Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-08-11
Highway Across the Continent.

The prompt action Of the citizens of st. |
Paul, Minnesota, and of ST. Anthony's Falls, |
in appointing committees to report upon the |
selection of an overland route to Fraser River,
is duly appreciated in the Atlantic States
For several years the approach of a growing
necessity for q good overland route to the
North Pacifc Ocean has been noticed, and
the desire for such highway has not been
oblitsrated By the several attempts to con-
struct Z road across the country to California
In truth the ,ncre that facilities have been
increased for reaching California by overland
routes. By so much have large number of
our citizeus yearned for an opening Of High
way to the Pacific through our new Northern
States and Territories.
We congratulate our readers that the dis
coyeries at Fraser River and Queen Char
| lofts Island will be the means of opening so
! important q line Of travel. 1t is said that
the entire expense of reaching Fraser River
/ from ST. Anthony will be less than two hun
d:ed dollers By the first OF May next a
steamboat will be made to ply on the streams
| running towards the Rocky Mountains, SO as
TO make the journey not only easy, but speedy
and cheap.
From the information CLEANED from the
ST. Anthony report, We learn that, with but
an uuimportant interruption, it will be easy
to pass by the waters Of the Siouxwood, Shay
enne and Red Lake rivers, and Lake Winnie
peg, great portion Of the route by water.
! breckenridge being the starting point by
steamboat. the whole distance may be passed
by water to the Rocky Mountain House, for,
at leaving Lake Winnepeg 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 Breckinridge,
the overland distance is one hundred and
twenty-five miles, making tie land journey
only about three hundred and twenty-five
T miles, aud that portion by water sixteen hun
, dred and fifty miles.
, If these water paths prove as feasible as is
anticipated, we see no reason to doubt that
Western enterprise will soon direct its capi-
tai towards such promising region, which
is said to be luxurious in vegetation and very
inviting in its climate. OF course, at pres
ent little is known of a route so inefficiently
explored, but before the next Spring we shall
Y have reports from those who have gone over
n the route, by which we may judge more
clearly as to the real advantages of the route
/ The fact that the people of St. Anthony have
e determined to test practically the navigability
of the waters, is an evidence Of their conf
S dence in the report of their conn ittce, an(
d whatever may be the result, it cannot bu
), contribute largely to our stock of information
If respecting the territory of the Northwest t
y have their experiment put in operation. -
! Should success crown the plan, the openin
n of the route in many points of view, will b
Il one of the most important features in on
s. commercial history, and will tend greatly t
,e give impetus to trade In the North-west
d ern States.
= Beyond the mere consideration of CONNER
= cial gain, however, the opening of such
D route to the shores of the Pacific is vastl
important movement. Circumstances are raj
idly developing conditions in the old Easter
nations which requires a speedy commun
at cation with the northern shores of the Pacif
IS The portals of Japan already have creake
,g upon their hinges, and the spirit of that sill
guar people. apart from the policy of the
rulers is to establish commercial relation
with us on liberal basis. In this vieV
Ill ard with a certainty of great changes in Il
r. life of the Asiatics, who will soon be our ne,
ly door neighbors, we cannot but take dee
ne interest in any well directed effort to come
n us with the Pacific by an overland Northel
d. route We trust that our Western frien
will not lose their enthusiasm, or relax the
g exertous, until they have demonstrated tn
the highway across this continent is not on
feasible, but fixed fact.