The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-31
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
Progress OF the Red River Navigation
EntsrPrise-vVish>s some Notices Of Its
Leaders.


About the 18th Of March, a. the writer
was picking his steps On the st. Anthony
road, his attention was attracted by u
prairie schooner on runners, its Outspresd
canvass having long since lost its original
brightness, and drawn slowly through the
slushy streets By pair of way worn horses.
1t had solitary occupant, and second
glance gave assurance that the face, con-
siderably thinner than usual with recent ex-
p0sure, was none other than that OF JoHS
X. IRVINE, Just returned from Red River,
himself the bearer Of the welcome intell.
gence, that on the LIST day Of March, 1859,
be arrived at the mouth Of the Shayenne, a
tributary to the Red River Of the North,
having made his own winter road thither
at the head Of five teams, loaded with lum.
Der, iron, pipes, and other materials Of a
steamboat. He was Immediately surround.
ed by eager listeners, and subjected to q
cross examination, equally minute but far
more amiable, than similar processes in
Judge PALxER's court.
How many days did you say, Mr.. L.,
that you were in going from Otter Tail
Lake to the Shayenne:
Five, but we found the snow deeper
than usual, nearly three feet; and we had
to break our way, seldom making more than
ten miles day. A late fall Of snow added
greatly to the labor Of the expcdition-in.
deed, il we had been month sooner, the
expense OF men and teams would have been
greatly reduced, perhaps, taking everything
together, less by $1,000. Or if we had Ia
ken advantage of last summer, and secured
hay and grain for teams, and provisions for
men, at different points, it would have helped
matters greatly
q. But how did you manage TO get hay
80 far from settlements and without pre-
viously cutting and stacking it?
A. You forget that Lafayette or Shay
enne City is quite Q settlement of itself.
Claims have been opened there and after
learning that an effort would be made TO
transport the steamboat it was arranged
with NoRrHRUP, that should hurry over to
Red River, and with all the oxen or horses
that could command, carry hay and oats
to different points between Red River and
Otter Tail Lake. These supplies were avail
able TO me, On the return trip, when my
teams were five in number, loaded with the
materials for the boat. Delivering them,
loaded again with hay, four loads of hay
this time, and Joined BALDWIN OLxsTED at
the Orossi ig Of Otter Tail river, north Of
the Lake.
@. Where was Uncle STONE. all this
time? NORrHRUp ha g just left Saint Paul,
with oakum for the boat, and provisions for
the men.
A. Yes, met NoRrnRuP just beyond
Anoka, anxious to get over the Mississippi
with his loaded sleigbs, before the ice should
get rotten, but he will have no trouble. As
for LEWIS STONE, he was only six mics be-
hind BALDWIN OLMsrED, bringing up the
rear Of the expedition with hay, grain and
provisions.
z. What was under OI.s.TED's charge!
A. The boiler and heavy machinery. Ar
ter all, OiasrED was the wheel horse OF the
concern. hardly believe NoRrnRUr, with
MI us tUtEgt, CDuiu HasV nCtVmPbShSu "boe
be has, ii IT had not been for BALDWIN
OLxsrED. You know that when be sets
that heavy Jaw OF his, it ia q sure thing
general ordinations Of" that's so He
said. before he went in, that he would spend
few thousands before the enterprise should
set back one inch, and Il has not How
much do you suppose we had 10 pay for
two tons Of hay al Otter Tail Lake Forty
dollars a ton There would have been sui.
fering among the cattle, but LEWIS Stone
luckily had made claim last summer below
the Lake, and had cat and housed his hay.
lie led @ party tbither and returned with
full loads, and was on his way TO join DIN
srEp at the Crossing, where all the teams,
mine from Shayenue and Mr.. Stones, would
join forces TO transport the machinery.
q. Any bad streams or sioughs
A. OLxsrEB had Just constructed the last
bridge necessary, before reaching the mouth
OF the Shayenne. His camp, where be was
waiting for STONE, was on the west bank
From that point to Lafayette, or shayenne'
the road is COED, with only one stream To
cross, which can be done on the ice.
q. So it is all right, you think, Mr.. lR'
vINEi
A. would not have been here. il had
not been certain that the difficulties were
over. believe OLxsTgD and STONE are on
tbe Red River. with all the materials o.
every description requisite for The boat.
q. Has that been well looked TO?
A. do not doubt it. Some OF you may
know A. X. YcrxG. He is an engineer
modest aud COMPETENT man. lie drafted
/ and modelled the steamboat d, Little Falls
Moulds were made an1 packed. foUsd
has known the machinery from the start
Its original cost was $3.50, IN Bangor
Maine, VIA $500 ADDED ier Irelsbt anc
insurance TO 5ain, Anthony. lie say ths'
the machinery has not been run more thar
thirty months, 10 oil, and is as god as new
with a ,scount Of not more thsn $1,000
The pipe are copper, and the whole VA
Manufactured without regard 10 e1pu-e
The boat vii b. 100 fee long. 20 frci wlie
4 feet hold 100 horse power 100 tons 6ur
Z