Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-05-29
The Upper Miss issfppi.
steamboat Navigation Falls of Pok egama, and VIM
nebagoshish-Town Sites, &C.
10 the Editors of the Mi,an.eo,i,,a

i steamboat Na,igston- Falls of Pok epama and Win
nebagoshish-TOwn Sites, &C.
To the Editors Of the Minmssotiam.
DEAR SIR.-As there has existed consider
able doubt of the probability of steamb,a,
navigation ON the Upper Mississippi, and
having just returned from that section of our
State, give you few notes dotted down
on the way.
AS intelligence has reached here that the
"North Star" had passed Crow Wing some
time since, there exists no doubt in nv mind
that by this time she has reached Grand Ran
ids, or perhaps succeeded in reaching III.
Falls of Pokegama.
About twenty miles above Crow Wing on
the French Rapids, and ten miles above them
are Rabbit Rapids. At the present stage OF
water they are navigable by even large size
Steamboats,.
The current in the Rapids is about eight
miles an hour, and if the North Star is a
Steamboat of any propellIng power will
doubtless succeed in getting through. From.
Rabbit Rapids to Grand Rapids distance
OF nearly two hundred and fifty miles, the
naviga ton is uninterrupted. The depth OF
water being greater than that between this
City and Prairie Du Chen. At Crane
Rapids the River turns sharp bend and the
current PUSHES over the Rocks with greai
velocity. The fall of water on the Rapid
which are from iour to six Rods long, cannot
I've less than six feet. At small expens,
the rocks in the channel could be blasted out,
and when this is done there will be gooG
steamboat communication on the Mississippi
from Crow Wing to the Falls of Pokegama
distance If three hundred miles. Gram
Rapids are about six miles below the Falls o,
Pokegama.
also padded my canoe as far up as ssWin
nebgoshish," about 40 or so miles above IT,.
Falls OF Pokegema, and as far up as 1 went
the River was deep and the current aboui
two miles an hour. On sounding the River
IN many places above Pokegema Falls,
found it from five to twenty feet deep. Thls
was before the spring feshet
have been informed from good authorit,
that the Mississippi River is navisable fol
light draught steamboats,, nearly one hun
dred miles above Pokegama Falls, and also
that Canal of 40 or so niles, will con, eel
the Mississippi with Red Lake River, theme,
into the Red River of the North, and thu
procure water navigation from New Orleans
to Pembina, the highest town in the State,
and connecting the two most remote points
in our country.
The Falls # Pokegama are virtually the
head of navigation on the Mississippi River.
The fall being ii feet and the Rapids abov,
and Immediately below the Falls being fall
Of eight feet more, thus making TWENTY-FIVE,
feet tall Of water within the distance Of ONT
quarter of mile. The river at the Falls o
Pokegema PUSHES through narrow gorg,
about forty five feet wide and the roar of The
Falls can be heard for miles, The banks OF
the river on either side are about twenty five
feet high, and this is considered next to ST..
Anthony, the best water power in the Terri
tory.
From Rabbit Rapids to the Falls of Poke
CANA distance oil two hundred and fifty
miles, the Mississippi River takes the Ra.
off OF an, thing" in relation to crookedness
At no place on the river is there a view ui
half mile and in some places it will run in u
direct course for that distance then turn d
short corner and run directly parallel with it
and separated by only strip Of land about
forty feet wide. In a cloudy dag person
navigating the Mississippi above Crow Wing
would be perfectly obliviovs in what direction
he was heading should he have no compass.
The banks of the river are in some part:
swamry and in high stag all under wafer
but for the most part tho banks are high in
one place the bluff rising to at least two hu-
d. cd feet.
Several Town Sites are already MAJ ked
out in that wild country. Also several log
houses, denoting pre- emp;ion rights. The
most prominent Town Sites are at the mont
of Willow River, one at Sandy Lake where
the King OF Lumbermcn and Prince Of good
fellows, (Mr. Libby Of St. Anthony has hi
farm, from which be produces the neceSsarie>
for his camp, another at Swan River, on.
also at Grand Rapids and last but not leas,
the Towns of East and West Pvkesema sill
uated at the Falls of Pokegema. All Of the
Town Sites on the river were deserted will,
the exception 'f Pc ECZEMA and the Town
Site at Sandy Lake, at the latter place
stopped on my way down, and my wants
well provided for by noble son of Scotland
who RECALLED me on "corn meal bread" to
which he added some raisius which had been
we'll soaking in the bottom of the Mississippi
River last fall for two or three days. NED.