The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-09

II We are to accept the Washington
Union as the exponent Of the policy Of the
Administration, the design Of the establish
ment Of the Southern mail route, 10 not to
supply a present need Of postal facilities
along its course, but to develope sueh need,
by planting chains Of selfsustaining settle
ments across the unoccupied wastes which
separate the Mississippi valley from the Pa
cifc shore-a policy which it is argued,
though pursued at an ex;ravagant cost at
frst, will eventually much more than repay
the outlay by dfasing a civilized popula-
ton which will supersede the necessity for
the military force now maintained along the
Southwestern frontier to hold the hostile
savages in check policy whose wisdom
and forecast cannot be too much com
mended. But what is sauce for the goose
is sauce for the gander "a hOmely but per
tinent adage. II the argument is good
enough to justify the expenditure Of nearly
a million OF dollars, between the parallels OF
st. Louis and New Orlcans--t loses none
Of its force when applied TO the latitude Of
NJ nnesota and Oregon. Nay, it gains in
force by change Of climate, for the chain
Of living Americans" by which the Presi-
dent proposes to bind together the Atlantic
and Pacific, is not made impracticable here
as there, by wide blanks of intervening des
ert-which patch the isolated and digointed
links with Elusive ropes of sand.
From beginning to end the line Of the
Northern Pacific road as marked ont by Gov
STEVENS, stretches through smooth plains
Of uninterrupted fertility-wanting in no
thing necessary for safe, easy and expedi-
tious mail, emigrant or railroad route to the
other side Of the continent. And yet mail
route cannot be established over these i'm
mense uninhabited regions, without great
difficulties, but difficulties nevertheless far less
unpromising than those which have already
yielded to the invincble energy Of the Post
master General. What those difficulties we're
may be estimated from the following extract
from the Washington Union:
II the vast region which has thus been
brought into regular communication with
the rest oil the Union possessed any OF the
facilities for such service which almost all
countries afford in greater or less degree
there would be no especial cause of admra-
ton or graduation in contemplating what
has been affected /; but tbs region IS peculiar
us utter deaitution, as to great districts
of it, Of these facilities. The task of ostab-
fishing q mail service over it il not accom-.
pllshed, when all the mules stage coaches
drivers, and their equipments are provided !;
when the stage stations and postofIices are
fixed upon, and all the usual arrangements
for an efficient mail organization are perfect
cd But over huge aud appalling dis
tances on these routes everything had to be
provided, nothing could be ken for grant
cd. To build stables, tire materials did not
abound upon the spot, and need but the
mere labor Of workmen to be awaited of tor
the purpose, but required to be transported
long distances. The same was case az
the provendar for the animals, food for man,
and very often even water for beasts, driv.
ers and passengers. Besides all this, there
was wanting along very considerable por-
ton OF the routes even road TO travel up
on the compass or landmarks familiar to
the eyes Of practsed guides alone marking
out the course of travel.
1t is not possible, however, 10 mere terms
OF language, to impress upon the reader
full realization Of the difficulties that have
been encountered and overcome BY the in.
domltable Postmaster General and his
agents in the great enterprise they have
engaged in. The world over, there is not to
be found q system of communication com.
parable in its vast extent, and in the great
obstacles surmounted. TO the overland exten-
sion which our postal system has undergone
under the direction OF Gov. Brown.
II Gov. BKowN could work such wonders
against such obstacles, and could organize
regular mail service, over "a region pecu.
liar in its almost utter destitu,ion Of any ia.
clIlties for such service over huge
and appalling distances where everything
had TO be provided, even water for beasts,
drivers and passengers it is plain that
he wonld succeed much more happily over
. route destitute nowhere OF airy natural r
physical facilities, and abundantly supplied
with provender TOR animals, AMI water asl
wood for passengers and thai he would
obtain much more prompt and effective
,ervice over route five hundred miles short.
er TO San Francisco, and over thousaad
miles shorter 10 the Oregon settlements than
the III Paso line. In couclusioa we expect.
or il we do not expect. We may at least COO
sole ourselves with the cheap formality of
asking Mr.. BRowS to turn sone portion of
the boundess energy which eIcites the I'd
mira,iou OF the Uaon and R>s,.blioan-and
a