The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-14

/ ne valley vi tIc upper Mtss'ss'FP'' WY
pied by the branch line from 81. Anthony
10 Grow Wing, is Z level plateau or bench,
varying from few rods 10 ten miles in
width upon the eastern side of the stream.
elevated far above the reach of the highest
foods and bounded by ranges of low bluffs
beyond which the face of the country be-
comes somewh rolling and diversified.
/, is impossible TO conceive q more per-
feet natural route for Il great highway than
Is found along this beautiful valley, where
railroad may b. constructed, withln the
miniWum cost per mile Of western works,
which shall have no ACTIVITY exceeding ten
feet per mic with tangents from three 10
twenty miles in length, and minimum IA
dius OF curvature of i've thousand seven hun
bred and thirty feet,
regret TO state that my own time az well
as that Of my Principal Assistant, has been
so engrossed by other duties rs to preclude
the possibility oil making reconnaissance OF
the country on the route OF the Branch line
between Crow Wing ard Pembina still,
sufficient general information has been
gained from gentlemen who have frequently
passed over it to induce the impression that
a good line may be obtained with grades not
exceeding thirty feet per mile. Ii is proper,
however, TO receive With some allowance the
/ observations OF those who have never viewed
the face Of this country with particular re-
ference TO its railroad fracticability, and the
results finally attained may fall somewhat
below my present expectations.
The distance from Crow Wing TO PEN.
! bina is variously estimated nj from three
hundred to three hundred and fifty miles
The lesser distance is probably nearly cor
rect
/ The streams Of magnitude on the main
line are tie Mississippi, South Fork Of the
/ Crow, Chippewa and Pomne De Ierrc Rv-
/ crs. and on the Branch. Rice and Coon
/ Greeks, and Rum, Elk. Little Rock, Platte.
( Mckay and Mississippi Rivers, The beds
Of these streams are IN no case depressed
more than thirty feet below the grade line,
and excepting the Mississippi, they can be
| brdged with single spans of forty TO one
hundred and forty feet each.
sou., TIMBER, WATER &c.
The country lying along the main line be-
tween Saltwater aud st. Anthony, and Tor
Il distance of ten miles west OF the Mlssissip-
pi, Ia mostly burr oak Openings with soil
varying between sandy and clay loan, and
ubsoil of sand and gravel. 1t is fertile
well watered aud has moderate supply of
/ timber.
( 10 the westward Of this line the Big
" GODS" a dense forest. one hundred aud
fifty miles in length, by an average of fifty
in breadth, and dotted with myrlads Of beau
tl!ul lakes and natural meadows. As cross
cd by the main line, this forest is nearly six
~ miles in breadth. The timber is very
heavy, aud consists OF oak, maple, ash elm, |
Eastwood. black walnut. buiternut. aspen, /
and second growth hickory. Unlike the |
growth of most forests, these different varie. |
Ties of timber are distributed in the same
proportions and reach az great perfection
upon the high as the low lands, Indicating
an unusual degree Of equality 10 the soil. |
which is black vegetable mould from iva !
to three feet in dep,h, Yessing on sub-soiI
OF clay, and in the ordinary accepiation Of
the timber IL inexhaustibe.
Among the few scattered tracts as yet
brought under cultivation are found abund
ant evidences, OF It's great fertility. Win
ter wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. sown or |
planted in an opening barely large enough
TO admit the suns rays and usually not half
cultivated, afford large returns. The Du-
| merous meadows yield full supply Cf ex-
cei.ent grass Tor the subsistence Of stock
The want Of VIII b forms serious draw.
back upon the settlement Of most timbered
countries IL s rapidly filling up with
good class oi settlers, and viii soon rival
any portion 81 the Territory IN density Of
population and agricultural wealth.
We come now to consider belt of c0un
try extending ia It's breadth from the Big
" GODS to tue Chippewa river, 4 stance OF I
seventy mile, which has been uptiy termed I
the Farmers Paradise" With IA surface I
admirably divided between rolling prair,e /
woodland and meadow, and w8tered by q ,
thousand crystal lakes and streams. il also /
has an exceedingly fertile and durable soil, /
closely resembling that Of the Big Wood. /
10 The rni grant who wishe. 10 make Tor |
himself a desirLble western home, surrounded /
by every comfort which Dature can afford .
where be NAV SOW with the ASSURANCE that 4
he will reap az BAudFed fold. and breathe 40
ar unfa.Ltgd blythe foul miasInl of a morr
southern latitude, region more inviting
tnan tbl. cannot be found IN The entire pub /
llc domain. /
The remaining district 81 country. Wing /
between the thippewa s1d Bois DE- Sioux !
reers, Is either .yhtg rolling or level (
prairie. There are OCCASIONALLY small groves /
on the margins Of the lakes ard streams,
bat the supply Il quite limited A portion \
Of this praIri" on the east may be supplied 4
with timer from q belt Of woodland % two .
miles in width, which cxthAs down the
Chippewa as lar "a the eye can reach AMI 4
the western part. from the pine region at
the head Of the Rel riyer, ~ running il
dOwH that stream 10 the mogtH OF TIE BDis
drs Sioux, where s4wmiii Is nog IN ccurse
Of erection. This region is perhaps not as
attractive TO the emigrant ~ thJse - the
eastward on account Of tbs d, 6cisncy; bat
o3ce supplied. with railroad Communication.
v,tt tie Igr1tsr markets al TIN NJ ss41..Irr.i I