soil, and commercial accessibility Of the
coast. The western slope Of the Rocky
Mountain system may be included IA part
Of this maritime region, embracing ap i'm
mcnse area from the 4Jth 10 the Goth paral-
ri and five degrees Of longitude in widtk.--
The cultivable surface Of this district can
not BIZ much s~s than three hundred Moumnd
square mules. .
Next Ia the area Of tho plains East OF
the Rocky Mountsins--not less rerDarka-
bic than the first for the absence 81 atten-
ton heretofore given 10 lis intrinsic value
a. productive and cultivable region, with
In easy reach Of emigration. This Is
wedge. shaped tract. ten degrees Of longitude
Ia width ut is base, along the 47th parallel,
inclined northwcstward 10 conform 10 the
trend OF the Rocky Mountains, and termi-
Mating not far from the Goth parallel in
narrow line, which still extends along the
Mackenzie for three or four degrees Of lati
tude, Id y climate barely tolerablc. Lord
Selkirk began his efforts ut colonization here
~ early m 1893 and from personal know
ledge he then claimed tor this tract capa-
city " support thirty millions Of inhabitants
Al the grains OF the cool temperate lati.
tudes are produced abundanty. Indian
corn may be grown on both branches Of the
Saskatchewan, and the grass 81 the plains is
singularly abundant and rich. Not only in
the earliest period Of exploration OF these
plains. but now, they are the great resort
Tor buffalo herds, which, with the domestic
herds. and horses Of the Indians and the
colonisis, remain on them and at their wood
land borders through the year, The simple
fact 81 the presence OF these vast herds Of
wild cattle On pinins nj 10 high a latitude IL
ample proof ~ the Genealogical and pro.
ductive capacity Of the country. OF theec
plains and their woodland borders the vau
able surface measures fully FIVE hundred
thousand square miles.
IN various parts Of the prcsen, work, ref
ercncs@ have been made 10 the leading Incl.
denta Of natural capacity aud Of actual
growth in the Northwestern districts IL IL
not necessary to repeat them here AMI the
p-n-~n' ~n-'s 81 Grsy' &C. direct attention
Of the Tcrrimpment IN that quarter, as one
-, early the greatest field in which
a advantages await the use Of g viii.
M nations. The reason for most Of the
previous and present neglect Of this region
lies in mistaken views Of its climate and the
peculiarities OF much OF the Lake Superior
district arc such a. 10 pcrpetuatc the mis-.
take, With the unusual severity Of the last
two or three winters there. It appears in
credible that the country mt the West, rising
towards the Rocky Mountains, should be
less severe. Bnt the vast plain rises very
little. Fort Union ia but 1000 tcot above
tho sca, aud Fort Benton but 1900, though
10 of longitude duo west Of the plain nj
tho sources OF the Mississippi at 1900 feet,
Much of il declines In altitude northwest
ward. indeed, toward the northern lake
basins aud Hadsons Bay. The increase Of
temperature westward, Is quite ~ rapid ~ it
10 southwark to New Mexico, and the Pa
clio borders ut the 50,h parallel are mildcr
in winter than Santa Fe. In every condi.
ton forming tho b,lsis Of national wealth,
the continental mass lying westward and
northwStwarl from Lake Superior ia far
more valuable than the interior in lower lat.
itudcs, OF which Salt Lake and Upper New
Mexico are the prominent known districts.
The history Of this Northwestern district,
has unusual interest also, though the details
are meagrc. French traders ranged the fer
tile plains Of Red river aud the Saskatcha-
wan nearly two centuries since. and the rich
trade In iuu and petries has for so ma
ny years been constantly gathered from
the surrounding tracts through that as u
ontral ARIA. This occupation was coeval
with the Spanish occupation OF New Next
co and California, and hut for the pernicioas
views cntailed by the fur traffic az To the ne
oSsity Of preserving Il asa wilderness, i,
would long since have been opened To colo
nisatiou. The Hudsons Day and North
west companies had gigantic contest for
possession, after the French had given way
10 British dominion In Canada. and both
thcsc companies at last concentrated their
strength on efforts to prsrvc the wilder
ness, and to crush tho infant colony OF Lord
Sclkirk.
The whole space herein designated, the
Northwest IL. however. the join, possession
Of the United States ard Great Britain, not
only In Territorial title, but in all the luci-
dcnts Of Development Its commercial and
Industrial capacity rs gigantic, and one which
Il is the highest in,er,s, N both govern
meu,s to bring out at the earliest moment,
The Illustration Of the summer and win.
ter climates tor the country north of the
koth tavallsl Ia given thouyh with less f,t