The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-23

EsrLoRrSG TRP To rng Bio Sloux.--
Tho Winona Domoera, gives the following
particulars Of the Transit Companys survey
TO the Big Sioux
Resuming on the lth OF October the liue Of
last year, the route westward TO the North Of
Lake Shetek was one Of marked excellence.
The valleys OF the Cottonwood aud Des Moin-s,
unryaled FOR fertility, we're crossed with easy
grades, and the ascent Of the Great COteau
tIsidge) which divides the waters Of the Msss.
sippi and Missouri was accomplished without
serious difficulty. Beyond the Coteau lay the
Pipe stone Quarry,in which our engineers found
u group Of friendly Sioux. quarrying material
for pipss, In the most primitive ms ner. From
the qgarry down to the Sioux River the route
IL excellent, no heavy grades being necessary.
The party visited EmenJa, one Of the Dakotah
Land Company's towns, on the Sioux at tho
mouth Of Pipe Stone RIVER, and Sioux Falls
where both the Western (Dubugue) and the
bakotah Land companies have onmenoed 20
build up towns. Within tho distance Of a
about quarter OF a mile the Sioux River
here falls more than one hundred feet over ter.
races Of crimson sand stone. Returning, our
surveyor ran ak mes south OF Lake SheteK,
crossing the great Coteau At n very deprts sed
point, and followed down the south bank Of the
Little Cottonwood River, to an intersection
with the line surveyed last year.
On the roteau and in the valleys Of the Rock
and Des Moines the fsrty saw herds OF buffalo.
When timber Was not convenient Immediately
on the line Of road, the camp fires were made
Of the Hos DIES rufhrs, which were scattered
everywhere in great proiuson. The rivers
were found to abound with otter apd mink, and
beaver were so plenty that IN ere ssing the
party seldom had to 60 up OF down the creek
more than hundred yards to iind q dam. IN
the bottoms OF the streams the weeds grow to
an almost incredible height, indicating the in
ekhsustible fertility Of the soil. Clumps OF tim,
Der upon the Lower Pipe Stone, the Des
Moines, the Cottonwood, and numerous lakes
will amply supply the wants Of the settlers un.
I'll the advent OF the Transit Railroad.
A correspondent Of the Nininger Journal
says that NJ inneapolis can boast Of twenty
five bachelors, thirty widows, thirty two
ancient maiden ladies, OF no particular age
whatever, six dandes and one girl of
sweet sixteen who don't want to get
married Now IL there is any three year
old town in the State, Of the same age Of
this place, that can go ahead of Mnucapo-
liza IN any Of the above productions | should
like to know it.
The Wiuona Republican learns that three
OF the TraDsi, Railroad surveying party, Of
whom notice will be found elsewhere, name
ly, Fred Lavenworth. levcler, Mr.. Maule.
the topographcr. and u Norwegian team
sier had their legs and feet very badly fro.
zen some three weeks since. on the Coteau
about two hundred miles west OF this place
They Immediately took the precauton to
wrap their frozen limbs in snow until the
iros, was drawn out, which len them with
comparatively little injury.
TuS CLosx OF NAVIGATION. We were
the close of navigation AS having taken
place on the 10Th OF November Since that
date the steamer Trgnsi, has made two trips
to Wiuona from laCrosse, on the Both of
November and toe "a d December On
the last trip Up, she brough, ( rty tons Of
goods for the Mcssrs a. DtGraa 4 Co,
contractors on the Transit Railroad Up
To the tih inst, the river has been in excel
len, navigsble condition. and few boats
might have done a paying business by run
nng hctwrn pahnque snd Winoua pu-.
ing the las, two or three DAYS the weather
has BEEN colder than at any former time
this season. ard the river is now pretty Il
fectually blockaded-limona Rep.
The S. Aulhouy EIPrw is making
copious extracts from the Dakota Josrnai.
sup ,osed to Ia the uneasy ghos, 81 the
departed DltHa Trerr tts kin. and pub
lshed weekly in the constellation GcmBi
A ablauary sporh Is given IN this ETHEREAL
publication. purpor,ing to emana,e from
Hon. Cu,s GRANT, in his cmpyreal capsei,
~ A. member Of the Dakota Scuat,. As