St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-07-28
LAFAYETTE, on the Rsd River, J
July lltf, 1850. {

-.
!. Our little town was agreeaoly surprised
on the morning Of the TIN by the arrival
Of Col. MOBILES and his party en- route
for Fraser River, and accompanying him
were Messrs J. W. Taylor, correspondent
Of the New York Herald, Toronto Gzo1e,
Wheelock, Of the st. Paul Pioneer d
Democrat, Marble, an artist engaged to
furnish illustrations and an account Ct
the trip for the Harpers, Drs Goodrich,
the surgeon and Anderson the naturalist
Of The Expedition. Mr.. Marble had some
Ane Sketches Of Fort Abercrombie, scenery
on the Red River and views taken in this
immediate vicinity. Col. Mobiles crossed
the river at this point and camped about
half q mile below, where the near access to
water and abundance Of feed for the
teams seemed to offer more than ordinary
attractions As some Of his carts seemed
too dilapidated to continue the journey
much farther, be had the good fortune to
procure Of Mr.: Richard Banning Of Shay
cnne an excellent light covered wagon ex-
actly suited to his purpose, and which he
was convinced would enable him to finish
his expedition without unnecessary delay
At this place he at first determined to
strike off in north West course for the
head Of Goose River, and thence to Dew
lis Lake where he has men and teams
awaiting him; but finally concluded to so
directly to Pembina and from thence to
follow up the Assiniboine river and strike
the south branch of the Saskatchewan in
Latitude about So 20>, longitude 1919
80, thence follow up this river to its head
and cross the mountains at Coutenais pass,
the distance from that to Fraser river be-
ing only about 100 miles. Such appears
to be the route he designs to pursue, and
all who desire Minnesota to become q part
Of the commercial highway TO the Pacific
cannot but desire the success Of this en-
terpriso.
If the past history and prospects Of
Frazer River for any adequate enteria for
the future By another year We shall Wit
cess large overland emigration from the
Canadian colonies and the Eastern States.
Thousands Of her Majesty's subjects are
looking with intense interest upon this
EXPEDITION waiting only to asow the meet
practicable route and the termination Of
the Hudson Bay monopoly over the couu-
try to emigrate to the Pacific coast. 1t
this EXPEDITION is crowned with success it
will have an important influence On the |
country through which it passes. All re-
liable accounts we have received represent |
the country TO the North Of US as fertile |
prairie intersected with numersous streams
where along the principal routes timber
and water can always be found at dist.n-
ecs convenient for camping. When the
steamboat samson Northup' arrived At
selkirk settlement, about the middle Of
June last, several trains of carts load
ed with furs had already arrived from
the vicinity Of the Rocky Mountains, hav-
ing made a journey Of nearly 1900 miles
and yet their teams, so far from being IT,
red, worn out and euaaciatcd, were in good
condition to return. This clearly shows
that around the head waters of the Sas-
katchewan spring opens quite as soon Is it
does with US, that their route must have
been through a rich and fertile country
well adapted TO agriculture aud srasing or
their cattle never could have survived
such Journey at so early part of the
year. Thus the necessity of Northern
Route to the Pacific is daily becoming
mere evident, and its practicability better
understood and appreciated: In fact there
IS a route as far as the Rocy Mountains, a
trail which has been used for years by the
hunters and employees Of the Hudson
Bay Company in bringing their goods to
and from Selkirk Settlement, and the re-
cent discoveries of the favorable passes in
the mountains leaves but little doubt that
It IS possible to reach Fraser River with
out much difficulty. aa1"1ss !
Col. Mobiles success thus far appears to
have been complete. The route. he has
selected, passing through Dayton and
crossing the Red River here at the mouth |
Of the Shayennee, instead Of the old trail |
around BY Graham's Point, he thinks he !
will save thirty OF forty miles travel. he. |