The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-30

aIu unin'itlhg prairie. mol u solitary
pond, tree, or shrub is found 10 traverslng
this desolate tract, over which it is neces.
sary 10 carry both wood and water.
From the appearance Of the soil il il evil
dett that tits plain 10 submerged for GER
tain time each year, though whether this
arises from the overflow Of the river. or
the extreme uniformity Of ia surface, which
offers no chance Of escape to the water in
the spring, ] cannot say, though AIN in
clined TO believe the latter to be the case.
The Red River, at the second crossing Or
ford above mentioned, is about forty yards
wide aud thirty inches deep, with a rapid
current. The bottom is in most PLACES
rocky, and such a., in my opinion, at any
other time than very high water, would
render navigation very precarious.
Below Graham's Point, two and one
half miles from the ford, the water is deep
at all seasons, and there is no obstruction
70 navigation.
The town site Of Breckenridge 10 situated
eight miles above this crossing, at the juno.
ton Of the Bots des Sioux and Otter Tail
Rivers, on the east bank OF the Red River.
The site consists mostly Of prairie. with q
little bottom timber skrting the river. Ga
the west side stretches dead level prairie,
without timber or water. The soil is rich
and good, bat the want Of timber will prove
a great drawback to the early settlement Of
| that district
Fort Abercrombie IL situated five miles
below the cross Dg, in bend Of the river.
and near large tract Of bottom timber,
ailording good winter quarters for the
troops.
OTTER TAIL LAKE.
Otter Tail Lake is a noble sheet Of
water, about ten miles long by five broad
! The land around and north OF ia north end
is Of good quality and well adapted to farm
ing purposes, being very different IRON that
south Of the Lake.
At otter Tail City We obtained some
valuable information from the deputy sur.
veyor, to whom We delivered our letters
from the Surveyor Generals Office. We
learned from him the locality Of two salt
springs, which h. had discovered, and this
information proved the means OF our finding
others. We also, through Mr.. Bottineaus
knowledge Of the Chippewa language, de
| rived important information IRON the lndi-
ana who were encamped at this point. This
information proved to be Of the greatest
value in our explorations, and 10 no one in.
stance did we find that the Indians misled
us.
From Otter Tail City. the party pro-
ce,ded on the Crow Wing and Red River
trail to Lac Detroit and Eagles Nest Lake.
From this point they diverged from the
trail and travelled westward TO Buffalo
River, passing through a country heavily
tmbered with pine. Leaving this stream
to the east, the party continued their journey
west until they struck the south branch Of
Wild Rice River.
SALT SPRINGS
We were now in the vicinity OF salt 70
gion, descriptions Of which had been given
Us by the Indians, and at once Began a
search Tor springs. Following the creek
last mentioned for about twelve miles, we
reached the crossing Of The trail Here d.
vidiug the party we instituted Thorough
search, ard soon discovered three salt lakes.
one and II half miles distant, and bearing
northwest from the crossing. These were
so situated, "a each to carry with il its six
sections Of land without interfering one with
the other. Eucampiug here, We prepared 10
make the necessary examinations and sur.
yoyS.
These lakts. We a-ccrtaincd to have nt ith,r
inlet &C outlet and Ia bc decidedly ot a
salu0 character In every instance they
were ed by springs situated near to, aud
communicated with the lakes These springs
varied from six 10 thirty f1ct ia diameter.
and their waters were much more highly
imprtgGated With salt, than even those OF
lhe lakc5 which tbcy lJd thus clearly prov
ing their distinctive character as salt springs.
The lakes themselves were from ten TO thirty
acres. Us nearly n could b. determined
without actual measurement.
The sol around was the riches, had YET
saou, hciug level prairie with q fine growth
Of grass, but entirely without timber,
although tour miles to the eastward extended
long ridgc, well wooded along lis crest
beginning on lhc morning OF October 18th
proceeded 20 lay cat the land accompanying
the springs, as pr letter of instructions from
your ENccIleucy, and closed up tho survey
90 the evening OF the lStb, having rua 10 ali
about td.rly two mile, of lice,
From this region, the party proceeded
southwest, over magnificent aud fertile prai-
res to d point near the junction Of the
Buffalo and Shayeune rivers with the Red
river.
rHE suAIGNNE COUNTRY.
Here We cncampcd and remained for
twenty four hours which employed in ey
aiming the country, on both the cast and
west banks Of the Shaytnnc river The
Conformation OF this tract Is singular. and
one which particularly ajap,s ii to agricul-
turai purposes. Five rivers here divide aud
furnish ample timber hr the district The
Rcd river, as the main artery. flows north
ward Ga the west side the Upper Wild
Rice and the Shayenne are tributary
ehanGels The same office is rendered. on the
east bank by the Blila.o and the Lower