The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-15

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and the sources Of the Saskatchewan include
an enormous area Of country. 1t is, in fact,
q vast piece Of land surrounded by water.
When I heard DR.. Livingston's description
Of that country, which he found in the inte-
rior Of Africa within the equator, it appear
cd to me to be precisely the kind Of country
which am now describing. 49, 1t is q
rich soil, interpreted with well wooded
country. there being growth Of every kind,
and the whole vegetable kingdom alive"
When asked concerning mineral productions,
his reply was, II do not know OF any other
mineral except limestone limestone Is appa.
rent in all directions. The birch, the
beech and the maple are in abundance, and
there is every sort Of fruit" When ques-
toned farther, az to the growth Of trees,
Dr. King replied by q comparison with
the magnificent trees round Kensington Park
in London" lie described farm near
Cumberland House, under very successful
cultivation luxuriant wheat, potatoes, bar.
ley, pigs, cows and horses.
The SAsKArcHEwAS, AssINEBoIS AND
Red RIVER DIsTRICT-Ihe area OF this
continent, northwest Of Minnesota, and
known az the Saskatchewan district, is esti-
mated by English authorities TO comprise
800, 900 square miles. Northwest from Otter
Tail Lake, the geographical center Of Min
Desota, extends vast sllurian formation,
bounded on the west along the eastern base
OF the Rocky Mountains by coal measures.
Such predominance of limestone implies
fertility Of soil, as in the Northwestern
States, and the speedy colonization Of Sas-
katcbewan would be assured, if the current
objection to the severity Of the climate was
removed. On this point few facts will be
presented.
The sea OF Azof, which empties into the
Black sea, forming the eastern border Of
the Crimean peninsula, freezes about the
beginning Of November, and IL seldom open
before the beginning OF April A point
less than 100 miles north, but far down in
Southern Russia, namely, Catherinoslav, has
been found from the observation OF many
years, to be Identical in summer md winter
climate with Fort Smelling Nineten Of
European Russia, therefore main seat
Of population and resources--is farther
north than st. Paul. In fact, Pembina is
the climatic equivalent Of Moscow. aud for
that of st. Petersburg, (which is 60 deg.
nOrth) we may reasonably go to latitude 55
deg. on the American continent. Like Eu.
rOpean Russia, also, the Saskatchewan dis
trlct has climate OF extremes--the Their
mometer having wide range but it IL well
understood that the growth Of the cereals
and OF the most useful vegetables depends
chiefly on the intensity and duration OF the
summer heats, and is comparatively little in
iluenced by the severity of winter cold, or
lowness OF the mean temperature during the
year. Therefore, il is important TO observe
that the northern shore OF Lake Huron has
the mean summer heat Of Bordeaux, in
Southern France, namely, 20 deg. Farenheit,
while Cumberland House, in latitude 81 deg
longitude l02, on the Saskatchewan, ex-
ceeds, IN this respect, Brussels and Paris
The United States Army Meteorological
Register has ascertained that the line OF 20
deg. mean summer heat crosses the Hudson
river at West Point, thence dcsccnds to the
latitude OF Pittsburg. bat westward is
traced through Sandusky, Chicago, Fort
Smelling. aud Fort Union. into British
America. The average annual heat at Que.
bee IL experienced as tar north as latitude
~ deg. in the Saskatchewan country. Mr..
Lorin Blodgct. of Washington, (who has
published comprehensive work upon the
climatology OF the United States,) asserts
that there Is n rapid Increase OF heat in 20
ing westward, on line of latitude from
points IN Minnesota, and this even where
the elevation increases. 1T is warmer" he
says lat Fort Benton, ON the Missouri, in
longitude no., deg. west. and latitude
Ar deg. north for every season. than ut ST.
Paul. Minnesota. The mean winter TEN.
peraturc at Fort Benton is Is deg, and the
SAME ~ that Of Chicago, Toronto, Albany,
and Portland, Maine. At ST. Paul it is
but % deg, or 10 deg. less it is not so cold
as this on the main south branch Of the
Saskatchewan
Mr.. Blodget claims that not only is the
vicinity OF the south branch of the Sas-
katchewan Us mild in climate as ST. Paul,
but the North branch of tina, river is almost
equally favorable. and that the ameliorating
influence Of the Pacific, through the gorges
OF the Rocky Mountains, is 80 tar ielt on
Mackenzie river that wheat may be grown
in its valley nearly to the sixty fifth parallel.
The foregoing details have been produced
to exhibit the general features and advanta-
ges Of the country which extends between
Minnesota and the gold region Of the North
Pacific. Ii now remains 10 arrange the
facts relative TO the journey ,hither by the
route OF rembina aud the Saskatchewan.
To do so, the committee propose to compile
from an overland journey OF Sir GEoRGs
SIMPSON, Governor OF lludsons Bay Com.
pany. which was published IN ls+1. whatev.
er facts may throw light upon the experience
OF a traveller over the same route.
The journey IRON 81. Paul to Pembina
is familiar 10 all. From rembina to the
Junction of Mouse river with the Asim.
BON, there Is well defined track over q
plain, such as Sir Gcorge Simpson describes
On the way to the same poin, from Fort Gar.
ny. Under date of July ID, be says: "On
the east, north and south. there was not
mound or tr,c to vary the vast expanss OF