Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1858-12-25
STEAMBOATS, ON the Red River Of them ur III,
the Saskatchewan and Lake Winnipc-.

sne SASKATCHEWAN and Lake Winnipcs.
We had the pleasure Of an interview
day or two since with Captain Blakeley, tho
the we'll known pioneer Of steamboating on
the Upper Mississippi During, the past
season Captain 3. visited the Red River of
the North to ascertain by personal cxami-
nation and observance, whether that stream
may be successfully navigatcd by steam
boats. The result of his observations was
highly satisfactory, there being in l,is; opni :,
on, sufficient depth Of water for easy navisa-
ton throughout the season, from Lake Win.
nipes to the mouth Of the Cheyenne River,
distance Of about $50 mixes
We have observed statement in some oe
the newspapers, representing that Captain
BlakeIey will put steamer upon the Red
River next season. At present We think he
entertain' no such purpose. Should the
Hudson Bay Company be expelled from tho
country watered by the Red, tho Assinibo:n
anu the Saskatchewan rivers, provincial
government will bc organized, and that
whole region be thrown open by the British
Government to immismtion-an all this
within three months-thcn it would not
Surprise us at all if Captain B!akcley's
steamer should be blowing the Red River
next season. But such speedy action is not
TO be expected from Chat government. Down
ing Street has just begun to learn some:
thing ofthe real character Of the British Pos
sessions lying West of Canada and possibly
Downing Street interests are not unropre-
sented in the Hudson Bay Company. But
whether. 50 represented or not. tie Circum-
lOcutiOn Office must tako its time. Then,
there is another matter to be adjusted before
American steamers will be placed on Red
River. Tho provisions of tho Reciprocity
Treaty must be extended thithcr, and this
will require more time. .u, r.. -. f-u l.-
We had supposed that steamers designed
to navigate Red River would have to b, built
upon its banks, but Capt. Blakeley informs
US that they may I've taken across from the
Minnesota River. The portage is only a.
bout half-a mile, and the expenditure Of one
or two thousand dollars will open chanel
across sufficiently deep to float steamer in
times Of high water. In 1928, the crops
havin, been destroyed in the Se.kirk settle
ment by high water, three Macknaw boats
loaded with grain were taken from Prairie
du Chen by this route, passing from the
Minnesots to the Red River with but very
slight difficulty. Whenever the time doe:
come, therefore, for placing steamers upon
the latter river. it will be. comparatively, an
easy matter to transfer them from the Mir.
nesota river. Hr
Should the gold discoveries on the Frazer
Bridge and Thompson Rivers, prove to I've O
much value, the movement Of the British
Government will doubtless be- accelerated
with respect to organizing governments fol
its Northwestern possessions. The easiest
and, ifimproved, the cheapest route to that
rigioi,, either from Great Britain, or from
Canada and the United States, lies d;rel t.
ly through British Territory. The Red
River, Lake Winnipeg and the Saskatcha
wan River, furnish navigable water line o
about 400 miles Of distance If the golt
Of Frazer River, proves abundant, the imm
grafton for some years will be large, and i
only requires the organization of a provincial
government over the valleys the Red anc
Saskatchewan Rivers. the presence Of 4 sufi
Gent force to hold the Indians in subordn
alton, and the planting Of settlements alons
tho course Of these streams to make tn
route indicated the great thoroughtare o
Of travel. a85 - 80 an.
While on Red River, Captain Blakele,
uaA repeated opportunities to make inquiries
touching the navigability Of the Saska,cha
wan, Of those who had for years been famili
ar with it, and he is entirely satisfied tha
steamers may ply upon distacc of zoe
miles above Lake Winnipeg. tIe says the
reports which he obtained upon this subjec
are not hafso discouraging as those he re-
ceived from the trappcrs and traders respect
ing the navigation Of the Upper Mississippi
before he took the first boat up the latte
river. It is expected, however, that an OK
perienced steamboat man will pass over tn
entire length Of the river, from the Lake t,
the Rocky Mountain House, next season
with the view oftesting the matter thorough
~. We have the utmost confidence tina
the result will be in the highest degree salts
factory. II the British Government shoul,
pursue wise and comprehensive policy il
the management Of her Northwestern pos
sessions, within less than ten years this will
become great trans continental thorough
fare, along which will collect prosperou
and populons communities, and new worl
10 made to sub erve the purposes of human
ity and civilization.-CMic'go Press d. Tri
1une. .. ..Nr 81