The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-18
Letter from Stearns County.

To the Editors of The Pioneer and Democrat.
The lecture of J. w. TAYLOR, ESQ.,, on
Saturday evening, attracted a full house, and
is pronounced by all to have been most
successful and brilliant effort. His subject
was the Present and Future of Minnesota
as connected with the development of the
country northwest of US, and the opening of
communication to the Pacific. He illus
trated the discussion of this theme by fire.
quent reference to new and comprehensive
map of that portion of the whole globe which
lies between the thirtieth and sixtieth de-
grees of north latitude. The map contains
the isothermal lines which scientific men
have designated on both hemispheres and
which now more correctly indicate the
climate than degrees of latitude. Mr.. TAY-
LoR pointed out the thermal line, beginning
on the west coast of North America, at
Sitka, thence through the mouth of the Red
River of the North, touching the north shore
Of Lake Superior, crossing the st. Lawrence
below Quebec, and thence to st. John,
Newfoundland. North of this line, he said,
the fur trade, the fisheries, and pei haps some
mining, might be carried on; but south of
that line agriculture would prosper. The
enterprise which characterised the develop.
ment of Russian resources, was significant,
as we'll as worthy of admiration. The
acquisition by that empire of Manchoria,
had stimulated the settlement of its eastern
frontier, and opened up a new and speedy
means of overland communication through
numerous inland cities and villages. 1t was
most suggestive fact that the news brought
on the overland route from that eastern
frontier was two weeks in advance of the
speediest communication by way of South
ern Europe. The discovery of the gold
mines in British Columbia, and the possess
sions of Great Britain from the Pacific to
the Atlantic were circumstances which fore
Swallowed a corresponding activity on the
part of that nation in opening an overland
communication to her frontiers on the coast
of the Pacific.
He thought colonial government would
be given to the Red River country. He
found population of ten thousand there,
who had the elements of civilization in a
high degree. He had indeed been surprised
at the afluence and culture of that commu-
nifty. They were beginning to be anxious
for colonial government. At one time it
seemed probable that that interesting settle
ment would be annexed to Canada but
Lower Canada saw that such an event would
diminish her political preponde rance, and
this he thought would prevent annexation
Sir Edward B. Lytton, when the Colonial
Secretary, had prepared bill for the orga-
nization Of a government for the territory
embracing the Red River or Selkirk Settle
ment e; and the public would watch with
interest the action that his successor, the
Duke of Newcastle, would take on the SUBJ
ject.
Mr.. TAYLOR thought Great Britain would
encourage emigration to the salubrious and
fertile regions of Hudson's Bay territory,
and that policy would affect the destiny of
Minnesota most favorably. This was not
to be frontier State. The natural route
of travel to the great but as yet undeveloped
areas on our northwest would be through
this State. In view of our common interests,
the public mind should be united, and the
whole strength of the people combined to
facilitate the main trunk of that route. He
believed the interests of the United States
required Northern and Souther railroad
to the Pacific. Great influences were being
brought to bear in favor of middle route.
To Offset these, the friends of the Northern
and Southern routes should be united.
Mr.. TAYLOR also advocated free trade
with the British colonies. have not time
to give full report Of his address, and
have not even mentioned all of his excellent
points. He enforced his views with states