The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-04-03
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CITY ITEMS.

w are glad to see this matter again aS''
tated and we hope it will be "dvocated oy
our contemporaries until the matter Is no
longer speculative. but operative. 1here Is
10 reason why we should not have hne o'
telegraph from st. Anthony RIA ot' raul 70
Prairie du Chen. 1t is the one thing need
ful lust now. and single glance at the I'M
portance of the measure will convince almost
every one of the necessity of taking earnest
hold of the enterprise at once. Here, in the
vicinity of the head of navigation on the Mis-
sissippi river. are four cities with an aggre
gate of population estimated at from 25,OOO
10 10000. ali with business correspondence
with the East to a greater extent probably,
than any other neishborhood in the West.
A telegraph line is absolutely demanded by
their wants; and all along its proposed routes
too, are growing cities, feeling its need also,
and able to contribute a heavy quota to its
support. Under such circumstances, the en-
terprise could not fail of success.
. Its advantages outside OF all accommoda-
tion to business men, too will be readily per-
cieved. With the ocean telegraph completed
during the coming summer, each citizen and
table every morning, damp from the press,
the Daily Mimesotian, containing the impor-
! tant Trans. Atlantic news Of events occurring
in all the capitolS of Europe and even Asia,
the day before, as we'll as of all parts Of our
own country Shut out from the world as
We have been hitherto, by at least 4S hours
of travel and in winter by several days, such
luxury as this looks indispensable, yet if
our capitalists only incept the enterprise, it
can scarcely fail of success, and the tall tam
aracks that crowd our marshes will be put to
good use in holding aloft the plated wire
that guides the electrical current fraught
with startling news, or the messages Of COM
merce, or friendly greetings from friends thou
sands of miles distant in person.
Shall tLis be done? CAN it be done
We answer, we believe it can, and will, if
properly undertaken.
Apropos of this, we find in the Falls Ece-
ming Nears, a letter Oh the subject of the pro-
posed Prairie du Chen and st. Anthony
Falls Telegraph, from a Mr.. BATTLES, who
constructed the Girard and Meadeville line
Pennsylvania, of which, he is principal owner
ETC., to gentleman in Minneapolis who feels
interested in the construction of the above
proposed line. The estimate he makes is
considerably lower than what it was supposed
the line would cost.
GIRARD, Pa, Feb. 25, 1855.
C.P RoGERs, Esq.-Dedr Sir: notice in papers
have received f.em you, that there is idea of
your place have written, proposing to build the
line at $400 per mle (Which is 800 lower than the es
timate) will also furnish $4,000 stock, providing
have the contract at that rate. The distance being
240 miles, would make the cost of line. $96,0GO
Am ,unt of stock will furnish ............. 10000
Amount left for Company to raise $S6,000
In the *4o0 per me Include the cost Of Instruments
Battery &c. Please say to those Interested should the
above fgu prove acceptable to them, will undertake
the matter as soon as they may desire.
am yours truly, A. BATTLES.
THE EARLY OPENING"-SUPPERT TO CAPT.
HARRls.-'Ve find in the Pioneer of Satur-
day, an account of the complimentary supper
gwen to Capt HARRIS, on Thursday evening.
at t.,c Merchants Hotel, in honor of his hav
iny m, ,de the earliest trip ever known here,
on lis ii ne steamer, the Grey Eagle.
[BogusI Gov. SIBLEY presided, and after
the solids were duly discussed, that person
proposed the health of Capt. ID. S. HARRIS,
the Senior Con ,mander of the Upper Mlssis-
sppi Fleet.
"Mr S accompane, / his sentiments with few re-
marks pertinent to The OCCASION and of deep interest to
all present. IL. st ted that it was now twenty-fo
years since he first pene ted the then Wills of WScon
and Miunesuta, conn NJ: across from NJ M'chigah oy
way of Gree. b, ~ and tine Wisconsin river On that
river, anterior to any wlitc settlement west OF Lake
Michigan, he found worthy guest and hs brother
(Scrbe IIarris charge of the Pioneer steamboat
Since which time he had known Capt H. as faithful.
and careful officer the waters OF the northwestern
rivers one in whose hands life anal property was Always
safe and energetic citizen who had Zone as much AS
any other living to add TO the name anu ane OF the
great northwest. Mr. Sibey alluded to the TACT that
Cant. had been the phone navigator by steam, OF
about all the tributaries of the Mississippi above the
Des Mones Rapids. lie the first tn find the head Of
navigation on the Iowa. and the Maquoketa and on
our own beautiful Minnesota. 1t was therefore meet
and Proper that should welcome the arrival oil Min
nesotas old friend and pioneer navigator among us on
this auspicious occasion IN the annel mere .1'epa
ted Mr. ibey concluded by remarking that he would,
at the next meeting
pose the of Capt. d. i. Harris as an honorary
member."
Capt. HARRIS replied:
THAT as this entertainment entirely 'surprise
,,arty" n him that he had. SO to speak, been in-
.iged boat by his friend Judge Goodrich, with
on, knowing ''wha: up; and h was well known
,, Ills friends and acquantances he was no taker,
he .oui 'Ger.y return MS thanks TO ms respected
renu OF ST Paul. for the honor they had extended to
him on ihis occasion. He hoped 'he company would
hot con him egotistca i! he confirmed the histori-
cal fact, mentioned by his old friend, Mr. Sblry; but he
claimed credit FOR being the first man through Lake
Pepin this sea Any of his fellow-cartains would
have done the same thing had they been in command
Of the first boat HI.
During the evening, J. p. OwENs, Esq.
stated:
That when he apprentice to the printing bust
ness the city Of Gin cinnat twenty three years ago.
WAS in due ploces3 of becoming familiar with all the
the ances of the trace transferred from the "news
ROOM to the obbns department, the first job placed in
his hands was bli for the ''new light draught FAST
running steamer Smelter. d. S. Harris, Master" The
Sueer was then just from under the hands or the
Cincinnati builders; she wasa good specimen ot the
boats built in her day; but if Capt. II. or the men who
her had then prophesed that so soon there
after twenty-five years, the magnificent Grey Eagle
would float the docks of that city, destined for
trad. four hundred miles above the highest point to
which the old Smeter ever aspred, they would have
been considered the most crazy set OF fools alive Mr.
alluded to the fact that in those days the Ohio valley
sn ppled all the country of the Mississippi above st.
Lo, is, with Hour, pork, &C., and that 1t only took two
boats-the Smeiter, \dpts
Orvip Suth--to do all the carrying from Cincinnati"
The occasion was most p easant oEe, and
many +, sminiscences Of early days were told.
It was a we'll deserved compliment to the
Pioneer Captain of the Upper Mississippi,
and an occa sion long to be remembered.
FoR the be ntfit Of Minnesotians abroad
OIL o,bers who curious about our wealth
er here, we will state that for several days
If has been warm, balmy and sun-shiny.-
Everybody is making gardens, cleaning house