The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-25
THE ROUTE FOR FRASER Noes
FROM ST PAUL TO PENBINA. H 5,J

/ llrsc FROM ST PAUL TO PENBINA, I 15,J
rrrOm tho 81 Paul QilrlosOt Pioneer aud Domocrutl
PnlT IA, Aug. 22, 1858.
sa arrived here ON the 18th inst twenty-one days
from ST. Paul, via st. Cloud, Grahams Point and the
Red Notwithstanding the latter by boat The teams
rived two days and half before me- having accomplish
ed the trip from ST. Paul In eighteen and half days, by
| what is known the Outside route. a -fry
On our arrival at Red river, having opportunity to
purchase boat we thought it best TO transport our
.'stu by the river for the purpose Of returning our
mules and horses We informed that boats had de-
scended the river to Pebina In days The trip
cupied however, twelve days in the descent while the
teams effected the journey by land ia nine days. II
must be remembered however, that they had no load
but Just provisions enough for the that were with
| them This arrangement besides aifording considers
able gain of time, evidently great relief to the ami
mails which arrived here in quite as good condition and
as fat as when they started "a ~ @ ~ tcsat
will not attempt any comments the route, Mr..
Smith has given you the result Of his observations in
| detail.
The distance by odometer of the route travelled is
466 ii 00G miles, and by inquiry found that the route
| by Grow Wing is something 400 miles. There is
another route known the Middle route, crossing the
Mississippi at Sauk Rapids and intersectng the Grow
Wing route this side the Otter Tail river which think
may probably be the nearest route though that adopted
| by is the most generally travelled by teams this
season. and is probably the best wagon trail. An inn
porant Recommendation is that there is good grazing the
We are awaiting the arrival of Joe Rolette furnish
outfit as it is necessary to have animals before
we can proceed,
This delay is very injurious us for if could have
gone Immediately on arrival here could, with
out doubt, have crossed the mountains this fall As 1t
is II we do not get of soon shall have to winter this
side of the mountains. I this should be the case,
probably spend the winter to advantage ia cx
| ploring the eastern slope Of the range.
From this point shall probably take the route of the
Hudson Bay Companys post in the valley OF the Sas-
kachewan and winter some OF the headwaers OF that
river If we do not succeed In crossing the mountains.
/ would suggest to your attention. as an interesting
subject of inquiry with reference TO carly exploration
a route leading from Pembina, by the head of the ASSN
cbon to the head Of the South fork of the Saskatchewan
According to the information have been able to elicit,
the country directly west and little north of this point
is high plateau, with plenty of timber grass and wa
ter and it must be the divide between the waters Of the
Missouri and the waters emptying into Hudson's Bay
| from the west and south
| l believe that American oxen and mules better
than Indian ponies for emigants crossing to Fraser III
yer but they must be grass fed l would not give our
two mules for the best ten ponies in the valley They
arc lively crckets and in excellent condition.
| Ep I GEO. c. BURNHAM.
PEMBINA, August 16, 1858.
DEAR SIN Having some spare time at my command
here, propose to give you concise summary of my
observations upon the route to Fraser river via Pembina
From St. Paul to the crossing of the Mississippi at st.
Cloud distance of seventy miles, the country is
well known that description is not necessary From
ST. Cloud to Richmond 25 miles west the road passes
through prairie intersected by promontory OF timber
point of the Big Woods. The prairie is Of excellent
character about five miles in width and lies between the
| belt of timber already mentioned and the Big Woods
the north and the banks of the Sank river. large
portion of this prairie yet vacant and in its inerlock
ings with the timber either side presents great
| many inviting locations for the settlers.
AT Richmond make the second and last crossing of
the Sank river Fifty three miles from Richmond car
| AZ aofa f,
White Bear lake, passing meanwhile Lakes Henry and
George Como river Grove Lakes and the Chippewa
river On the north and cast the big woods are always
in sight and the heavily mbered lakes hem in the hori
| zon on every side with their wooded skirts. s
White Bear Lake, 1856 miles from st. Paul. is ten miles
in length and from two to four in width 1t is heavily
tmbered and must day be the centre of consid
cradle population From information obtained from
Red river train encamped at Lake George concluded
to adopt what is known the "Plan trail, " which
the Red river at point about equdistan from
the mouth of the Bos des Sioux and Grahams Point the
site of Fort Abercrombe. In pursuing this route from
White Bear Lake to the crossing of the Otter Tail river
a distance of 65 miles, passed wide rolling
prairie ntersected by the Little Chippewa, Rapid and
Pomme des Terres rivers, and diversified by several tim
bered lakes.
From the crossing of the Otter Tail to the Red river
distance of 20 miles the trail passed level plain
entirely destitute of water.
Between the Sauk and Red rivers the streams
be readily fored at this season. but they liable to
sudden freshets trains should lways be provided with
boats The Rcd river at this crossing is 200 feet we
and about three feet deep aud the bottom and banks
favorable for ording. From tho Red to the Cheyenne
river G mlcs the route level prairie covered
with luxurian growth of the most excellent grasses
and the Wild Rice river, which is heavily tim
bered Indeed there is abundance of timber the Red
the Wild Rice and the Cheyenne to supply large set
tement From the Cheyenne to Pembina n96 mies)
the prairie is level covered with thick grasses which ind
cate the deep black soil that lies beneath but very sparse
tmbered The Maple tributary of the Cheyenne, the
Goose, Turtle and Salt rivers which pass way,
are skirted with a considerable growth of timber.
The situation of Pembna at the junction of the river
OF that name with the Red river you already amil
lar with ST. Vincent, the terminus Of the Minnesota
and Pacific railroad just opposite. The Pembna river
sustans dense growth of timber upon its banks and Mt
St Joscphs, thirty miles west from here is mill,
which supplies this place with lumber, which is easily
tioated down the current of the Pembina.
For the benefit of future overland emgants to Fraser
river would here state that trains have the choice of
two routes The plain prairie trail by which reach
ed here and the route via Grow Wing and Leaf City,
crossing in the latter route the Little Swan Crow Wing
Pheasant Leaf Little Red, Buffalo, Rice, Sand Hill Red
Lake, Snake Hill Middle, and Pine rivers. From what
information have obtained should Judge the Crow
Wing and Leaf City route TO be forty miles nearer but in
the absence of any personal knowledge of the character
of the latter route, would recommend the plain TRAIL
the streams all readily crossed and the whole distance
abounds in excellent grazing. sig adGsN |
by this route reached Pembinain l8d days from St
Paul, averaging 25a miles per day.
append table of distances, which mark the points
along the route where timber and water occur which
will assist trains very much in the selection Of camping