The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-19

FROM III. Philadelphia inaaircr.
The prompt action Of the citizens Of st.
Paul, Minnesota, and Of ST. Anthony :
Falls, in appointing committees to report
upon the selection Of an overland route to
Frazer River, is duly appreciated in the
Atlantic States. For several years the up.
proach Of growing necessity for a good over
land route 10 the North Pacific Ocean has
been noticed, and the desire for such high
way has not been oblitcrated by the attempts
to construct q road across the country TO
California. In truth the more that facilities
have been increased for reaching California
by overland routes, by 80 much have large
number Of our citizens yearned for the
opening Of highway to the Pacific through
our new Northern States and Territories.
We congratulate our readers that the
discoveries at Frazer River and Queen
Charlot,cs Island will be the means Of open.
ing so important line Of travel. II is
said the entire expense Of reaching Frazer
River from st. Anthony, will be less than
two hundred dollars. BY the first Of May
next, a steamboat will be made TO ply on
the rivers running towards the Rocky
Mountains, SO as to make the journey not
only easy, but speedy aud cheap.
From the Information CLEANED from the
st. Anthony report, We learn that, with but
an unimpoylant interruption, il will be easy
to pass by the waters OF the Siouxwood,
Shayenne aud Red Lake rivers, and Lake
Winnipeg, great portion OF the route by
water. Brcckinridge being the starting
point by steamboat, the whole distance may
he passed by water to the Rocky Mountain
House. for at leaving Lake Winnipeg and
taking the Saskatchewan river, you proceed
TO within two hundred miles of Thompson's
river. From the head Of navigation on the
Upper Mississippi, at st. Cloud, to lsreck-
inrdge, the overland distance IL one hun.
dred and twenty-five miles, making the land
journey only about three hundred and TWEEN
ty'iive miles and that portion by water six
teen hundred aud fifty miles.
Ii these water paths prove as feasible as
is Anticipated, we see no reason 10 doubt
that Western enterprise will soon direct its
capital towards such promising region,
which is said TO be luxuriant in vegetation
and very inviting in its climate. OF course,
at present, little is known Of IA route 80 in
efficiently explored, but before the next
Spring We shall We reports from those
who have gone over the route, by which we
may Judge more clearly as 10 the real advan.
tagcs OF the route The fact that the PEG,
pie of 81. Anthony have determined 10 tea,
practically the navigability OF the waters. Is
an evidence 81 their confidence In the report
of their committee, aud whatever may be
the result, il cannot but contribute largely
to our stock Of information respecting the
territory of the Northwest, 10 have their
experiment put in operation. Should sue
cess crown the plan, the opening Of the route
in many points Of view will be one OF the
most important features IN our commercial
history, and will tend greatly Ia give an i'm
petus TO trade in the Northwestern States
Beyond the mere consideration OF com
merclal gain, however, the opening Of snch
route TO tie sh0res Of the Pacific is a vastly
important movement Circumstances are
rapidly developing conditions in the old
Eastern nations which require us to have
speedy communication with the northern
shores of the Pacific. The portals Of ia
pan already have crcaked upon their hinges
and the spirit Of that singular people, apart
from the policy Of their ruers, ia 10 estab.
lish commercial relations with us on lib
eral basis. In this view, and with Ger
tainty Of great changes in the life Of the
Asaiics, who will soon be our next door
neighbors, We cannot but take deep inter.
cat in any well directed effort TO connect MS
with Japan by an overland Northern route
We trust our Western friends will not lose
their enthusiasm, or relax their exertions
until they have demonstrated that the great
highway across this continent is not only
feasible, but fixed fact.